Branded a “sponsor of terrorism” by the Trump administration for failing to act against extremism, Pakistan has sought to polish its image by decreeing that only the state has the right to issue a jihad (holy war).
But now some Islamist politicians want the government to use its new powers to settle the most prickly issue in Pakistan’s fragile relationship with India: its historic claims over the contested territory of Kashmir.
The order was included in a fatwa (decree) against terrorism, entitled Paigham-e-Pakistan (“Pakistan’s message”), which the government announced on January 16 at a ceremony headed by President Mamnoon Hussain and addressed by many Islamic scholars.
Its two most significant features are the declaration that only the state can announce a jihad, and a decree that any move to impose Sharia law needs to conform with legal statutes. The fatwa seeks to address challenges in Pakistani society created by terrorism, sectarianism and religious extremism.
But quite unexpectedly, the decree has prompted calls by prominent Islamist parties for the government to formally launch a jihad in Indian-held Kashmir, as well as in Afghanistan.
Government sources close to the drafting of Paigham-e-Pakistan have confirmed that Islamist leaders are agitated over the decree and are keen to capitalize on the state’s capitulation to a Tehrik Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY)-led protest rally in Islamabad in November.
Islamist leaders are agitated over the decree and are keen to capitalize on the state’s capitulation to a Tehrik Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY)-led protest rally in Islamabad in November
“The government is already under pressure over the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat (finality of the prophethood) issue, and after the TLY dharna [sit-in], the religious groups are gaining strength and want a formal announcement of jihad,” a government official, who worked on the draft, told Asia Times. “And so the edict that was designed to counter radicalism is being misused to render it counterproductive.”
Abdur Rauf Farooqi, the Secretary General of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Sami (JUI-S), the political face of a prominent Taliban seminary, confirmed that the demand for a state jihad has been forwarded.
“If the fatwa has made jihad the state’s prerogative, then we demand (the) formal launch of jihad in Kashmir immediately. Because Kashmir belongs to Pakistan and has been illegally occupied by India,” he told Asia Times. “Furthermore, since the Afghanistan Taliban are engaged in jihad against (the) US and NATO occupation, Pakistan should participate in Afghan jihad as well,” Farooqi added.
Ameer-ul-Azeem of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) agreed that Pakistan should engage in jihad to ‘‘safeguard Muslim interests’’. “Even if a formal announcement cannot be made for whatever reasons, the covert jihad that the state has been involved in should continue at full throttle.
‘Safeguarding Muslim interests’
“Also to ensure Muslim unity, there needs to be strict implementation of Islamic law, which as per Paigham-e-Pakistan is also the state’s responsibility,” Ameer-ul-Azeem said.
Amjad Khan of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), the party that has been in coalition with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and whose leader Fazl-ur-Rehman was closely involved in the formulation of Paigham-e-Pakistan, said that a formal launch of jihad was under consideration.
“We’ve been discussing this for a long time and have ulema (religious scholars) from all schools of thought on board,” he told Asia Times. “The state should take all the ulema (Body of Muslim scholars) on board and make the announcement.”
Meanwhile, Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), the political wing of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which was involved in the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, feels the Paigham-e-Pakistan decree vindicates the stance of the group and their leader Hafiz Saeed.
JuD spokesman Nadeem Awan said the group was founded on its demand for a formal announcement of a Kashmir jihad. ‘‘That has been our demand throughout. Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular vein and the state should do whatever it takes to liberate it.
‘That has been our demand throughout. Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular vein and the state should do whatever it takes to liberate it’
“We’ve actually contributed written literature on this front more than anyone else. Pakistan should formally announce jihad and Kashmir, and we should also support the Afghan Taliban to liberate Afghanistan from the US,” he said to Asia Times.
Referring to the Afghan Taliban, which the JUI-S openly backs with its seminary Dar Ul Uloom Haqqania, Abdur Rauf Farooqi stressed that the Pakistani state should recall its own policies from the past.
“It was our state that prepared the mujahideen for Afghan jihad, now it should follow through with that struggle,” he said.
“Not just that, since Pakistan is also an Islamic state, it should announce global jihad to liberate Muslims around the world, especially Palestine. I think that’s the part that the Saudi-led Islamic military coalition led by [former Army Chief] Raheel Sharif should play.”
Farooqi added that until the “actual causes” behind terrorism were addressed, no counter-terror fatwa would work. “These include the spread of secular ideas in society,” he maintained.
While the current Pakistan Army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, has been making placatory noises, the latest move to dissociate the state from charges of supporting terrorism seems to have backfired.
Because I am a Kashmiri dweller and I know the reality.
You got 100% of my support. I too would love to see an independent Kashmir free of Asia’s nuclear powers and who has her own voice in the UN.
Since Pakistan stated that only the "state" can issue a fatwa it is not up to any renegade group to tell islamabad when to declare one and for what purpose. This group is NOT the state.
Pakistan’s stand is about similar to India where declaration of a war is a state issue.
I am a Kashmiri living in Pakistani controlled Kashmir. I belong to party that support Kashmir for Kashmiris regardless of their religeons. We are struggling for an independant state of Kashmir which will be based on secular and social democratic ideologies. India and Pakistan are no one to control and kill us on our own lands. Both having dirty and bad intentions to grab our land and resources and keep us like slave. 84471 square miles area of our state puts us respectable on world map. Religeous hatred is spread by India and Pakistan just to fulfil and justify their forced occupation.
Khalid Ahmad دے رہے ہیں تمھیں جو آج رفاقت کا فریب
ان کی تاریخ پٖڑھوگے تو دھل جاؤگے
اپنی مٹی پہ ہی چلنے کا سلیقہ سیکھو
سنگ مرمر پہ چلوگے تو پھسل جاؤگے
Mr Ravinder just remember that Indian leaders are not less fool than their Pakistani counter parts. Pakistan was not created by Jinnah. It was created by leaders of Congress. Kindly read History with open eyes. Just remember most of Today’s Jihadis were with Congress & against Jinnah.
But once PK was created Mullahs started a covert operation to destroy PK from within by dividing it on sectarian lines & then along religious lines.
Then Came CIA . Rest is open history that how these Ullah played at the hand of CIA. They Danced at the Music played by CIA. American $ were falling on them like rain. Now these blood thirsty Mullahs do not know anything other than blood.
India is not an innocent victim in all this.
They first attacked PK on they day when Jinnah died & took away a big chunk of Pakistan. (State of Haiderabad & Junagarh). If Kashmir belongs to India just because Maharaja of Kashmir decided to join India then by same Logic States of Haiderabad & Junaghar belongs to PK????????.
Let’s be honest with History & stop the self destructive behaviors of India & Pakistan.
Let Kashmiri people decide their own fate, as simple as that.
My narrative is not dishonest. If like ostrich you want to bury your head in the sand then nothing can be done. Mullah put the Capital of Pakistan under siege for more than a month & Govt. Could not do anything, proves that they are Eunichs.
Army needs Mullahs for their own political reasons. Pakistani Govt., Judiciary & army are not secular by nature. May be leaders are in their personal life secular but when it comes to Puclic policy religion is always used as a pawn. That has eroded religious harmony in the country & led to migration of educated class from minorities.
If some one criticize the policies it should not be taken as an attack on Pakistan. I am sure I am not less patriot then you.
By the way I am 1000% more patriotic then these Self destructive Mullahs.
“Deenay Mullah Fee Sabilillah Fassad”.
These Maulvies need the Ataturk Treatment, & 100% of them deserve to be thrown in the sea.
Only way to save PK is Destroy Mullahs. Otherwise they will destroy PK????????.
❤️????????.
Hardik Bhabhor: You claim that “Modi is our Hero! A true phase of esteem of selfless Hindu people! “ It was the same “hero” who was banned from entering the United States because of his dirty role in anti-Muslim riots in Gujrat. Some excerpts from Times of India story dated 18 March 2005: Quote In a severe rebuke to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the United States has denied him entry to America. Taking a strong stand against the senior BJP leader and Hindutva icon, the US Consular division on Friday denied him a "diplomatic visa", apparently holding him responsible for the communal riots in Gujarat in 2002 which claimed over 2000 lives. In addition, his tourist/business visa which was already granted has also been revoked under a section of US Immigration and Nationality Act.A US embassy spokesman confirmed that the "Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi had applied for but was denied diplomatic visa under 214 (b) of Immigration and Nationality Act because he was not coming for a purpose that qualify for a diplomatic visa." Unquote Link: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-entry-for-Modi-into-US-visa-denied/articleshow/1055543.cms
There was also a ban on your “hero” to enter the United Kingdom. An excerpt from Daily Telegraph dated12 October 2012. Since 2002, Mr Modi has been shunned by several countries including the United States, which denied him an entry visa in 2005 and Britain which cut all official contact with his government. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/9605070/British-decision-to-lift-ban-on-Narendra-Modi-criticised.html
Do you see any “phase of esteem” for Narendri Modi, after going through the above?
Syed Abbas They can harm each other if they insist, but they have no right to violate the life of non-Muslims who want nothing to do with Islam. Leave us alone!