Jamat-e-Islami is as corrupt as the rest!

Partners in rigging?

Published in Daily Times on June 4, 2015

Photo credit: Daily Times

Sir: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has accused the PTI of rigging the recently held local bodies elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to a news item. I find it amusing that the JI is in coalition with the PTI in (mis)governing the province. How can it continue working with the PTI now? Why do its ministers not resign immediately? Is it because they, too, love the perks and privileges that come with being ministers? If so, what is the difference between them and other corrupt politicians in the country?

SHAKIR LAKHANI

Karachi

Imran Khan surrenders to Jamaat-e-Islami!

Politics of appeasement

Published in The News on November 6, 2014

It is shocking to learn the way Imran Khan and his party have bent over backwards to appease their coalition partner, the Jamaat-e-Islami. Knowing that his government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stands no chance of surviving without JI's support, he has given in to their demand to make changes in textbooks, which are utterly unconstitutional.

Hasn't Imran Khan ever heard or read: “There is no compulsion in Islam?” As for removal of pictures of unveiled little girls from text-books, will he ban pictures of even animals in textbooks? How will students in the province learn biology?

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

Ex-JI Chief's fatwa against army: why the silence?

Rallies in support of the army

Published in Daily Times on May 12, 2014

Sir: Rallies in support of the army reminds me of Syed Munawar Hassan who said that martyrs are not those (Pakistani soldiers) who helped the US in the war against terrorism, but those who had fought against the US (the militants). No one stood up against the Jamaat and in support of the army by staging rallies. People who are infuriated today, what made them remain silent on such a harsh critique against the army then? Perhaps someone who is in touch with the public mood can explain this anomaly.

SHAKIR LAKHANI

Karachi

Why I will not vote for the Jamaat-e-Islami

Misconceptions about the Jamaat

Published in The Express Tribune on April 18, 2014

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KARACHI: This is with reference to the article “Misconceptions about the Jamaat” (April 17). I was once a supporter of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), but when I saw its activists disrupting musical functions and beating up male and female students seated together on benches in Karachi University, I became disillusioned with the party. From what I have observed, the only intelligent head of this party was the late Qazi Hussain Ahmed.

Once, during an hour-long chat with him, he told me that an Islamic society is permitted to punish only those who are guilty of theft, murder and illicit sex. There is no punishment in Islam for ‘sins’ like being clean-shaven. He also said that there is no punishment (neither in this world or the Hereafter) for a woman who does not observe purdah. Compare this with former JI chief Syed Munawwar Hassan’s fatwa about rape victims or his statement that soldiers who were killed by the Taliban cannot be called martyrs. Because of such radical elements in the party, it is very likely that if the JI ever gets a two-thirds majority in Parliament (in coalition with other religious parties) it will immediately ban all forms of entertainment (like movies, theatre and television).

Shakir Lakhani

Jamaat-e-Islami & obscenity

Published in Daily Times on April 1, 2014

Sir: This is with reference to the news item ‘JI brands “Pakistan Idol” an “obscene” programme’ (Daily Times, March 31, 2014). I would like to ask members of the Jamaat-e-Islami (which has only four seats out of 342 in the National Assembly) why they are so concerned about boys and girls dancing together when there are more urgent problems being faced by the country. Do they not see the havoc created by rampant smuggling from Afghanistan which has caused the collapse of most industry in the country? Are they not aware of narcotics that are brought into the country through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), a province that they govern along with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI)? Why are they ignoring the increasing number of AIDS cases in the country (the reasons for which are well known)? Yet they go into a frenzy when they see even married couples walking together. How can Imran Khan tolerate such people?

SHAKIR LAKHANI

Karachi

Jamaat-e-Islami should oppose the death penalty!

Death penalty

Published in Daily Times, December 17, 2013

Sir: This letter is with reference to your editorial titled, Molla’s hanging (Daily Times, December 15, 2013). Now that leaders of religious parties like the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have seen how innocent people can be executed without fair trials in developing countries, I hope they understand why the death penalty has been abolished in most countries of the world. Capital punishment is strictly enforced in some countries like Saudi Arabia, for example, but it has not proved a deterrent. But when the trial is flawed as in Molla’s case and prosecution witnesses are unreliable, the death penalty should not be invoked. The JI and other religious parties should at least start by demanding that men and women over the age of 60 should be spared. Perhaps a day will come when capital punishment is abolished throughout the world. 

 

SHAKIR LAKHANI

Karachi

Jamat-e-Islami chief and cricket!

Winning either way

Published in Daily Times on November 20, 2013

Photo credit: Daily Times

Sir: I believe the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief, Syed Munawwar Hasan, can do a lot to improve the Pakistani cricket team’s performance. He can ask all Muslims belonging to foreign teams, like Hashim Amla, Imran Tahir, etc, not to play against Pakistan. Of course, he will be ignored but our team will be confident that whenever it loses, which is most of the time, there is a good chance of the JI chief proclaiming that they are very good Muslims and will go to heaven.

SHAKIR LAKHANI

Karachi