Sunday, Oct 13, 2002
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By B. Muralidhar Reddy
Qazi Hussain Ahmed, leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami and one of the top leaders of the MMA, told supporters who had gathered to celebrate the MMA's victory in the election, that the alliance would work to achieve its goal of ensuring that the U.S. vacated its military bases in Pakistan. There is no surprise in the Qazi's assertion as the alliance fought the election on the plank of ``anti-Americanism''. Observers here would keenly watch the words and actions of the MMA leaders to gauge how far they would go in their campaign against Pakistan's support to the U.S.-led coalition. Traditionally, religious parties have enjoyed cordial relations with the military in Pakistan. In fact, the main grouse of the liberals in Pakistan is that the religious entities are given legitimacy by successive military and civilian Governments for their own narrow ends. On their own, they have never been a political force. Religious parties and groups in Pakistan got into a confrontation with the military establishment for the first time after the September 11 terror strikes in the United States. As Gen. Musharraf began taking measures to curb fundamentalist and sectarian elements, the gulf between the military and the religious groups widened. It is in this context that observers believe the MMA leaders may become ``pragmatic'' and be amenable to counsel from the military establishment. The rhetoric of the MMA leaders is evaluated against this backdrop. The Qazi told his supporters: ``we will not confront the West but will follow the policy of reconciliation''. He went on to say that the MMA would not allow the Western powers take root in the Islamic State. ``It is indeed a welcoming sign, a political revolution and the people have revolted against the U.S.,'' the Qazi said about the victory of the MMA. He urged the workers not to be proud on victory and bow before Allah for this glorious triumph. There were no differences among religious parties, but infidel forces created these to weaken the Islamic brotherhood. Talking to journalists, he said the MMA would work together with all political parties in Parliament. ``Today, I declare that we would not indulge in greed for ministership or fight for chair. Our foremost priority would be to first steer the country out of crises, to establish a justice-based system and to end despondency from society''. He said that to establish a government in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Baluchistan the party command would consult each other. He vowed to implement the 1973 Constitution in its Islamic and original form and bring in a Islamic revolution. He termed the MMA's success a victory of the Ummah at large. Its topmost priority would be to relieve the country of American hegemony, overhaul the Government and administrative machinery and ``purification'' of the institutions. He vowed to act as a coordinator between the West and the MMA to remove the wrong impressions about Islam. Lamenting that the Western media had depicted a wrong picture of Pakistan's religious parties, he said they would have to change their attitude now. He said prayers five times a day and `Tahajjud' shall be made compulsory for all from a Governor to peon and TV and Radio would have to gradually change from the Western-style to Islamic norms of life. He promised women rights under Islamic jurisdiction.
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