ISLMABAD: The secretary general of Milli Yekjehti Council (MYC), Liaquat Baloch, on Thursday condemned suicide bombings and the use of violence by extremists in Pakistan for achieving their goals and said that Shariat cannot be implemented at gunpoint.

“This is not the way to impose the right way of governance, but successive governments have also failed to implement the constitution of Pakistan in its true form,” Mr Baloch said adding: “This has given rise to disgruntled elements who have been swayed by extremism.”

Mr Baloch, who is also the president of the Punjab chapter of Jamaat-i- Islami (JI), said poor political acumen and corruption on part of the national leadership were the main reasons behind the instability and chaotic situation in Pakistan that also led to derailing of democracy several times.

“And this is the same reason for the lack of unity among the Muslim ummah as a result of which there is nobody even to speak up against the barbaric acts of Israel against the civilian population of Gaza,” he added.

JI’s Liaquat Baloch says govts failed to properly implement Constitution

He was speaking at a seminar held under the aegis of the MYC to observe the last Friday of Ramazan as Youm al-Quds, and to highlight the plight of the Palestinians.

“The people of Palestine are facing inhuman treatment in the hands of Israel. How come every boy and girl of Palestine is a terrorist,” he added. “There is no human rights body and no organisation to stop the catastrophe.”

He lauded the late Iranian revolutionary leader for giving the call to remember the continued occupation of Quds every year.

“Imam Khomeni had declared to observe Jumatul wida as Yum al Quds and it is essential upon all the Muslims otherwise the Israelis will even raze the first Kaaba of Muslims,” he said.

The JI is the major component of the MYC that was established in mid- 1990s as a deterrence to counter sectarianism in country. The MYC includes political and non-political groups belonging to almost all sects, including Shia, Barelvi, Deobandi and Ahle Hadis.

The speakers slammed the leadership of Muslim countries for not doing enough to stop the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.

Some of them even criticised the Muslim countries which have diplomatic ties with Israel and said at least these Arab countries should recall their ambassadors from Israel.Meanwhile, senior leader MYC Allama Sajid Naqvi said Muslims needed to forge unity and rise for the cause of justice.

“A weak person cannot have a strong voice,” he said and added that the governments of Muslim countries had shown weakness by not rising up to the expectations of the people over the Gaza crisis.

Mufti Mohammad Yousuf of Jamaatud Dawa on the occasion called for jehad against Israel.

“This is an illegitimate state carved out by the colonial powers violating all norms of international politics and we must stand united to fight this tyranny under the banner of sword,” he said.

It has been decided that protest demonstrations would be held after Friday prayers.

Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen will take out a protest rally from the G-6 Imambargah to D. Chowk, while another such procession will be taken out from Aabpara chowk by the component parties of the MYC.

Published in Dawn, July 25th , 2014