Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen
- Politics of Pakistan
- Political parties
- Elections
Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM; Urdu: مجلس وحدتِ مسلمین, lit. 'Muslim Unity Assembly') is a Pakistani Shi'a Islamic political organization. Its headquarters are in Islamabad. MWM Pakistan works to establish an Islamic democratic welfare state, particularly emphasising Shi'a-Sunni unity.
Party profile
Party objective, agenda and manifesto
The Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen is a Shiite Muslim political and religious party of Pakistan whose main objective is to make a practical effort for the revival of Islam and the integrity and stability of Pakistan's nation, Party's main perspective is to speak against the oppression of Pakistan's Shia community, establish goodwill with the Sunni Muslim community, raise political and religious awareness among Muslims and to revive the teachings of the Quran in the society espousing Islamic socialism, MWM agenda envisions a religious Islamic republic that advocates individuals' welfare particularly emphasising muslim unity through community co-operation, MWM wants to set Pakistan on a course to political stability, social harmony, and economic prosperity for all religious, ethnic and racial communities.[8][9][10][11]
MWM has an agenda to blend traditional social and religious values and cultural and ethnic diversity of Pakistan into common goals and aspirations for a just society based on Mohammad Iqbal's and Mohammad Ali Jinnah's vision of Islamic democratic regime providing religious awareness, social security, welfare values and the rule of law in the country.[12][13][14]
The party manifesto includes a desire to provide credible leadership, to restore Pakistan's political, religious and economic sovereignty, to establish a strong system of accountability and defense to combat corruption and terrorism.[15][16][17]
Foundation
Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen was founded by a group of Shiite Muslim clergy and former members of the largest Shiite students' organization Imamia Students Organization on August 2, 2009 in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Electoral performance
In an interview with The Express Tribune, MWM Karachi's political secretary, Syed Asghar Abbas Zaidi, said that the party’s aims were to gain seats and to install an Islamic regime.[18] The Election Commission of Pakistan designated the MWM as a political organization in 2013. The election commission allotted Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen the tent as an electoral symbol.
2013 general elections
The MWM announced in March 2013 that in the 2013 general elections, it would field more than 50 candidates on provincial seats and 20 on national seats, including 10 provincial slots and 11 national seats from Karachi.[19]
2015 GB elections
The MWM participated in the 2015 GB elections and successfully won two seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly.[20]
2020 GB elections
For the 2020 GB elections, MWM partnered with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and won one seat in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly.[21]
2024 general elections
The MWM participated in the 2024 Pakistani general election partnered with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and won one seat from NA-37 Kurram in National Assembly. The MWM also won one seat in the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.[22]
2024 Senate election
The Secretary-General Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri during 2024 Pakistani Senate election elected as a member of Senate unopposed from the Punjab as a MWM candidate.[23][24]
Ties and Muslim unity
Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen supported Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the 2013 Pakistani general elections, 2024 Pakistani general election and the first religio-political organization supported by Imran Khan and his party.[25]
Sunni-based Sunni Tehreek, Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Sunni Ittehad Council and Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan are supporters of Shiite-based Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen. All of them are on one platform running against Pakistani Taliban and its sub-groups Sipah-e-Sahaba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.[26]
Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen and Sunni Ittehad Council held many gatherings across Pakistan to promote unity. Minorities including Christians and Hindus were invited to these gatherings. MWM says that they believe that unity is the only way out of sectarian tensions among the Muslims.[27]
PAT President Dr Raheeq Abbasi expressed gratitude to the MWM leadership for its support to Tahir-ul-Qadri’s revolutionary struggle.[28]
Terrorist attacks on party activist and leaders
On April 28, 2013, Hassan Kashmiri, MWM activist and a resident of Rizvia Society was gunned down by unidentified gunmen. Following his funeral, the mourning procession took his body to Wadi-e-Hussain graveyard. According to the Senior Superintendent of the Police, Imran Shoukat, as the procession was passing through the Liaquatabad area, some participants opened fired, killing two people. The MWM condemned the attack and denied that the participants had opened fire. The banned Sipah-e-Sahaba is blamed for the attack.
While police were busy with Kashmiri's case, an attack on a Shiite scholar near Liaquatabad No.10 left him injured and his police bodyguard dead. The Senior Superintendent of the Police, Amir Farooqi said that Syed Baqar Hussain Zaidi was heading towards Rizvia Society when four men on motorcycles opened fire.[29]
On 22 August 2014, Mazhar Haider and his younger brother Irfan Haider sustained bullet wounds. They were rushed to hospital where doctors pronounced Irfan's death and admitted Mazhar with critical wounds. MWM spokesman said Mazhar was the MWM president of central district. It was a targeted attack conducted by Sipah-e-Sahaba.[30]
On 15 February 2017, Allama Syed Tasawar Jawadi and his wife were gun shot at Siringar Highway Muzaffarabad by Sipah-e-Sahaba's terrorists.[citation needed] Allama Tasawar Jawadi was the Shiite scholar and was Secretary General of MWM Azad Kashmir (2009-2021). Allama Syed Tasawar Jawadi was given early treatment at SKBZ/CMH Muzaffarabad then referred to CMH Rwp. After 8 months of treatment, Allama Syed Tasawar Jawadi Allama was discharged from CMH Rwp.
Other activities
Hunger strike protests over killing of party workers
In 2013, MWM announced a general strike after the killing of several of its workers.
A hunger strike by MWM chief commenced in May 2016, while camped in front of National Press Club Islamabad.[31] It organized protests through banners, placards and demonstration led by religious leaders at almost all big cities of Pakistan on Friday 22 July 2016. MWM staged a sit-in at Numaish Chowrangi, Karachi[32] and on The Mall outside the Punjab Assembly on same day.[33]
Palestine Independence Aid Campaign
On 23 October 2023, The Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen announced Palestine Independence Aid Campaign. The party installed Palestinian aid camps across Pakistan.[34]
The MWM Secretary-General Allama Raja Nasir Abbas praised the Hamas-led attack on Israel.[35] On the same day MWM organised pro-Palestine rallies across the country mainly outside US Consulate Karachi party workers burn the US and Israeli Flags in support of the successful attacks of the Hamas and its allies on Israel and expresses solidarity with Palestinians.[36][37][38]
Speaking at the main rally, Majlis-e-Wahdat Muslimeen Pakistan’s Central Secretary General Syed Nasir Abbas Shirazi said that the international community, which is criminally silent on Israeli atrocities, is now shocked by the Palestinian resistance brave Palestinian people have destroyed Israel’s claim of invincibility, the responsibility of the entire situation is on the usurper Israel, whose pride has been crushed by the mujahideen Palestinians.[39][40][41]
See also
- List of Islamic political parties
- Shia Ulema Council
- Tehrik-e-Jafaria
- Imamia Students Organization
- Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan
References
- ^ "MWM opposes 'secret' talks with TTP". Dawn (newspaper). 22 November 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ "Registration of cases: Police biased against mourners: MWM". The News International (newspaper). 2 October 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ "Religious leaders pay tributes to Quaid-i-Azam". The News International (newspaper). 26 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ The Islamic Politics For Future, The Ideology Agenda of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (Pakistan), (2016), p. 25
- ^ "Vote(s) of confidence: MWM banks on Shia voters across Sindh to sweep upcoming general elections". Express Tribune. April 20, 2013.
- ^ "Yaum-e-Ali processions organized by MWM taken out countrywide with huge muslim unity". The News International (newspaper). 5 May 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan: Opposition alliance launches protest movement against govt in Balochistan's Pishin". 13 April 2024.
- ^ "PAT thanks Majlis-e-Wahat-ul-Muslameen for supporting revolution". Pakistan Awami Tehreek official.
- ^ "Sunni Ittehad Council, MWM's Qaumi aman convention in Islamabad". Abb Takk News. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014.
- ^ The Islamic Politics For Future, The Ideology Agenda of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (Pakistan), (2016), p. 25
- ^ "PTI and Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen decide to jointly promote unity, peace and harmony". PTI official. November 20, 2013.
- ^ "Religious leaders pay tributes to Quaid-i-Azam". The News International (newspaper). 26 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ The Islamic Politics For Future, The Ideology Agenda of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (Pakistan), (2016), p. 25
- ^ "Sunni Ittehad Council, MWM's Qaumi aman convention in Islamabad". Abb Takk News. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014.
- ^ The Islamic Politics For Future, The Ideology Agenda of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (Pakistan), (2016), p. 25
- ^ "Pakistan's Top Shiite Party (MWM) Rejects Talk with Taliban". Ahlul Bayt News Agency. February 3, 2014.
- ^ "MWM opposes 'secret' talks with TTP". Dawn (newspaper). 22 November 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ "Vote(s) of confidence: MWM banks on Shia voters across Sindh to sweep upcoming general elections". Express Tribune. April 20, 2013.
- ^ "MWM declares 3-point agenda for seat adjustment". The Nation. March 31, 2013.
- ^ Tribune.com.pk (2015-06-25). "Maiden session: 33 members of G-B Assembly take oath". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ^ "Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Election 2020". dunyanews.tv. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
- ^ "MWM enters mainstream politics with a crucial win from Kurram". 10 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "Seven candidates elected senators unopposed from Punjab". Business Recorder. 28 March 2024. Archived from the original on 1 April 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Rana Yasif; Syed Ali Shah (28 March 2024). "Seven senators elected unopposed from Punjab". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "PTI and Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen decide to jointly promote unity, peace and harmony". PTI official. November 20, 2013.
- ^ "Pakistan's Top Shiite Party (MWM) Rejects Talk with Taliban". Ahlul Bayt News Agency. February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Sunni Ittehad Council, MWM's Qaumi aman convention in Islamabad". Abb Takk News. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014.
- ^ "PAT thanks Majlis-e-Wahat-ul-Muslameen for supporting revolution". Pakistan Awami Tehreek official.
- ^ "Surge of violence: 11 killed in separate incidents in Karachi". Express Tribune. April 28, 2013.
- ^ "An activist of Shiite political party shot martyred in Karachi". Ahlul Bayt News Agency. August 23, 2014.
- ^ "Hunger strike of MWM leader enters second month". The Shia Post. June 19, 2016.
- ^ "Karachi traffic in chaos as MWM extends sit-ins to other areas". Samaa TV. July 22, 2016.
- ^ "MWM stages sit-in". Dawn News. July 23, 2016.
- ^ "Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen of Pakistan starts Palestine Independence Campaign". Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen of Pakistan starts Palestine Independence Campaign". Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "Pakistani police block pro-Palestine rally outside US Consulate". Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "MWM rally in Islamabad in support of the successful attacks of the Palestinian Mujahideen". Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "MWM rally expresses solidarity with Palestinians". Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "Pakistani police block pro-Palestine rally outside US Consulate". Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "MWM rally in Islamabad in support of the successful attacks of the Palestinian Mujahideen". Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "MWM rally expresses solidarity with Palestinians". Retrieved 23 October 2023.
External links
- Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen on Facebook