Pakistan army has for the first time taken the fight to country’s religious parties and asked Jamaat-e-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hassan to apologise for labelling dead Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief as ‘martyr’.

Islamabad, Nov 11/Nationalturk – In a very significant development, Pakistan army has taken asked country’s religious party Jamaat-e-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hassan to apologise for labelling dead Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief and country’s Most Wanted Terrorist Hakeemullah Meshud as ‘martyr’ and termed his statement as insult for those killed in terrorist attacks in the country.

“Syed Munawar Hassan’s remarks in a TV programme, declaring the dead terrorists as martyrs is insult to thousands of innocent Pakistanis and soldiers of Pakistan’s armed forces, who were killed in terrorist attacks or fighting terrorism,” Pakistan’s army spokesman said in a hard hitting statement.

On Nov 1, Hakimullah Mehsud, chief of TTP, was killed in a US drone strike in the North Waziristan tribal region and was labelled by Munawar Hasan and Fazlur Rehman — the chiefs of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl)  — a ‘martyr’.

‘Jamaat chief tried to invent logic’

Army spokesman said Jamaat-e-Islami chief has tried to invent a logic based on his political convenience.

“Strong condemnation of his views from an overwhelming majority leaves no doubt in any one’s mind that all of us are very clear on what the State of Pakistan is and who are its enemies,” he said.

H further said the sacrifices of “our martyrs” and their families need no endorsement from Hassan and such misguided and self-serving statements deserve no comments.

“Hassan’s statement was both painful and unfortunate as it came from the head of a party founded by Maulana Maududi, who is respected and revered for his services to Islam,” he said.

‘JI chief should apologise for hurting sentiments of people’

The army spokesman further people of Pakistan – whose loved ones laid down their lives while fighting terrorism and families of dead soldiers and officers of the armed forces demand an unconditional apology from Jamat-e-Islami chief for hurting their feelings.

Hassan sticks by his stand

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hassan, who had created the controversy by terming Hakeemullah Mehsud, who was killed in US drone strike in Pakistan’s North Wazirstan tribal agency on November 1, as martyr has stuck by his stand.

“I stuck by my opinion of considering Hakimullah Mehsud as a martyr and not viewing Pakistan soldiers as such,” Hasan was quoted as saying by Pakistan media.

He criticised the Nawaz government saying the government conspired with US and played a vital role in killing Hakimullah. “On clear-cut assurances of the government for a dialogue, Hakimullah surfaced from his hideout but at the same time the US in league with the government targeted and killed him.”

In an earlier TV programme, Hassan had said if an American who died on the battlefield was not a martyr, then his backers were also not martyrs because they were chasing the same goal. “This was implicitly directed towards the Pakistan Army.”

‘Supreme Court should take suo moto cognizance’

The co-chairperson of opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also taken strong cognizance of Jamaat-e-Islamic chief’s comments.

“Munawar Hasan supports enemies of the State and are against the armed forces. Hasan’s statement is ‘treasons statement’ and the Supreme Court (SC) should take suo moto notice of it,” he said.

Earlier, at least 30 Islamic scholars and cleric affiliated with Sunni Muslim group Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) had issued a Fatwa (religious edict) saying slain Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief and Pakistan’s Most Wanted Terrorist Hakimullah Mehsud was not a martyr and asked Jamaat-e-Islami chief to tender apology.

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News