Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad
THESE are the final days for PML-N and PPP. Nov and Dec 2019 are likely to be historical for both parties as they are likely to enter 2020 in entirely different shape. Fazal ur Rehman, Kafaitullah and many others who are anti-Pakistan have started a well timed campaign against the State of Pakistan. It is not merely to provide relief to Nawaz, Zardari and their criminal associates but has a bigger agenda. Their timings are well suited to India and America. Fazl is not a religious scholar and nor some pious person. He has adopted the appearance of a religious leader only to deceive illiterate. A shady personality who has emerged as a leader of Ansar ul Islam which is a banned militant outfit. He is now openly defaming Pakistan Army and linking military leadership with Israel and calling them defeated army. His language and language of his associates clearly reflects on their upbringing and future designs. They are basically hardened workers who are available as hired hands in exchange of money and power.
They are part of a grave conspiracy against Pakistan. Our enemies have not hesitated using their assets hidden in our country which indicates their frustration. Being from within or inside, it is the most serious threat. This also indicates that State of Pakistan will fight her final battle against these traitors. Fazal ur Rehman has confessed the ownership of Ansar ul Islam. We must know that Ansar ul Islam is already banned and included in the list maintained and displayed on NACTA’s website. Fazal ur Rehman has clearly challenged State of Pakistan. It looks like, it is not merely Nawaz Sharif, maybe some foreign powers are behind him. Otherwise, he could haven’t gone so far. It will be interesting to see how State of Pakistan crushes such conspiracy which is now clearly against our national solidarity and integrity. War likely to be waged by Fazal ur Rehman by using banned militia force has already exposed Pakistan at this critical juncture and diverting us from national interests. It is also paving favorable conditions and circumstances suitable for any misadventure against Pakistan. The minimum objective of this disturbance seems to force Pakistan to deviate from present course. Removal of present government and imposition of martial law will easily set us back to the track of self-destruction. Therefore, I recommend to crush such elements for ever so that our enemies are unable to use these traitors.
Given the JUI-F‘s religio-political credentials, the main participants in the party‘s forthcoming march on Islamabad will comprise former or current students of Madaris affiliated with the outfit. It is true that if all goes according to plan, the representatives and supporters of other parties will also take part. However, the religious colour will be hard to miss, ie, the focus will be on the JUI-F cadres. Commentator after commentator on television and in the print media has warned JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and his followers against the dangers of raising faith-based slogans. The interior ministry has already written to the cabinet, asking for a ban on the uniformed stick-wielding razakaar or voluntary force called Ansar-ul-Islam. In fact, the government, right up to Prime Minister Imran Khan, has referred to the ‘religious card‘ while discussing the JUI-F march, even if this mention has been limited to cautioning the organisers against resorting to any such option. Politicians supporting the maulana in his anti-government crusade, such as Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, have also voiced their concern on this count.
Alleged poll rigging was the original theme the march was to be woven around. Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been working to create an opposition protest movement around that single point from the day he suffered an ignominious defeat in the 2018 general election. Later, as he wooed his party supporters and followers of the particular sect he represents, he let slip remarks linked to emotive religious issues such as Khatm-i-Nabuwwat. Other JUI-F representatives have also ensured that the religious element in what is purely a political issue is not diluted. They have publicly disparaged the Prime Minister’s original plan to include an economist from the Ahmadi faith in his finance team and have also criticised him for the acquittal and subsequent release of Aasia Bibi who had been charged with blasphemy. The Maulana should know better than to allow his representatives to make remarks that can be construed as hate speech and to use religion for political gains
In principle and as a motto, religious pluralism can prove to be a blessing for the humanity but it is like wishing for paradise in this world. It is a kind of situation that in reality is unattainable. Religious diversity would remain with the human societies as long these exist and with that the divisions along creed and sectarian lines would also stay. The votaries of religious pluralism have certainly noble motives of creating a common ground for the entire humanity for peace and harmonious cohabitation but this ambition or goal is like moving the Himalayas and creating a flat land in its place. The dictionaries of the 19th Century do not have this word “Maulana” it’s found only in modern dictionaries indicating that it is of recent origin; noted religious authorities of the past also carry the word mullah, maulvi, Shaikh. Maulana” is not seen except in the case of Rumi. Rumi is called “Maulana-e-Rome” But he is a sufi & sufism is rejected by the “Maulanas” & Sufis have their own peculiar hierarchy and standard of honorifics (eg qutub, abdaal, etc.) which are not only not recognised by the “Maulanas”, but their beliefs and practices are condemned.
—The writer is former Federal Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan and currently Chairman National Democratic Foundation.
