No rift in MMA, says Qazi

Published July 17, 2006

LAHORE, July 16: Jamaat-i-Islami Amir Qazi Husain Ahmad on Sunday said the result of `rigged’ Azad Kashmir’s elections was a trailer of the upcoming national polls under Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Addressing the concluding session of Central Training Workshop here, he said Gen Musharraf wanted a government in Azad Kashmir, which could connive with him to further international conspiracies to settle the cause of Kashmir in favour of New Delhi.

The new assembly, he said, would prove to be a coffin for burying the Kashmir cause.

The people, who were afraid of religious atmosphere, were scared of becoming part of mass movement against the secular rulers. Instead, they wanted `fixed’ elections in the country wherein they would be happy with the seats earmarked for them by the Musharraf government, he said.

He categorically denied rumours about discord in MMA’s ranks and said certain out of context statements of MMA leaders were played out of proportion by the media. That was a part of the government’s drive to weaken the six-party alliance, he added.

Qazi Husain took a strong exception to the closure of BA (Hons) Islamic Studies programme at Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre of the Punjab University. This, he claimed, was done at the behest of USA because of the unique course focusing on Islam. Pakistan, he said, was created to protect the distinct identity of Muslims and now slogan of Pathan, Punjabi, Sindhi and Balochi was resonating in every nook and corner of Pakistan.

Condemning the assassination of Allama Turabi, he said civil and military bureaucracy could not overcome the lawlessness prevalent in the country. He said sectarianism was being fanned to disintegrate the very foundations of the country.

He urged the masses to take an active part in the upcoming mass movement because if the people of Nepal, Palestine, Kashmir and elsewhere could sacrifice to reclaim their usurped rights, citizens of Lahore should make the Aug 14 public meeting a success with their mammoth participation.

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