Speaking at a gathering of a large number of foreign ambassadors/high commissioners in Islamabad, they dismissed the impression that there was any clash of civilizations going on between Islam and other religions, or that the Islamists coalition in Pakistan would severe their economic and political ties with the rest of the world.
They categorically declared that the perception of the so-called war of civilization was a misnomer as far as Islamist political parties were concerned as they remained part and parcel of overall national politics for years.
MMA vice-president and Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed, MMA Secretary-General and candidate for prime ministership Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Jamaat deputy chief Prof Khurshid Ahmed spoke on the occasion. They also replied to various queries of a group of ambassadors and high commissioners.
Qazi Hussain Ahmed told the diplomats that the focal point of the MMA’s politicking was 1973 Constitution, and it wanted to run the country in line with the requirement of the objective resolution which enshrined upon the people of Pakistan to live in accordance with the injunctions of Islam.
He said: “We want fraternal relationship with all countries and do not want to become a pariah state”. He also dispelled the impression about ‘Jehad’, saying the term means an utmost endeavour for peace and justice for the oppressed against the oppressor.
He said the MMA wanted federalism with autonomy to provinces and equality of rights including women education. “We will be ready to sit in opposition if we feel our principles are to be compromised for making an alliance”, he added.
The ambassadors from Sweden, Germany, Italy, India and Muaritius put specific questions with reference to the apprehensions in the western world, including the United States, about the perceptions of the Islamic bloc which has won the third largest majority seats in the Oct 10 polls.
Maulana Fazlur Rahman, in his concluding remarks, said: “Islam stands for good relations with all nations, irrespective of their religion.”
He said: “We believe that the world resources belong to the humankind. Therefore, few powerful nations should refrain from using power to grab them and from depriving the rightful share of those who own the resources”.
He called upon the world powers to inculcate habit of dialogue on sharing of world resources instead of using brutal force to get the resources.
In reply to a question of the Indian high commissioner about MMA’s concept of the freedom struggle of the Kashmiris with reference to Gen Musharraf’s perception that Pakistan’s soil will not be allowed to be used for unleashing ‘terrorism’, Fazl said: “Pakistan and its people have a clear policy on Kashmir as they want its solution according to the UN resolutions and under the spirit of the Simla Agreement”.
“We invite India to come to bilateral dialogue to settle this long-standing issue on the basis of justice as the right to self-determination to the Kashmiris was also admitted by late Indian prime minister Nehru”, said the MMA leader.
When the head of the European Commission team asked about the MMA policy on foreign aid and debts, Prof Khurshid said the MMA was committed to the vision of economic growth with justice to benefit the common man.
He said, besides stress on self-reliance, we would also emphasise the economic growth through domestic production as well as foreign investment, and we would abide by all international commitments in this regard.
The foreign aid, he said, was more benefiting the donor countries than Pakistan, and this policy ought to be reviewed rationally. “We will grow our economy on interest-free basis”, he maintained.