Maulana Fazlur Rehman had a logical stance in Capital Talk show and he strongly criticised Taliban for trying to install extremism on the name of Islam. Same day he held a meeting with US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson. Well done Maulana Fazlur Rehman Sahib
Agha Iqrar Haroon
Maulana Fazlur Rehman (MFR) is a veteran socio-political leader of Pakistan, representing Deoband school of thought. His father was one the writers of Constitution of Pakistan that was approved and enacted by the 1973 parliament. MFR during his exclusive talk with Hamid Mir in Capital Talk on February 12, explained his viewpoint with logic and expressed fearlessly that refuting Constitution of Pakistan, killing people, trying to enforce Shariah and Islam with the power of gun is against Shariah and against Islam. He narrated that why Taliban became his enemy and why Taliban tried to kill him.
In one hour impressive talk that was full of logic and historical citing, MFR successfully dispelled the notion that Deoband school of thought believes in killing people on the name of Islam and killing leaders of other sects is admissible. He called late Maulana Sarfaraz Naeemi as Myrtr who was leading religious leader of Bralvi school of thought of Islam and who was killed by Taliban in a suicide attack.
He complained media that initiatives taken by religious scholars, muftis and religious leaders for establishing peace in the country have never been highlighted by the main stream media. He mentioned that 25,000 religious scholors of Deoband school of thought gathered in Quetta and released a Fatwa (religious decree) against the use of power for enforcing Islam and it was written in the Fatwa that try to impose any system other than existing Constitution of Pakistan in the country and trying to subvert it is also against Shariah because Constitution was made by the top ulemas (religious leaders) of all sect of Islam together and these top leaders included top Mustifs of that era.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman also shared inside story of how JUI discussed the issue of allowing Maulana Kafatullah to become a part of Taliban Committee and JUI top leadership refused to allow him to join talks as member of Taliban side. MFR maintained that his party has a clear view about talks with Taliban that no talks will help unless talks are done with tribal elders of troubled areas through grand Jirga that was suggested by All parties Conference. He stated that there is no guarantee that talks with Taliban will bring fruit and peace because there are possibility that other components who are not part of Taliban refuse to accept the outcome of these talks or any decision reached by the government and Taliban. He maintained that his proposal of grand Jirga not accepted by Pakistan army and Gen Zaheer did not accept this proposal although only Grand Jirga of tribal elders can help to ensure peace in troubled areas.
MFR was attacked twice within 24 hours in 2011. In second attack that was a suicide killed 13 on April 1, 2011 while 5 were seriously injured and Maulana remained unhurt as a suicide bomber blew himself up next to the leader’s convoy vehicle in Charsadda district. Maulana Fazl was on his way to address a public meeting in Darul Uloom Islamia at Charsadda. The attack took place in the Nowshera Road area of Charsadda district close to the District Coordination Officer’s (DCO) office. That time MFR refrained from naming Taliban as attackers but now things are changing. At the present he is taking a clear a firm stance against Taliban and form of Islam Taliban wish to install in Pakistan.
MFR is followed by millions of people belonging to Deoband school of thought of Islam and his stance may help to disengage terrorism from Deobandis because at the moment, majority of people and media believes that terrorism in Pakistan on the name of Islam is part of training and practices of Deoband school of thought.
MFR logically and tactfully also maintained in the show that things are clear that who has contacts with Taliban from religious parties) without naming Jamaat-i-Islami who is part of Taliban committee). MRF believes that there is no place for extremism in Islam and Islam is a religion of peace, brotherhood and moderate way of living.
