RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The death anniversary of former chief of Tehreek Nafaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya Pakistan Allama Mufti Jafar Hussain was observed on Friday August 29 with national spirit. Quran Khwani and Majalis-e-Tarheem were organised throughout the country on this occasion.

Condolence programmes were also held in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Speakers in their Friday sermons highlighted the philosophy of death and life.

Central Convener Allama Abul Hassan Taqi addressing a Majlis-e-Tarheem organised by TNFJ Regional Council Rawalpindi paid homage to the services of Late Mufti Jafar Hussain. He said Mufti Jafar struggled throughout his life for achievement of rights for the Maktab-e-Tashayyo. When a tyrant ruler announced to turn Pakistan into a Maktabi State, the Tehreek Nafaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya thwarted this heinous conspiracy by taking over the Islamabad Secretariat.

He said when a conspiracy was hatched to restrict Milad-un-Nabi and Azadari processions through an amendment in Article 30(3) of the Police Act, the Quaid-i-Millat-i-Jafariya Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi led a ‘Dharna’ at Fawwara Chowk Rawalpindi on Youm-e-Ashoor in 1984 and challenged the dictator that they would not only reject any restriction on Milad-un-Nabi and Azadari processions rather he led an 8-month long agitation against it during which he and his minor children also courted arrest. Almost more than 14,000 volunteers courted arrest without any discrimination on the basis on any Maslak or sect which led to bowing down of the tyrant ruler resulting in May 21, 1985 Junejo-Moosavi agreement under which Milad-un-Nabi and Azadari processions were exempted from the amendment. He said the successful agitation on July 6, 1980 and the May 21, 1985 agreement guarantee Shia rights and Tehreek Nafaz Fiqh-e-Jafariya Pakistan is the only representative organisation of the Maktab-e-Tashayyo.

He reiterated the resolve that practical struggle will continue to make Pakistan a welfare Islamic State keeping to the desires of Quaid-i-Azam and Nazria-e-Asaasi.

A resolution presented by Allama Fakhar Abbas Abidi made it clear that Islam is that great a religion that has been termed the foundation of Pakistan, while Islam is the official religion of Pakistan under the Article 2 of the Constitution. The resolution said that Islam preaches equality, love, justice and fair-play and guarantees protection to human rights.

The resolution demanded from the government to fulfil the norms of justice and fair-play, ensure the rights and protection of all countrymen, do not consider anyone a second grade citizen and recognised Maktab should be considered ideological citizens on the basis of equality in all State departments. The resolution said that Sunnis and Shias are two strong arms of Islam and if dealt with justice and fair-play would increase the strength of Pakistan and the Islamic World.

Another resolution expressing concern over publication of blasphemous images in Indian daily “Hindustan” considered it an insult to the Islamic World as well as to the world religions. The resolution demanded from the ICC and the United Nations to take suo moto notice of this condemnable act and asked the government to lodge a strong protest over it because it is considered real terrorism that is aimed at hurting the feelings of the nations and religions of the world and to wipe them out by declaring fundamentalists.

The resolution resolved to follow any line of action given by the Quaid-i-Millat-i-Jafariya Agha Hamid Moosavi to sacrifice anything for the religion and the motherland.

Yet another resolution expressed grave concern over the heavy loss of life in the incident of murder of TNFJ Deputy Secretary General Sardar Mumtaz Hussain Qazilbash, and blasts at Wah Cantt., Dera Ismail Khan, and Sihala Road Islamabad and demanded from the government to ensure effective implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act and take notice of the activities of the banned groups with new names.

Syed Mazhar Ali Shah Advocate, Secretary General of the Tehreek addressing a gathering said that there is a saying of Maula-e-Kainaat Hazrat Ali Ibne Abi Talib (A.S.) that goes: Keep contact with people in a manner that they remain fond of meeting you when you are alive and shed tears on you when you leave this world. He said Allama Mufti Jafar Hussain was such a personality who authored and translated many books and who performed his duty of achieving rights of the Maktab-e-Tashayyo with sincerity of purpose and he has the honour that he did not bow down before the Zia’s tyranny rather got the rights of the Maktab-e-Tashayyo accepted by him.

Mazhar Ali Shah said that Mufti Jafar Hussain had been member of the Islamic Council of Ideology and Advisory Council, was included in the 31 ulema who set out 22 points. Therefore, he added, Gen. Ziaul Haq accepted the Shia rights through a Press Note. He said, it is a separate issue that later he staged a drama of controversial Private Shariat Bill in the Senate which was rejected by Quaid-i-Millat-i-Jafariya Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi by saying that there is no need of any Shariat Bill in the presence of 1973 Constitution.

He said presence of Pakistan owes to the efforts of all schools of thought. He said the atheist forces desire to create Maktabi conflict by promoting biases but we have proved through our deeds that there is no Maktabi conflict in Pakistan. He said what is we reaping today in the shape of terrorism was sowed by the absolute tyrant ruler Gen. Zia.

He said that the basic objective of the satanic forces is to shatter peace of the country. At present continuous efforts are being made, under a well thought-out plan because the colonial powers desire to achieve their monopoly and in this effort, they are playing their game in Sarhad province including tribal areas and Kurram Agency.

Ongoing military operation and use of heavy artillery by Nato forces at these places provide food for thought. He expressed concern that approach to Kurram Agency is blocked for a long time, people are not safe, and eatables are not available while people in Bajaur were forced to quit their area.

He strongly condemned suicide bomb attacks in Wah Cantt., Dera Ismail Khan, heavy loss of life caused to Chah Munawwar Shah Zaidi’s community, gory murder of Deputy Secretary General TNFJ Sardar Mumtaz Ali Qazilbash in Peshawar, and the bomb blast at a hotel on Sihala Road in Islamabad and declared these incidents a threat to Pakistan’s integrity and solidarity.

He said unrest is prevailing in the country whereas rulers were playing Noora-Kushti for presidentship while the people are only concerned with hunger, poverty, price hike, suicides, murder, arson and terrorism that are on its height. In this situation, he said, it was binding on all sections of society to give priority to the collective interest over all other matters.

The TNFJ Secretary General reiterated his resolve that no sacrifice would be spared for achieving the targets of the Tehreek and no one will be allowed to bargain on our rights.

Meanwhile, according to reports reaching the headquarters of the Maktab-e-Tashayyo, Majalis-e-Tarheem and condolence programmes were also organised in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad, Skardu, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Jhang, Pindi Gheb, Dharnal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and other cities to mark the death anniversary of Allama Mufti Jafar Hussain.