Rise of religious political parties: revival of Zia ul haq legacy?

In a meeting of the central executive council (CEC) of Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) held on September 18, under PUC Chairman Tahir Ashrafi, decided unanimously to contest in next general elections along with allied religious organisations. The central executive council while reposing trust on leadership of Ashrafi and Abdul Hameed Wattoo.

Following the meeting, Ashrafi, Abdul Kareem Nadeem, Abdul Hameed Wattoo, Matiullah Saeedi, Maulana Asadullah Farooq, Abdul Hameed Sabri, Tayab Qadri and Aseed-ur-Rehman addressed a press conference.

Ashrafi resolved that PUC will continue its struggle for elimination of terrorism, extremism and sectarian violence from the country and for promotion of interfaith harmony in the country.

PUC will also play its effective role for electoral reforms in the country ahead of 2018 general elections, said Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, adding that PUC will continue its mission by arranging training workshops for seminary students and teaching staff of Madarusul Arabia.

The meeting also adopted a resolution, which demanded of the government to legislate effective accountability system in the country. Another resolution adopted at the meeting denounced Muslim genocide in Myanmar and demanded that the government allow immigration of 10,000 Rohingya Muslims in Pakistan as Ilm-o-Aman Foundation and Pakistan Ulema Council willing to bear expenses of 10,000 Rohingya Muslims to rehabilitate them in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) has been divided in the midst of a power struggle between two influential clerics – Maulana Tahir Ashrafi and Maulana Zahid Mahmood Qasmi – who both claim to be the elected chairperson of the council.