By Rania Abouzeid, June 17, 2010 Thursday, June 17, 2010 - 10:25 AM Share
Pakistan's
government appears keen these days to coddle its Islamist allies. A little over
a week ago, Interior Minister Rehman Malik kissed
and made up with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of the conservative Jamiat
Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F). The JUI-F had threatened to walk out of the weak
coalition government unless its demands were promptly met.
And
what a list of demands. Chief among its priorities was the release of more than
300 JUI-F prisoners picked
up from various parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for their alleged support or
active involvement with the Taliban. The government rapidly folded, agreeing to
free the terror suspects, most of whom have reportedly not been tried yet in a
court of law.
But
that's not all. The government also agreed to appoint one of Rehman's men to
head the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), a constitutional body that advises
parliament and the government on Shari'a law. A conservative JUI-F cleric from
Baluchistan, Mohammad Khan Sheerani will chair the body after its current
chief, the charismatic, moderate Mohammad Khalid Masood, steps down in the next
few days.
Pakistan's
rights community was quick to criticize the move. In a scathing statement released earlier this
week, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said it was "seriously concerned
that such nominations would strengthen forces of obscurantism and strongly
suggests that CII positions should not be given away as a reward for political
services of dubious value." The appointment is "too heavy a price to pay for
the passage of the federal budget, or even the survival of the federal
government," it said.
Members
of the Women's Action Forum (WAF), a non-governmental organization which has in
the past brought public attention to examples of Islamist extremism against
women, also expressed "serious reservations" over
the expected appointment of the JUI-F cleric, claiming that his membership in a
political party disqualified him from what is considered a non-political
scholarly post. Mullahs and ministers don't mix, the NGO said in statements published
in the Pakistani press, highlighting the historic example of former leader
General Zia al-Haq, who Islamized Pakistani society back in the 1980s at the
expense of women and minorities.
Their
fears may not be displaced. The JUI-F, after all, is the same organization that
turned on former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after he described members of
a persecuted sect, the Ahmadis, as "our brethren and an asset of the country."
More
than 90 Ahmadis were killed and scores wounded in two well-coordinated attacks
on Ahmadi mosques in the Punjabi capital, Lahore, late last month. The Ahmadis
are considered non-Muslims by Pakistani law because they do not accept that the
Prophet Muhammad was the last of God's messengers. They also worship their 19th
century founder, Mirza Ghulum Ahmad. It's illegal for an Ahmadi to "directly or
indirectly" pose as a Muslim or act "in any manner whatsoever (that) outrages
the religious feelings of Muslims."
Despite
Sharif's best efforts to backpeddle, the JUI-F and other religious groups
quickly pounced, claiming his comments were potentially blasphemous and
definitely unconstitutional (The second
amendment of the Pakistani constitution declares Ahmadis non-Muslim).
JUI-F leader
Fazlur Rehman, Rehman Malik's strange new political pal, is also using his
new-found leverage to try to revive the Islamist alliance Muttahida
Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), a six-member coalition of religious parties that
disintegrated in 2007 following bitter policy rifts. Rehman, a burly cleric with
a snow-white beard and distinctive orange turban, is effectively trying to be
in the opposition and the government at the same time.
The question now is will the JUI-F chief, Rehman, revive
the MMA, and if so will he push the government more toward the opposition's
anti-American views? Perhaps, but it seems not everyone is prepared to coddle
him. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) senior leader Siraj-ul-Haq, a former member of the
MMA, called
Rehman out on Wednesday. "The JUI-F will have to quit the government if it
is interested in reviving the MMA," he said at a press conference. Maybe it's true; you can't have your halwa and eat it too, not
even if you're Fazlur Rehman.
Rania Abouzeid is an
independent journalist based in Islamabad.
These are the same islamists that protect you from India, USA and Israel and you dare to insult them ? What Sharif said was blasphemous read some law and you will understand. The Ahmedis are not muslim (even if they say they are). May be you are so worked up because you are a girl and your family didn't allow you to go to picnic in USA. Well, you should know that Islamists have always worked for the betterment of womenfolk. Don't you see all the schools they have opened ? Don't you see the justice their organisations deliver to battered women, they never ask them for any money like modern courts and protect the islamic culture and values of the region at the same time. They are the guardians of society. I can't imagine a world without them. Look at all the political stability you see here. It is because of these same islamists that you dare to mock in your biased article. These people are defender of Islamic faith, these are not terrorists. You know that people who kill innocents are not islamists or muslims they are just plain hooligans.
You are deliberately clubbing some traitor terrorists with Islamists. I request you to go outside your house and take a look at the ground reality.
If Gen Zia Ul Haq wouldn't have curbed some civil liberties at home pakistan might have not won the war against India and USSR at the same time. And don't say coddling it sounds as if they are kids. It is giving the right post to a deserving person.
Ashoka, firstly start using your correct religious identity - you are a Pakistani muslim so please do not hide under name of Ashoka who spread Budhdhism - whose Bamiyan Budhdhas your ISI sponsored Islamic/Taliban govt. destroyed while whole world watched in horror.
Secondly, thanks for showing your true colours with comments to writer like - "May be you are so worked up because you are a girl and your family didn't allow you to go to picnic in USA." What an MCP you sound!
Thirdly, Ahmedis ARE muslim. In 56 out of 57 countries of OIC (Organisation of Islamic Countries). Even in Saudi arabia - the heartland of Arebic, Islamic salafi-wahabi conservatism!
Forthly, WHY Ahmedis born in Pakistan can't have equal rights when they are as much Pakistani as yourself?
If Mullas are the "guardian of the Pakistani society" then all I can do is wish you the best! REALLY! You NEED it!
This is Islamist BS. The MMA and its supporters have screwed Pakistan up, are obscurationist and teh biggets security threat to Pakistan. Luckily no one also votes for them and will be less likely to do so in the future - barring the support of military dictators. Oh an we haven't 'won the war' against India and are struggling to not be a failed state casue of Zia's policies in case you haven't noticed.
Your comment really made me laugh. I was just watching Chapelle's Show, and I found your little rant there to be way more amusing than Dave impregnating Oprah. Props to you, my Islamist comedian friend. You know, if a career in Pakistani politics doesn't work out for you, then maybe you should consider one in comedy.
But in all seriousness, what is wrong with you? Ahmadis are not Muslims? Thats like saying Methodists are not Christian. The methods and details may be a bit different, I'll give you that. But you guys belong to the same religious branch! Now I'm not an expert on the various Islamic sects and all, but you guys all believe in the word of Allah. Right? Therefore, that makes you the same.
Another thing I don't understand about you Islamists is your problem with women. Whats the big deal if a woman wants to run for political office? So what if she wants to get an education and have a professional career for herself? I think part of Pakistan's salvation lies in the women, because you Pakistani guys haven't done a lot of good for your country. And the numbers will prove me right.
And by the way, change your name. You're clearly not an Ashoka. Probably a Mohammed or an Abdul or something. Grow a pair...
If Ahmedis are muslims then scientologists are also christians. You people can decide which sects to recognise and pakistan can't ? That is the biased American-Jewish-Blackhindoo-Nazi thinking expected from you. And no Islamist ever had a problem with women, they have a problem with Islamists, like the writer above. These women with 'western values' forget all about their culture and civilization and say tomorrow that they won't cook and clean and what more they want to study the same western education that has corrupted so many muslims all over the world. I say this is nothing but a western conspiracy against Islam.
And sean what grow a pair ? Real Islamists are forbidden from keeping moustache. It is Haram.
Read more on Zionist-American war against Islamic world on my friend Orange's Blog :
lalqila.wordpress.com
@ And AESHAN you traitor give me your father's phone no. Let me talk to him. He should also know what blasphemous things his son is doing here.
Let me start by saying that all religion is BS (Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, etc). Its all just literature of the self-help and historical genres. That is just my take on it. But I digress...
Scientology is not the same as Christianity. They share little to no common ideas. Last I checked, they don't recognize Jesus. Not in the way the Christians do. They don't even have the same prayer book, not even bastardized versions. However, the Ahmadis and Muslims do have several core beliefs in common: accepting Muhammad as the prophet, facing the Qabba during prayer, and accepting the Quran as their text. The argument is made that much stronger by the fact that Ahmadiyya is a product of Islam. Scientology is not a product of Christianity by any means, and many independent scholars can prove me right on that regard. So face it, Ahmadis are basically Muslims. Just the same as Methodists and Evangelists are basically Christian.
Now as for the women... So what if they accept Western values? Maybe some Western values have merit. So you and your wife are having an argument and she wont cook your dinner for you that night. So what? Can't you make it yourself? Wait, I forgot. You guys like to have women cowering in fear of you because it makes you feel better about yourselves.
And by the way, I just loooove your comment about my perceived American-Jew-Blackhindoo-Nazi attitude. Keep the names coming, bro!
""Read more on Zionist-American war against Islamic world on my friend Orange's Blog :
lalqila.wordpress.com""
Oh, thank Zeus for that. No insane fundamentalist islamist post is complete without a link to Lal Qila, the reigning champ of South Asian Fundamentalist Muslim inferiority complexes.
Rania Aboyzeid’s is a very small minority view in Pakistan which has overwhelming majority of fundamentalist Islamists.
Let us not forget that Benazir Bhutto’s democratic government of its own free will facilitated the relocation of Osama bin Laden from Sudan to Afghanistan in 1996.
Ex-CIA official Bruce Riedel said in an interview on 1/29/2009 that ''In Pakistan, the jihadist Frankenstein monster that was created by the Pakistani army and the Pakistani intelligence service, is now increasingly turning on its creators. It's trying to take over the laboratory.'' Pakistani Army and Intelligence Service (ISI) chose to create this ‘jihadist Frankenstein monster’ with full blessings and financing by Pakistan ’s democratic governments in 1990s.
Sandy Berger, Bill Clinton’s national security advisor told 9/11 Commission in March, 2004 that ’Pakistani Army was the midwife of Taliban’.
Declassified DIA Washington D.C., "IIR (intelligence Information Report) Pakistan Involvement in Afghanistan ," dated November 7, 1996 states how " Pakistan 's ISI is heavily involved in Afghanistan ," and also details different roles various ISI officers play in Afghanistan . Stating that Pakistan uses sizable numbers of its Pashtun-based Frontier Corps in Taliban-run operations in Afghanistan , the document clarifies that, "these Frontier Corps elements are utilized in command and control; training; and when necessary combat“.
Declassified U.S. Department of State, Cable "Pakistan Support for Taliban" from Islamabad dated Sept. 26, 2000 states that "while Pakistani support for the Taliban has been long-standing, the magnitude of recent support is unprecedented." In response Washington orders the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad to immediately confront Pakistani officials on the issue and to advise Islamabad that the U.S. has "seen reports that Pakistan is providing the Taliban with materiel, fuel, funding, technical assistance and military advisors. [The Department] also understand[s] that large numbers of Pakistani nationals have recently moved into Afghanistan to fight for the Taliban, apparently with the tacit acquiescence of the Pakistani government." Additional reports indicate that direct Pakistani involvement in Taliban military operations has increased.
So Pakistan has always been a hotbed of Islamic fundamentalism created and maintained by its own military as well as democratic governments and will continue to suffer as long as it shelters, harbors, supports and nurtures innumerable terrorist outfits on its soil.
FP should really be more diligent in removing trolls (and the occasional ads for knockoff fashion goods).
I've been following FP's South Asia related articles, and their responses, and I suspect Lalqila, Aurangazeb and now this Ashok2718 are either all the same person. Or maybe Ashok is someone responding to the noise created by the first two.
And I can't imagine anyone actually responding to Ashok's original message : didn't anyone else think it was a spoof ?
As I've said before, these guys (or 1 guy, whatever the case may be; its clear the Khan guy and Lal Quila are in fact the same person) do more to undermine their own 'cause' by their irrational, conspiratorial, racist, fundamentalist postings than if they simply did nothing at all. I think they provide a useful service in that regard to some degree. (if they werent so freaking boring and prolific at the same time). Aside from Suresh (or whatever his name is), there isnt really anyone on the other side of their crazy debate... they constantly accuse anyone who disagrees with them as being 'hindoo'; when the funny part is that you cant find a single 'zionist' or 'hindoo' screed here provide them any example of the beast they think they are fighting against. As long as they have their invisible monsters to fight, they end up looking like idiots. I would prefer however if they kept their posts shorter. They take away from the many other rational, sane, informed commentators have to offer, and probably scare some away, thinking this is some hotbed for jihadists...
But in all seriousness, what is wrong with you? Ahmadis are not Muslims? Thats like saying Methodists are not Christian. The methods and details may be a bit different, I'll give you that. But you guys belong to the same religious branch! Now I'm not an expert on the various Islamic sects and all, but you guys all believe in the word of Allah. Right? Therefore, that makes you the same.
Another thing I don't understand about you Islamists is your problem with women. Whats the big deal if a woman wants to run for political office? So what if she wants to get an education and have a professional career for herself? I think part of Pakistan's replica omega salvation lies in the women, because you Pakistani guys haven't done a lot of good for your country. And the numbers will prove me right.
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