Does Jamat-e-Islami Deserve To Speak for Palestinian Muslims?

“Gaza is being destroyed and the Islamic countries are only playing a role of silent spectators”, said the JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq while addressing a rally held in Karachi.

The rally was held by Jamat-e-Islami in order to condemn the Israeli aggression as well as to express solidarity with the Palestinian Muslims in Ghaza. JI had driven a campaign to make its “Gaza Million March” successful. In this respect, it set up camps on important roads and streets of the city. These camps were playing Jehad-inciting songs and were also having big posters depicting the atrocities of Israel on the women and children in Ghaza.

This was not new at all to see a protest rally from Jamat-e-Islami. Traditionally, it has been performing such activities especially since late 70`s. Of course, as an Islamic religious party, it is supposed to raise its voice over any sort of injustice, oppression or brutality against the victims no matter inside or outside of the country. Therefore, highlighting the Israeli atrocities in Ghaza was expected from it.

However, the point is, why did Jamat-e-Islami not raise its voice on the atrocities by ISIS in Iraq and Syria against the Muslims just due to the reason that they belonged to different school of thought? Similarly, JI leadership did not ever hold any “Million March” over the killings of the Pakistani Muslims by Taliban terrorists? In this context, we know very well that more than 60,000 Pakistanis have been bombed by TTP through suicide attacks, yet no protest rallies, Jehad calls or posters showing the mutilated dead bodies of the victims of TTP`s attacks we saw from JI.

The question is, when the relation of “La Ilaha Illallah” can make Jamat-e-Islami`s leadership feel the pain of the oppressed Muslims who are thousands of miles away from it, then why does the same relation get weakened when it comes to the brutality of Taliban against the Pakistan Muslim brothers? Unfortunately, not speaking of condemning Taliban terrorists on beheading the Pakistani civilians and soldiers, Jamat-e-Islami defended them by calling “Martyrs” in comparison to our army men.  

Jamat-e-Islami not only defended Taliban groups, but also criticized the political parties, especially including MQM, which were against Talibanization in the country. The former JI`s Ameer Munawwar Hassan, while addressing a public gathering held in Karachi for general elections 2013, crossed all limits when he said,  “There is no right or place for the liberals in Pakistan. If they still persist, they`d better get themselves registered in the category of minorities”. 

These extremely harsh words were not for Taliban who played football with the heads of the Pakistan Muslim soldiers after beheading, but for the people and parties who were supporting the Pakistan army against the extremists. Consequently, can such a party or leader who backs the oppressors in its own country, expected to be a true flag bearer of peace for outside Muslims?

It is also interesting to notice that Jamat-e-Islami held its rally in Karachi which is the strongest political fort of MQM, and there has not been long since JI`s leadership objected to MQM`s sit-in which was being held against Altaf Hussain`s detention in London, arguing, “The life in Karachi should not be disturbed over whatever happens outside Pakistan.” Now, would Siraj-ul-Haq like to explain why the protest rally was held in Karachi over whatever took place outside the country??

To tell the truth, when a person himself does not realize the pain of his own people, but pretends to be the flag bearer of peace and humanity for outsiders, will people not raise questions over his double standards? That is the case with Jamat-e-Islami too. JI does not deserve to criticize Muslim and non-Muslim countries for being silent or backing Israel when it, itself, despite being an Islamic group, supports Taliban against the innocent people of Pakistan. Such hypocrisy from our religious parties is not only strengthening extremism in Pakistan, but is also weakening our stances against the invading forces over Muslims in the world.