Who Gives the Jamaat Its Oxygen?
http://www.mosharrafzaidi.com
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=214600
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
by Mosharraf Zaidi
In the 2002 elections, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) scored what was by all accounts a surprise victory in NWFP and parts of Balochistan. For a gang of unkempt exploiters of the tender religious sentiments of Pakistanis who had never been successful in electoral politics, winning the entire NWFP province was a bonanza unlike anything they’d previously experienced.
Too often, the MMA victory in NWFP is explained by the strategic rigging that Gen Musharraf and his supporters allegedly oversaw in that election. The massive success of the religious parties was not just a numerical surprise. It was a cultural anomaly too. Mullah politics in Pakistan had always been seen until that point as an issue-based phenomenon. The theory was that mullahs could mobilise thousands to rampage on the streets over Satanic Verses, or the apostasy of Ahmedis, but hardly manage even a few dozen to vote for them. That traditional and conventional wisdom was turned on its head in the 2002 election.
Of course, the truth, as always, is a bit of a casualty of our obsession with the truths we fashion. Three factors that are less sexy, and therefore less frequently mentioned in the analysis of the 2002 MMA surprise, may help explain what happened to NWFP back then, and what is happening to Pakistan now, in the closing days of 2009.
First, the MMA was a unified force of the major religious parties in the country. Their unity, regardless of how it was orchestrated, demonstrated for the electorate a trait that they had come to long for but never quite been presented with. The MMA coalition, by very virtue of coming together, presented a solid reason for religiously-oriented voters to consider voting for them.
Second, by virtue of the banishment of the party leaderships, the PPP and the PML-N were almost entirely shut out of the electoral process. This meant that the traditional four-way split of the NWFP vote (across the PPP, PML-N, ANP and the religious parties) became, instead, a two-way split (across the ANP and the MMA, with a marginal spattering of PML-Q votes). The PPP voter in NWFP is decidedly more conservative than the ANP voter, or the PPP voter in Punjab or Sindh. A PPP-less election in NWFP therefore was a boon to the MMA.
Finally, perhaps the most significant factor in the MMA victory in NWFP — notwithstanding the substantial vote-rigging and -engineering that allegedly took place — was anti-Americanism. Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan began on Oct 7, 2001. The election was held almost exactly a year later, on Oct 10, 2002. The MMA had a full year in which to help create, deepen and sustain an anti-American strain within NWFP. This anti-Americanism was rooted in the same language that Taliban opposition to the US presence in Afghanistan is rooted in. The short version is simple: Pakhtuns don’t like to be occupied.
What the MMA was able to do very successfully (and what American public diplomacy has failed in countering so miserably) is marrying anti-Americanism with Islam, and concurrently, marrying the American presence in Afghanistan as a vast conspiracy of the kuffar (infidels) to take over Muslim land.
Why is any of this relevant to a post-NRO Pakistan? Mostly it is relevant because in the past several weeks the Jamaat-e-Islami seems to have been given an injection of adrenalin. It may be hazardous to speculate where the energy is coming from in terms of financing and other logistical support. What is entirely transparent, however, is where the energy is coming from in terms of political substance.
It is coming from an anti-Americanism that has grown far beyond NWFP, and far beyond the mullah’s narrow and restricted space in Pakistani society. The Jamaat is finding it easier to get onto the front page because the only faith it preaches, anti-Americanism, just happens to be the fastest growing faith in Pakistan.
This is an unmitigated disaster in the making. The MMA’s sudden good fortune in 2002 is not so long ago as to have faded from memory. The disastrous impact of five years of MMA rule over NWFP is also not such a distant memory.
If the Jamaat is allowed an uncontested monopoly over anti-Americanism, then it will almost certainly enjoy resurgent popularity that is not only wholly undeserved, but also potentially calamitous for the hopes that have been pinned on the fragile equilibrium of Pakistan’s emerging urban middle class.
Some evidence of what we should fear was filed in this paper yesterday in a story by Muhammad Anis, and featuring the increasingly recognisable face of Jamaat boss Munawwar Hasan. It was titled “JI to go all out to defend SC.” In it, Munawwar Hasan vows to “protect the supremacy of the Supreme Court and enforce its decision against the NRO.”
The supremacy of the Supreme Court is given to it by the Constitution, not by the learned elders of the Jamaat. The enforcement of the Supreme Court’s decisions is the responsibility of law enforcement, and whatever units of the executive that are instructed to action by the court. Munawwar Hasan is probably not entirely unfamiliar with these facts. But for the first time since 2002, the Jamaat can see daylight.
Why would it not steal something that doesn’t belong to it (political momentum)? Since the Jamaat is incapable of winning an election in Pakistan fair and square, it will revel in the fact that its unique brand of cynical and conspiratorial poison has become the national dish of choice.
In August 2008, I wrote in a column titled “Measuring the Jamaat’s descent” that the Jamaat is the only “unsalvageable wreck” within Pakistan’s broken politics, and that “the Jamaat’s political savvy is outrageously overstated.” I don’t mind admitting a mistake. But in this case, I made no mistake. The Jamaat is an outrageously unsalvageable wreck. Its election of Munawwar Hasan, rather than that of a younger leader, and its consistent dependence on the US government and Pakistani elite for its talking points offer a limitless supply of proof that it is more an opportunistic clash-of-civilisations gang than it is a viable political force.
Since the Jamaat is unsalvageable, the only control we can exert on the situation is through understanding the factors that are allowing it this undeserved relevance.
At least some of the responsibility for increased anti-Americanism (and therefore increased relevance for the Jamaat) has to be pinned on Uncle Sam himself. There seems to be no appreciation in Washington DC to the legitimacy of questions about the use of mercenaries, or the impact of increased drone attacks, or US support for leaders widely perceived to be corrupt.
Finally, whatever we may think of it, the dominance of anti-American sentiment on Main Street, and its absence from the language of the major political parties should tell us much about who butters the Pakistani elite’s bread. The danger in this situation, of course, is that, as mainstream political parties neglect anti-Americanism, they allow the Jamaat (and the perpetually out of touch Imran Khan) a monopoly over articulating this important and popular mainstream sentiment.
The best indicator of how serious America’s image problem in Pakistan is becoming is that, despite not being unified with other religious parties and despite being crowded out by mainstream parties, the Jamaat is finding life in its anti-American rhetoric.
The best indicator of how serious Pakistan’s anti-Americanism problem is becoming is that, despite its offering nothing but old and hackneyed cynicism, people don’t mind watching the Jamaat spew its conspiracy theories on prime-time television.
Whatever Munawwar Hasan’s ideology, I highly appreciate & fully support his call for coming out in the open to back the supreme court publically and ensure that its decisions will be carried out. Given political leadership comprising of looters and corrupt like the Zardari gang and equllay tarnished Nawaz Sharif gang do you would be very naive, Mr. Zaidi to think that the state machinery, totally subservient to them would implement the decisions of the court. Just see the stance adopted by Zardari & Gilani and now see Nawaz Sharif league quietly buckiling. How can these two corrupt parties support an honest supreme court.
The court ruling has to be backed by the civil society, the media and the public at large. That is what resulted in restoring of the judiciary in the past and that is what will help now. Not the state machinery as you suggest in your article in the daily News.
Akhtar Lodhi
Posted by Akhtar Lodhi | 22. Dec, 2009, 7:52 amMosharraf sahab,
You have conveniently ignored the major source of oxygen for the Jamaat – the military. They have been the closest of the allies all through eighties and until now. Please also do not ignore the linkages between the same military establishment and their “planted and nurtured seedlings” in the media. Since everyone is putting forward a conspiracy theory, here is the one I would like to put forward. The military wants to put pressure on the President and the Americans (don’t forget the KL Bill “conditionalities”) and helping to create the “hate america”, “go-president-go” hype using its old allies i.e. Jamaat and the media. Where do you think all these concoctions about black water are coming from? Jamaat is well organized and street smart to mobilize people. But unless they stop playing in the hand of the military and come up with better rallying slogans (they are capable of doing that but not under Mr. Munnawar) that anti americanism, they can never win an election in Pakistan. Please do not forget, the MMA victory in NWFP and Balochistan was due to the numbers brought by JUI (F) and not so much the Jamaat.
And one correction: The PPP voter in NWFP is NOT more conservative than the ANP voter. I should know better being a native!
Posted by Ihsanulah Bangash | 22. Dec, 2009, 9:15 amI think you’re right on target. It is very natural that people don’t see skeletons in their own closets (they don’t see fundamentalists/extremists among themselves). This has been proven true with fundamentalists in India taking advantage of other people’s religious affairs (the Babri masjid) and by now it has been proven and known that they have cycled through the power and now stay very close to it. This point is just to show how it is so hard to see the extremists in your own backyards.
Posted by AA | 22. Dec, 2009, 11:15 amNice written by Mr. Zaidi but i ll give credit to Mr. Bangash for speaking true-lies about Jammat. I have a critic on Mr. Zaidi’s writting that “please write without narrow minded glasses”. Either he learns lesson or not but i have to tell him the real fact and try to bring him on right track. Thanks
Posted by omar abbasi | 22. Dec, 2009, 1:08 pmMr Zaidi is unfortunately a prisoner of sectarianism and he cannot see beyond it.His is a prime example of our morally and intellectually bankrupt experts with tainted spectacles and with no sense of history having assumed the role of so called advisers to NGOs and governmental and semi-governmental organisations that have brought this country to ruin.The days of people like Mr Zaidi are numbered.They and their American friends are fast running out of time.Good luck to you Mr Zaidiand
Posted by mohammed iqbal | 23. Dec, 2009, 2:55 amI can understand.Truth hurts!I do not believe in the Western so called concept of economy of justice and moderation in truth.That is sheer hypocrisy.
Posted by mohammed iqbal | 23. Dec, 2009, 2:59 amIn all post colonial societies, which are affected by ‘Globalism/Neo-colonialism’ some anti-american sentiments are present. It is there in India as well. But in India , SriLanka, Nepal etc this sentiment is articulated and propagated by the ‘leftist political parties’ such as CPI/CPM/Maoists in India,Janatha Vimukti Perumana in Sri Lanka and the Maoists in Nepal.
Unfortunately, in countries like Pakistan, Iran etc the left has been systematically eliminated over a period of time. The void left by the elimination of this secular left opposition to ‘globalisation/neo-colonialism’ is being filled by religious/fundamentalist parties and groups.
The remedy lies in developing and encouraging a legitimate leftist political group even if they are ‘la deeni’ or godless.
Posted by vikas ranjan | 23. Dec, 2009, 10:36 amThis article from Mosharraf Ziadi amply displays his efforts to malign and tarnish the image of Jamaat Islami in which Mr Zaidi has miserably failed . Mr Zaidi has a serious grudge against the Jamaat Islami and whenever he gets a chance to badmouth Jamaat he do not miss such opportunities.
Liberals like Mr Zaidi are towing the US agenda and using their pen to confuse the masses. The Jamaat Islami is the most organized and the only democratic party of Pakistan so this outburst by Mr Zaidi is natural and very much expected as the anti-americanism sentiments is rising high amongst the people of Pakistan
Posted by Muhammed Zafir Zia | 23. Dec, 2009, 12:32 pmThe whole article seems extremely so biased(without any logical reasoining) but the following statement had me laughing out loud:
“The supremacy of the Supreme Court is given to it by the Constitution, not by the learned elders of the Jamaat. The enforcement of the Supreme Court’s decisions is the responsibility of law enforcement, and whatever units of the executive that are instructed to action by the court. Munawwar Hasan is probably not entirely unfamiliar with these facts. But for the first time since 2002, the Jamaat can see daylight”
This is soooooo childish. I am sure Munnawar Hasan had no idea that his vow “to protect the supremacy of the Supreme court and enforce its decision against the NRO” would be thought of as so dangerous that people have to be warned against it and Munnawar Hasan has to be reminded that he is not supposed to make such ridiclous vows because he doesnt have a right to do what he is saying!
That is exactly what one understands from this article.
As a pakistani citizen we all should make a vow to support and protect the superamacy of the court and we all have a right to stand up against a goverment who is unwilling to implement the NRO just to save the corrupt politicians ruining our country………and just exactly why should’nt the people of Pakistan give a chance to Munnawar Hasan who by the way has no corruption charges against him and has been talking quite sensibly since he has become the ameer of jamaat as compared to the leaders of all the big corrupt parties. Why should the people of Pakistan trust pseudo intellectuals like you who have no solutions to offer and are used to criticizing and negating every single attempt of postivity just for the sake of it.
Had the writer supported his warning, bias, fear or dislike of the jamaat with valid reasoning the article would have been digestable….criticizing the Ameer of jamaat just because he is the Ameer of jamat even if he says something appreciable is just too childish.
Posted by sameen saddaf | 23. Dec, 2009, 7:04 pm@sameen sadaf:
u r very right
Posted by Muhammed Zafir Zia | 23. Dec, 2009, 10:02 pmthe jamaat e islami,some say, was hijacked from maulana mudoodi and funded by the usa to fight communism which it did through the sixties. During the soviet occupation of Afghanistan they helped recruit the Islamic warriors that is the reason Al qaeda high ups have been traced from the houses of card carrying Jamat workers in pakistan eg khalid sheikh muhammad.
what these jamatis have learned from their former patrons is how to finance operations clandestinely for example how colonel north diverted funds from the islamic republic of iran to fund operations in south america.
this is called money laundering i would like to point out that pakistan is getting huge remittances some say US $ 10 billion per year under the head charity. Charitable trusts are a classical vehicle to launder money made through economic crimes and drug money. Such money when returned to the economy through their charitable organisations becomes white and can be used to fund operations and madrassas partly and partly to create white businesses and white assets for the drug barons and our oligarchy which also whitens money taken abroad through economic crimes against the people of pakistan.
so far as the rank and file of jamat is concerned they remind me of the idealogues of communism in the sixties. They got their oxygen from abroad and so do these people. somebody who has to earn an honest earning in the market cannot waste time on such silly idealogies which clearly have nothing to with Islam. Nor in sitting and hating usa.
Posted by layback27 | 25. Dec, 2009, 10:42 amvery bad article
Posted by seher | 26. Dec, 2009, 5:42 pmtry to write sensibly..
Posted by seher | 26. Dec, 2009, 5:43 pmseher’s comments need to be more specific does she/he feel that mr zaidi “banda nahein theek” or is there some specific thing which is not sensible
Posted by layback27 | 26. Dec, 2009, 8:30 pmA very good and sensible piece of writing. The “popular support” of Jamaat-i-Islami is well-established now by only 387 votes it got in the recent election in Balochistan Assembly constituency PB-1. Jamaat had full support of Imran Khan and some Bugti also, (besides Jamaat’s, behind the scene, mentors) in this contest. But the rejection of Jamaat & Imran Khan by the people does not need any further proof. However, certain points taken for granted by the learned writer need to be re-assessed. For example, the writer takes it for granted that people of Pakistan support the decision in NRO case. Whereas it is against the factual situation. First the people did not ever consider NRO as their issue. Second, majority of Pakistanis percieve the recent Verdict as to have been under extraneous reasons. So its support by Mr Munawwar Hassan is irrelevant.
Similarly, the writer seems to think that anti-Americanism is essential to get support of masses in Pakistan. This may be his view and not that reality. The menace of terrorism has changed the ground realities in Pakistan, as elsewhere in the world. America being in the leadership in war on terror, there is quite significant improvement in the image of America here. So, please do not suggest that recipe now for popular parties in Pakistan.Jamaat can gain nothing out of it. There is a gulf between 2002 and 2010.
Again, the learned writer appears suggesting that present elected rulers in Pakistan are unpopular and corrupt. In this regard I shall again request him to gauge their populrity through recent by-elections in Balochistan amd Baltistan. Regarding corruption allegations, majority of the people of Pakistan do not believe in these accusations avd treat them as trumpeted / fabricated. And as such they vote for them, instead of Jamaat, Imran Khan and others.
Posted by M.Y.Qaisrani | 27. Dec, 2009, 2:40 amThe support for the supreme court is very well and should be taken for granted across the board.The foray into the Supreme Court by the political workers of a political party in the removal of Sajjad Ali Shah was distasteful and should not be repeated and this damaged governance and brought despondency and cynisism about government and the entire democratic set up.
I think the point Mr Zaidi was making was that the Jamat e Islami is a very small party with very little support as far as vote bank is concerned however it has a very disproportionate coverage to its size as far as negative propaganda is concerned. This they have done through adopting their perception of populist slogans.
A visit to their web site clearly shows they appear to have adopted Iqbal as their own whereas in his lifetime they opposed him tooth and nail. That is expediency just as being anti USA is presently.
Where USA can deliver and appear to be ready to help is provide the resources for infra-structure developement. Which is an area where capacity building is required at the provincial and local government level. The people of this country need delivery of services to the people. The National Finance Commission Award is a good step forward, we have eaten grass now it is pay back time. This is what is the need of the hour. Wonder what the Jamat and their ilk have to say about this. What political slogan will they use to undermine this, considering across the board approval to the concurrent list set out in the constitution is given to the concurrent list.Which interalia sets out the economic and othe role of The Federal ,Provincial and local government is.
Posted by layback27 | 27. Dec, 2009, 8:15 amThe radicals electoral succeeds in 2002 was due to the sentiments of the people; however the 2008 elections were indicative of how shallow their support base is! The silent majority of Pakistan is peaceful and does not endorse violence
Posted by Ammar | 01. Jan, 2010, 3:45 pmIt is obvious that Zaidi Hates Jamaat. I bet He hates Punjabis, Pashtoons, kashmiri Mujahideen, Sunnis, JUI, Imran, Military, ISI, Mosques and even Islam. He would say nothing about a Shia-Feudal (PPP), Thugish narrow minded anti-Pakistan MQM, ANP, BLA, BNP and other ethnic Parties. He would not object to Colonialism, Post colonial Terror in 50 Plus Muslim countries.
He is blinded by his hate.
Pakistani media and social scene is full of Shias, Qadianis, Seculars Beyas from UP, and friends of Feudals.
Posted by Abu Bakr | 02. Jan, 2010, 6:31 amAbu Bakr:
Yes, those dastardly Shias and Qadianis! God, why can’t we just get rid of them? Hopefully there will be more incidents like the Ashura bombing last week.
In a way, I am happy to see comments like yours, because true hate is always better when it is out in the open rather than hidden. You’re a fascist, sir, but at least an honest fascist.
To other opponents of Mosharraf:
Do you people have actual arguments or do you rely solely on name-calling and ad-hominem attacks. In a way, the JI supporters here have proven MZ’s point by showing their intellectual bankruptcy.
Posted by Ahsan | 02. Jan, 2010, 8:33 amJamaat, in my experience of association with them, is the represents the worst form of hypocrisy. In 80s, they used to shout anti american slogans exactly at the same time that they were recieving billions From them to fight soviets in Afganistan. In universities, especially Punjab university, where they were the thanidars of morality, their top student leaders were involved in all kinds of “immoral” activities (actually all normal activities that healthy youth engages in world over). Worst of all, just because they have the word Islami in their name, any criticism is taken as against Islam.. Disgusting. They need to open their eyes to realities and put their talents to better use and provide alternate leadership to the conservative element in Pakistan. Liaqat Baloch and the like should come forward and Munnawar’s politics of blind hate and illogical finger pointing should stop immediately. Ok, now all jamitis can issue fatwas against me and start their hate speaches
how useles..
Posted by Saad | 02. Jan, 2010, 11:33 amAssalam-o-alykum
There is nothing Munawwar’s politics & Liaqat’s politics in JI.Jamaat has institutions for policy making and they do,right or wrong.And this right or wrong is only in strategy making not for the people of Pakistan or state of Pakistan.Mostly their decisions went against them, nothing harm to state or people.
Zaidi and others like him,having control over English press are saying so because JI is not in power.Power is with corrupt,Pro-America PPP+MQM+ANP+PML N.And y he is so worried about US image in Pakistan? USA has lost in Afghanistan and now crushing Pakistan.So how a loyal Pakistani can love USA?
Posted by Numair | 05. Jan, 2010, 2:56 pm