Are we in for another kind of proxy war?
While serious questions persist about the role of Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind, vis-a-vis the creation of Pakistan, the JUI-F – which claims to be its offshoot – celebrated the centenary of the party for three days. The big show was facilitated by the PML-N government which is understandable as JUI-F happens to be its ally. That the gathering was arranged in KP indicates the keenness on the part of both PML-N and JUI-F to try to wrest the province from the PTI. An alliance with the PML-N made it easier to get visas for clerics from different countries including India and Bangladesh. Fazl ur Rehman was out to use the centenary gatherings for political muscle flexing.
It was highly unusual for the Saudi government to be officially represented at a political party’s show of force. Imam of Kaaba led the Friday prayers, drawing hundreds who might not otherwise support JUI-F. The Saudi Minister for religious affairs addressed the gathering. This would be seen by rival parties as an act of partisanship from a government expected to show neutrality in Pakistan’s internal politics. The Saudi officials’ participation compromised the position of the Saudi government as well as that of the JUI-F which would be labelled as Saudi proxy by its competitors
On the eve of the conference, JUI-F Secretary General Abdul Ghafur Haideri made an odd offer to the TTP to join his party and achieve their objectives through peaceful means. The call was issued at a time when terrorists from Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi al-Alami, which are part of the TTP, are continuing to conduct ruthless attacks on minority sects, security agencies and general public. The network aims at breaking up the Muslim majority states and creating instead a world-wide Khilafat. It was understandable to invite leaders from PPP, PML-N and Jamaat-e-Islami to the gathering. A Christian cleric had also been invited as a show piece. There was however no representation from the Shia community or its political organisations. Few would buy Fazl ur Rehman’s claim that he represents the entire Ummah rather than any sect.