ISLAMABAD, Pakistan:The Patron-in-Chief of Supreme Shia Ulema Board Quaid-i-Millat Jafariya Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi has said that patriotism is the faith under which everything of Pakistan is dearest to us and they will continue their efforts to turn it into strong, stable hub of peace. He said the creation of Tehreek Nafaz Fiqh-e-Jafariya was made in reaction to make the country a State of a group and we had saved the country from becoming it a sectarian State and entangle it with civil war. He said we are following the policy of “not leave our belief and do not temper with those of others”. He said the nation is facing the brunt to-date of Zia’s martial law policies and of playing a front-line role against terrorism. He said we have been pointing out the evils of religion and motherland for the last 30 years and if our proposals were accepted then the motherland would not have turned into the hub of wars of foreign States. He said we had forced Ziaul Haq on lifting restrictions on Milad-un-Nabi and Azadari. He said terrorism is not against any Maslak but that of motherland and the whole nation will have to support the Pakistan’s Armed Forces to confront this monster. These views were expressed by him while addressing the “Youm Tajdeed-e-Ehad” on the occasion of 31st anniversary of All Pakistan Shia Convention (10 February, 1984, Assadabad, Dina). The central office-bearers of Tehreek Nafaz Fiqh-e-Jafariya, heads of subordinate bodies, provincial representatives and Ulema Karaam expressed their unwavering faith in the leadership of Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi that completes 31 years and announced their commitment to support any line of action given by him.

Agha Moosavi said that they will not let anybody allow to bargain on national rights, beliefs and motherland and will thwart every enemy conspiracy against the same through an invincible Sunni-Shia exemplary unity. He lamented that unfortunately this country went into the hands of martial laws and Congressi mullahs after Quaid-i-Azam, and when the tyrant ruler Gen. Ziaul Haq announced to make Pakistan a Maktabi State on 12th Rabiul Awwal, the Tehreek Nafaz Fiqh-e-Jafariya came into being. He said, through a press conference, we had made it crystal clear that the country that came into being through the efforts of joint sacrifices of all schools will not be allowed to become a group’s State in our presence. As a result of taking over of Islamabad Secretariat by Tehreek Nafaz Fiqh-e-Jafariya on 6 July, 1980, we had forced Gen. Zia to issue a Press Note that in the process of Islamisation of Pakistan, fiqh of the followers of Fiqh-e-Jafariya will be kept intact.

The TNFJ chief said that while accepting the leadership of Tehreek Nafaz Fiqh-e-Jafariya in the All Pakistan Shia Convention held under the presidentship of Khateeb Aal-e-Muhammad of the Sub-Continent Allama Azhar Hassan Zaidi, I had promised with the nation that in my presence no one will be allowed to bargain the rights of the Millat and had declared Azadari the foremost priority and had announced that the nation may support me like the companions of Hussain (A.S.) or leave me like the companions of Muslim (A.S.) but will not let anyone cause any harm to the mission of ‘Wila’ and ‘Aza’. Azadari is our jugular vein and we will never ever accept any restriction on it, he added. He said when the Governor Punjab acting on the directive of Gen. Zia tried to limit Azadari by amending the Police Act’s article 30(3), we gave a 90-day notice to the government to accept our demands on the completion of that period we announced our first phase ‘La Illaha Illallah” and distributed Imam Zamins made from my ‘Abaa’ and decided to take out Azadari processions without any licence against the uncalled for restrictions on Azadari. Therefore, processions so taken out then are still being taken out as traditional processions.

Agha Moosavi said on Youm-e-Ashoora in 1984, we protested by stopping the central procession at Fawwara Chowk and demanded to lift restrictions on Eid Milad-un-Nabi and Azadari. The police after committing violence sent me along with 1034 Matmis, Ulema and Zakireen to District Jail after arresting us that led to the chain of protest despite strict martial law was imposed in the country at that time. The agitation that began from Qadeemi Imambargah Hussaini Mohaz continued for eight months in which more than 14 thousands followers of Millat-e-Jafariya including my both sons and over hundred Ahle Sunnat brethren and eight Christians including Babar Masih courted arrest in love for Imam Hussain (A.S.). The process of courting arrest continued despite presidential referendum and non-party polls. As a result of non-party polls, Muhammad Khan Junejo’s government came into being that contacted us and struck a written agreement for solution of problems of the Shia community on May 21, 1985, therefore, this Junejo-Moosavi agreement is the only guarantee for fulfilling the right of the Maktab-e-Tashih achievement of which was possible through sacrifices of Matmi Azadars. According to that agreement, all religious procession whether licenced or traditional will continue to be come out without any restriction and will not be covered by the amendment made in the article 30(3) of the Police Act. In addition to Shia members, government ministers and Ahle Sunnat representatives were also included in the 16-member Shia Demands Committee the recommendations of which are present in government records.

He said, Gen. Zia, bitten by the successful agitation of Tehreek Nafaz Fiqh-e-Jafariya presented controversial Private Shariat Bill in Senate on 6 July 1986 through two Senators which was rejected by us saying that in the presence of 1973 Constitution, there is no need of any Shariat Bill because Shariat cannot be enforced through bills but through hearts therefore this bill received its fate along with Gen. Ziaul Haq. He said the Tehreek Nafaz Fiqh-e-Jafariya had presented a 850-page Peace Formula in the Supreme Court on suo moto notice of former Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah demanding ban on foreign aid to religious groups to check terrorism, ban practical politics in the name of Maktab and fiqh and terming calling Muslims as non-Muslims a cognizable offence. He said today all powers are repeating our 30-year point of view that terrorism should not be linked with religion because a terrorist does not keep a Maktab or a country, he is only a terrorist and should be seen and tackled in the scenario.

The Quaid-i-Millat Jafariya Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi said terrorism has been imposed on us to cause harm to Pakistan that is the citadel of Islam. The Pakistan’s Armed Forces are offering sacrifices by carrying our Operation Zarb-e-Azb to check this terrorism. He said the colonial powers are giving the right of self-determination to the countries of their choice while issues of Kashmir and Palestine were still in the cold storage. He said if the Muslim Ummah desires to keep their heads high then they should promise not to bow down before the evil forces come what may, Mukhtar Force and other subordinate bodies of the TNFJ should increase their working capacities and lace themselves with the power of faith and Taqwa and be ever ready to sacrifice their lives for the sanctity of the religion and motherland. He vowed that Azadari is our jugular vein and a tool for peaceful protest that provides protection to all nations and it will continue till the supremacy of the Parcham-e-Haq and the Zahoor of Imam Mehdi (A.S.). Neither our forefathers had bargained on our ideology and motherland nor we or our offspring will do so in future, he concluded.