Daily Times

In the debate, ‘Who is a shaheed (martyr) and who is not’, we have gone too far, much to the amusement of our enemy. What the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer said was unfortunate, and it really hurt the sentiments of people, the army and the polity. But most of all unfortunate is the JI’s opting to stick to its Ameer’s stance, probably to gain political mileage. The JI was not in the mainstream. The press release only served to retrieve its ‘lost glory’.

This tiny issue has itself helped to distract the nation’s attention from more pressing issues. The Pakistan intelligence agencies have issued reports indicating a rise in sectarian strife in Punjab during the month of Muharram. Two banned organisations will assail opponents during the last three days of Muharrum on the dates of 8th, 9th and 10th respectively. Terrorists will carry out targeted attacks on Shia gatherings, majaalis (commemorative gatherings) and mourning processions, as well as assassinating specific and prominent personalities in order to accomplish their ulterior motives.

This news came amidst reports that the US Senate Intelligence Committee has quietly approved a plan to step up both public and internal government oversight of the use of armed drones to kill suspected militants overseas, including US citizens. According to Reuters, the committee voted in closed session earlier this week to approve legislative language that would require the US spy agencies to make public statistics on how many people were killed or injured in missile strikes launched from US-operated drones. The committee also approved language intended to bolster scrutiny of spy agency deliberations over decisions about targeting US citizens or residents for lethal drone strikes overseas. The Obama administration has been under pressure from foreign governments, the UN and human rights groups to be more transparent and rigorous in accounting for the civilian casualties caused by drone strikes. Though the committee did not release full details of its deliberations on the measures, sources familiar with the discussions said that some committee Republicans were opposed to the drone-related clauses in the bill, which would authorise intelligence activities for the current government fiscal year that began on October 1.

With this in mind, some saner elements have stepped forward and started creating an environment of rapprochement, urging the JI to offer an apology and asking the military leadership to ignore it. One of the leading analysts, Ehsan Mahmood Khan, who recently authored a book, Human Security in Pakistan, said: “Syed Munawwar Hasan’s statement looks to be an isolated and personal opinion. Consider a while that Liaquat Baloch, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General, visited the native town of Major-General Sanaullah Khan Niazi in Daud Khel, Mianwali, on September 18, 2013. He offered condolences with the martyr’s younger brothers, Rehmatullah Khan Niazi, DIG, and Ameenullah Khan, ex-Nazim, and paid rich tribute to the deceased. The JI’s local leadership was also accompanying him. Addressing a conference there he told the media that the Pakistan army’s sacrifices in the defence of the country were matchless and unprecedented. ‘The whole nation is proud of its brave soldiers and officers.’ He said that the external involvement in this tragic act could not be unattended, as it has been traced in many cases in the past. This is the time that the Pakistan army, people, political government and media are on one page, which is good omen indeed. Does it mean that Munawwar Hasan and Liaquat Baloch have different views or their point of view is not that of the Jamaat-e-Islami?”Addressing a press conference on the spot, he said that the sacrifices of Pakistan army to curb extremism are matchless, and that the entire nation is proud of its army men.

However, another analyst, Hussain Naqi, has a different opinion. He said, “Howsoever belated, the ISPR retort to JI Amir Munawwar Hasan is interesting but one is surprised that the ISPR spokesperson was unaware that Munawwar’s mentor Maulana Maudoodi, whom the ISPR spokesperson mentioned with admiration, had exactly similar views about the shuhada of Pakistan army’s 1948 Kashmir war, and what Maulana Maudoodi had said about the creation of Pakistan is also well known. For almost half a century, the army top brass has been collaborating with the Jamaat-e-Islami and its political philosophy in violation of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s secular standpoint about Pakistan’s polity.”

In Shahbaz Thuttal’s view, the Indians and CIA must be enjoying the outburst of the JI Ameer, as what they have been trying for the last over 60 years to divide the Pakistan nation in two groups and spread hatred against the army is now being actively done by the JI, who were the great supporters of Ziaul Haq and even became ministers under him. The Nawaz government should take a firm and strong stand. Now, otherwise, they will continue to be blackmailed by the JI. It is very strange that the PML-N is the only party that has not given any response so far, except for its Sindh Assembly minority that joined the resolution against the JI Amir’s salvo. All other parties have supported the press release.

In his view, Riaz Jafri said, “I think we should bury the hatchet right here. The JI Ameer said something and the army and the general public gave their own point of view. That should be the end of it instead of insisting upon an ‘unconditional apology’ and the Ameer sticking to his own guns. Any further digging into the issue is likely to widen the chasm within the nation. Who is a shaheed and who is not, is not for them to decide. As a general belief all soldiers laying down their lives for their country and cause are assumed to be shaheed. Even in the Indian army any soldier dying on the front is called shaheed — irrespective of his being a Muslim or non-Muslim. Muhammad Rafi’s famous song has become immortal in this context and he is not addressing only the Indian Muslims in it: “Watan ki raah me watan ke naujavan shaheed ho/Pukarate hai ye zamin-o-aasama’an shaheed ho/Shaheed teri maut hi tere watan ki zindagi/Tere lahu se jaag uthegi is chaman ki zindagi.” However, he said, Syed Munawwar Hasan should have refrained from giving his opinion on such a sensitive matter and his utterances can only be termed as most untimely, immature and thoughtless to the extent of being reckless on his part.

Professor Alya Alvi has, however, raised very pertinent questions. She says that the former JI Ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmed (late) twice survived murder attempts. If he were killed, what would then Munawwar Hasan call him: shaheed or killed? If, God forbid, Munawwar Hasan is killed in a bomb blast, what would the JI call him: a martyr or just killed? The TTP terrorists killed namazis while offering Juma prayers in the Parade Lane mosque, and many other mosques and Imambargahs. Were those innocent Muslims not shaheed?” In fact, the JI and Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s statements have tried to damage the national cause and create confusion among the people, particularly the soldiers of our armed forces who are ever ready to sacrifice their lives as and when the nation calls for it.

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Rawalpindi. She can be reached at schuma.raja@yahoo.com