NA-246 by-polls: Pasban to contest an election first time in history

Moazzam rules out the idea that Pasban was a youth faction of the JI before its inception.

KARACHI: Pasban-e-Pakistan, which made its appearance in 1995 as a political group in Karachi, is contesting elections for the first time in NA-246 in its political history.

This was disclosed by the party's general secretary and candidate for the by-election, Usman Moazzam. According to him, Pasban used to function under the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) back in 1992. However, due to some differences with the JI in 1995, Pasban leaders parted ways with them to form a separate political identity.

"JI is an exclusively religious party," said Moazzam while talking to The Express Tribune. "Our ways are different. In our party, we had Deobandis, Barelvis, Ahle Hadith, Sindhi nationalists and representatives of Pakistan's entire oppressed class. Such differences went on to increase and we decided to form our own identity."

Moazzam ruled out the idea that Pasban was a youth faction of the JI before its inception. "We only worked under the guidance of JI senior leaders," he clarified, adding that the party was never in any sort of partnership with the JI.

While Pasban had parted ways with the JI, the two seemed to have a good working relationship. "Many of our leaders, without using the name of Pasban, participated in the local bodies' election and served this city during the tenure of Niamatullah Khan as mayor of Karachi," said Moazzam.

Pasban finally decided to register itself as a political party in 2013, and were finally listed as one in March 2014. "We have a one-point agenda," said Moazzam. "Our voice is a voice against injustice." According to Moazzam, Pasban has the kind of support that will make him win the by-election on the NA-246 seat. "People of NA-246 face serious issues that these political parties cannot solve," he said. "Look at the footage of their rallies. [Look at] how many police officers and mobile vans move with them. We have clearly refused to have the police security."

He further announced that the party will hold a rally in the NA-246 constituency on April 19.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2015.