Once again, the chief of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Maulana Fazlur Rehman has used religion to target Prime Minister Imran Khan. On Sunday, he said that the Opposition’s ongoing campaign against Prime Minister Imran Khan is equivalent to “jihad”, and backtracking from it will be a “major sin”. He was addressing a rally of the 11-party alliance at Bahawalpur’s Seraiki Chowk.
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Fazl said that people from all walks of life participated in PDM’s “grand rally,” and that the attendees of the rally have expressed their “distrust in the PTI-led government.” “The PDM is fighting for democratic freedom,” he said. “We have started this national movement for the noble purpose [of democracy].”
Dismissing the rumored conflicts within the alliance, the JUI-F chief alleged that the government had been “waiting for the PDM to break up” during its January 1 meeting.
Earlier, Maryam Nawaz, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) vice-President, used different strategies to garner votes and sympathies from the people. A video was circulating on social media, where Maryam Nawaz can be seen using the Holy names of our Prophet PBUH’s grandchildren. Maryam Nawaz said that Hassan and Hussain are believers, my brothers are also Hussain and Hassan, and we are also believers of Ahl-al-Bait.
In Pakistan, politicians often seen using religion to garner political support or to target political opponents. In a report, Naya Daur has noted that “Pakistani politicians have long used religion as a tool to woo their voters and elevate themselves to positions of power”. PML-N leader Muhammad Safdar in October 2017 dedicated his entire speech in the National Assembly (NA) to spew venom against the persecuted Ahmadi community
While calling for strict action against the community, Safdar had said that he wanted to introduce a resolution in the NA to “ban the recruitment of Ahmedis in the armed forces. Ironically, he had also served in the armed forces of Pakistan.
Political Fatwa of Maulana Fazul against the PTI
In May 2013, Maulana Fazlur Rehman declared it ‘haram’ to vote in favor of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Chief Imran Khan and his candidates. He alleged Imran Khan for being sponsored by the West and the Jewish lobby. He also called Imran an agent of “Americans, Jews, Ahmadis and a person of ill character”.
Maulana further attacked Imran’s family and said that “a person who could not make his own children Muslim nor Pakistani, is dreaming of becoming the Prime Minister of Pakistan and making the country an Islamic welfare state.”
Read more: When All Else Failed, Maulana Fazlur Rehman played Religion Card
It was interesting to note that when Maulana was asked to identify the reasoning behind the idea that Imran was really an American or Jewish agent, he confidently asserted that “I am asked, ‘what is the proof that he (Imran Khan) is an agent of the Jews,’ I say there is only one proof and it is my own responsible personality. I am so righteous that I would never talk ill against anyone. This is enough that Maulana Fazlur Rehman says that he is a Jewish agent.”
PTI defeated Maulana’s MMA
Notably, PTI has white-washed the Maulana’s party in the last general elections. The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) — an alliance of religio-political parties, which first emerged in the history of Pakistan during 2002 elections, was once again revived. Maulana was made its Chairman. The head of Jamaat-e-Islami, Siraj-ul-Haq also welcomed the MMA and thanked Allah for its restoration. “We are thankful to Allah for this. The restoration of MMA for the protection of the Islamic identity of the country, its safety, and security is welcome news for democratic stability. Running the country according to the constitution and Islamic principles is necessary,” said Sirajul Haq.
MMA, like other political parties and interests groups, used identity card to seek political support in the general elections. According to the party, the biggest threat to religious political parties in their respective areas was the presence of PTI. The best strategy devised by the leaders of the religious parties was to get organized, make an alliance and defeat the PTI. However, as the results demonstrated, it did not appear to have worked.