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| India-Pakistan |
| Return of the MMA |
| 2018-06-28 |
| [DAWN] THE Islamic parties that have experienced a steep decline in their electoral clout over the years are now going into the 2018 elections hoping for a better outcome. The revival of the, albeit truncated, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) is aimed at regaining some lost political space for the religious elements. The coming together of the squabbling religious groups would certainly add to their electoral weight. But can the Islamic political alliance offer a viable alternative to the voters thus making inroads into the existing power matrix? Essentially, a united front of the JUI-F and the Jamaat-e-Islami ... The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independentbranch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... (JI), the two most powerful religious groups, the MMA may have a significant support base in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, but its influence in other parts of the country is debatable. The differences between the two major component parties over key political issues and their distrust of each other will make it more difficult for the alliance to repeat its 2002 success in KP. There is no indication as yet of the MMA making its presence felt across the country. |
| Posted by:Fred |