OUR political parties always make big claims about promoting and strengthening democracy but when it comes to their own ranks and file, it is so much missing that their top leadership cannot even digest criticism against them.
The same has happened in Jamiyat Ulema Islam (F) which is nowadays leading the alliance of opposition parties- the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to bring down the PTI-led government. The party announced termination of the basic membership of four senior party leaders including Maulana Sherani, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, Maulana Gul Naseeb and Maulana Shujaul Mulk. Over the past few weeks, these leaders were openly criticizing the head of JUI (F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman and his policies. Despite their long association and loyalty with the JUI (F), they were shown the doors from the party whilst other leaders of the party have also been barred from contacting them. This shows the dictatorial mindset of our leaders who are not ready at all to face and listen to the dissenting voices; even they are saner in nature. From the platform of PDM, Maulana Fazlur Rehman misses no opportunity to talk highly about the need of genuine democracy in the country but the question arises as to when he will allow the same in his own party and that whether he will leave the top party seat for somebody else. One may disagree with the policies of Jamat-e-Islami but it is the only party in our country that holds genuine intra-party polls to replace the existing leadership with the new one. The same needs to be emulated by other parties as well. As regards the expulsion of four JUI (F) leaders, we will recommend Maulana to reconsider his decision. He should not only restore their party membership but also listen to their point of view on the current political situation. Maulana should pursue a more practical approach. The doors of dialogue are never shut in democracy. The country today is passing through internal and external challenges with the biggest ones posed by the Covid-19 and India. Maulana and other opposition leadership should sit with the government to take the country towards political stability.
