Maulana Fazlur Rehman, along with ten other parties in the Pakistan Democratic Movement, is doing his best to oust the PTI-led coalition at the earliest. For this purpose the alliance leaders have chalked out a strategy, rallies in various cities, long march on Islamabad and mass resignations from assemblies being important components thereof.
But while these cards are yet to be played, some senior leaders of the JUI have launched an attack on Maulana Fazlur Rehman, which will cause serious embarrassment for him.
Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, called Fazl ‘selected’, a ‘liar’ and ‘opportunist’.
Not only this, talking to journalists in Quetta, he also predicted that Prime Minister Imran Khan will not only serve out his current constitutional term but also win another term.
Maulana Sherani is not an ordinary being but is also a former chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology, an official body that examines various laws and determines whether they are Islamic in character or what should be done to transform them.
He knows what he is saying and what could be the consequences of his utterances against his party chief. He is also aware of the punishment for making a false allegation against anyone.
Not only this, he has also announced that in consultation with friends he would set up JUI organizations in all districts of Balochistan, his native province.
Hafiz Hussain Ahmed is another senior party who has been removed by Maulana Fazl as his spokesman for allegedly saying something the JUI chief thinks was against party policy. (There are also reports that he has been expelled from the party, although Hafiz Hussain denies this).
People know that Hafiz Hussain is an outspoken individual and he speaks truth in a light manner, no matter whether somebody likes it or not.
In a recent interview to a newspaper he said he had asked Maulana Fazl whether Mian Nawaz Sharif’s narrative against the establishment was also the narrative of the PDM, of which the JUI is a component. In response, Hafiz said, Fazl told him that it was not so.
He said in the light of this answer the JUI chief was left with no justification to expel him from the party for criticizing Mr Sharif’s onslaught.
On the other, the National Accountability Bureau is also tightening noose around the JUI chief.
The anti-corruption watchdog wants the Maulana to appear before it and justify his assets. He has also been issued a comprehensive questionnaire which he is supposed to answer.
Media reports say that party claims that the JUI chief has received no such notice and he wouldn’t appear before the NAB even if he receives one.
“NAB notice under my foot shoe,” the Maulana has been quoted as saying.
This reaction is unbecoming of a religious leader, especially the one who is heading a party that claims to be working for decades for the enforcement of Islamic system in the country. Even as head of the PDM this is not the right kind of reaction from him.
The Maulana should be in a position to prove that he made all assets (whatever their worth) through lawful means. By doing so, he will be raising his political stature in the eyes of his followers and the nation as a whole. In case he fails to prove that people will have the right to raise fingers on his honesty and integrity.
It is a common practice that religious leaders in their speeches both in mosques and at political platforms call for across-the-board accountability in the country. They also frequently cite an episode of Hazrat Omer (RA).
The episode is like this: It was on a Friday. The faithful at Madinah had gathered in the Prophet's mosque to offer the Friday prayers.
Omer, the Caliph, arrived to lead the prayers. He said his preliminary prayer and then proceeded to deliver his address to the congregation. He began by reciting some verses from the Holy Quran. Then addressing the congregation he said "Now listen".
A young man from the congregation stood up to say, "We will not listen to you, until you give us the explanation that you owe to us."
The people were startled at this audacious interference. Hazrat Omer paused for a moment, and then turning to the young man said, "Explanation for what?"
The young man said "The other day each one of us obtained a piece of cloth from the Baitul Mal. Today I find two pieces of cloth on the person of the Caliph. I want to know what right had the Caliph to get a share twice the share of an ordinary Muslim."
Before Omer could explain, Abdullah the son of Omer rose up and said, "Friends, the truth of the matter is that like every other person my father and myself obtained a piece of cloth each from the Baitul Mal. My father is so tall that the piece of cloth that he got from the Baitul Mal did not suffice him. So I gave him my piece of the cloth".
This explanation satisfied everyone. The young man who had interrupted the Caliph said, "We are satisfied. You can now proceed with your address. We will listen to you and, obey your commands."
Neither Fazlur Rehman is more important than Caliph Omer nor is he above the law.
If a caliph can be asked for explanation on just a piece of cloth, why can’t the JUI chief be?
In the light of this episode it is incumbent upon Maulana Fazl to let the NAB – and the nation – know how he made the assets.
In case he failed people will be justified in using the kind of adjectives for him Maulana Sherani used. Also, the unity of the JUI will be at stake. If his senior colleague like Maulana Sherani can think of setting up parallel district organizations in Balochistan, somebody else will take a similar step in KP and other provinces.
The NAB notice offers the Maulana a golden opportunity which he should not miss at any cost. However the decision lies with him.