Malik invokes Islam in offer to Taliban
Interior Minister Rehman Mailk. — Photo by AP/File
ISLAMABAD: Like his other colleagues who spoke in the National Assembly on Saturday, the usually tough-talking interior minister, Rehman Malik, took the role of a preacher to make a holy, though ambiguous, offer to Taliban militants: “Return to the fold of Islam” to end bloodshed.
Lawmakers from both sides of aisle, including some non-Muslims, invoked Islamic teachings for the sake of peace in the country as the house suspended its normal agenda to hold a rare debate to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on a move from Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Religious Affairs Minister and chief whip of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
But there were not many listeners for more than 20 lawmakers who spoke to a poorly attended house, which met a day after Eid Miladun Nabi (PBUH), which was a national holiday.
The sitting, chaired by PPP member Yasmeen Rehman, started with only 18 members present and the attendance never reached even 30 at any time, although the quorum for the 342-seat house requires the presence of 86 members.
After some of his usual bluster, such as “munafiqeen” (hypocrites) misusing a religious platform for violence, like throats of Muslims cut in Swat valley during the 2009 Taliban revolt there, and appealing to ulema to bring perceived deviators to the right path, the interior minister, addressing the Taliban, said: “I invite you to give up terrorism.”
Then asking them at whose behest they were fighting, he said: “I invite all Taliban to come into the fold of Islam and stop ‘qatl-o-gharat’ (murder and pillage).”
But the minister’s remarks remained ambiguous as he did not say if a halt of violence by the Taliban could lead to a dialogue, which the government has said in the past could be held only with those militants who laid down their weapons.
Mr Khursheed Shah, who wound up the debate, did not pick up the interior minister’s theme as he spoke of the need for ulema to use the pulpit to preach unity among Muslims rather than sectarianism, though he said “there is a mentality that promotes murders and we have to fight against this mentality”.
While most lawmakers avoided speaking of politics in general, before the house was adjourned until 5pm on Tuesday, the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the only religious party in the house, struck a discordant note after speeches by a couple of its members by staging a fifth walkout in as many days to protest against the imposition of governor’s rule in Balochistan where it was a partner in the dismissed PPP-led provincial cabinet.
“Return to the fold of Islam” to end bloodshed. Look who’s taking and invoking Islam. The one who does not even know sura al-Ikhlas which is the first Surah taught to every muslim. What kind of Muslim is invoking Islam to resolve issues the one who does not know Islam. This is basically a curse from Allah on us that these people are the rulers of a muslim state. Remember Pakistan is the only country who got independence based on Islam. Now we have 170 Million Muslim but no Islam.
This is very true as far as the Pakistan is concerned and unfortunate to the people of Pakistan if they do not come in the fold of true Islam, a deen of Allah. We are supposed to be best guided people on the earth and our ignorance is inexcusable in all respect.
You have to but think why any human being would forsake the comfort and pleasure of a peaceful living to violence. You pinch somebody and then prim-up and hush them, that is cruel hypocrisy. If u read the works of Saleem Shahzad, u will know that the Taliban soldier who initiated throat-cutting in Swat was the one whose bedroom was raided at night when he was sleeping with his wife and child. He begged the raiders to let alone his wife and child and not to man-handle them, but they only laughed at him and bundled away a purdah observing woman in her night clothes. The soldier was also imprisoned and teased about it during his imprisonment. He publically vowed during imprisonment to slit the throats of those who humiliated his wife…
A GOOD EFFORT BY THE INTERIOR MINISTER.
Malik needs to follow Islam and not interfere in Afghanistan affairs. You cannot have it both ways.
‘Laton ke BHOOT baton se nahin mante’ Janab Malik Saheb. What country need is a complete elimination of Talibans. Men, women, children ALL. The only way to save Pakistan and Islam is to make them ‘Jahannum Wasil’. Please do not waste your time on these frivolous and unattainable wishful thinking, Mr. Rehman Malik.
well Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mr. Malik.
Could you please recite surat IKHLAS (AHAD) Please????? (which is the heart and basis of ISLAM).
Last time when you tried you could not recite let alone knowing the meaning of ISLAM….So please explain who is the munafiq????
We are justified in enforcing good morals, for they belong to all mankind; but we are not justified in enforcing good manners, for good manners always mean our own manners.
Is there anyone in pakistan who takes Rehman malik seriously?
Just 3 words..”Look whose talking”…You get it right!..;)
“Return to the fold of Islam” Is this message for Taliban only? I hope the PPP’s government also follows the principles of Islam in day to day dealing and governance.
Taliban are already following Islam..In fact, the original and unadultereated version.
Brother it is a wrong notion in your mind that whatever Talibans are doing, conforms to the teachings of Islam. Currently Islam is the fastest growing religion particularly in the west.
Mr. Rajagopal has a courage to put his rightful thought, which we Muslims can’t. And by the way, what the correct perspective of Islam and deen e Mohammed.
Talibanis must be laughing out loud at Malik’s lecture on Islam!
And you are an expert on Islam with a name like Raja Gopal!!
Do not write before you know the facts.
Obviously you can’t fight them. They have an ideology according to which they want RULE OF GOD (ALLAH) in Pakistan.
Whether Rehman Malik is initiating a political move to conglomerate the masses before the elections will be an early call
No
While I I am absolutely repelled by the Taliban’s violence and intolerance, I am also deeply offended by your comment – you are passing a flippant value judgement on something you have no knowledge of and this attitude is repulsive. Its clear you don’t know the history of Mohammad pbuh or Islam. When Muhammad pbuh was rejected by the people of Taif and the angel Gabriel came to tell him that the angels were ready to crush the city with the mountains, he responded with a prayer ‘Spare them, for I hope that one day from among them will spring Muslims’. When he conquered Mecca, the inhabitants expected bloodshed but he spared everyone who had fought against him for years for he knew people would evolve and grow into Muslims. I wish the Taliban were as enlightened and tolerant as the Prophet they claim to be following but perhaps they lack knowledge of his teachings and practice.
angel Gabriel ??? are you sure ???
shows how much knowledge you have earned.
Just the person that we needed to hear this confirmation from. Mr. Rajagopal should next be invited to write an exegesis. Taliban have not to do with Islam
With the consent of the silent majority…
perhaps you need to understand Islam better to know what is “the original and unadultereated version” is Rajagopal.If true Islam is practiced and followed the world would be much better place for all
How much of True Islam was practised in the last 1400 years and how many mini-Islamic paradises were born? How about Islam in Islamic Republic of Pakistan working? Do let us know please.
you r right …!
i think rehman malik should have told TALIBAN to leave islam ….! pakistan will be peacefull….!
Taliban’s interpretation of Islam seems to be matching yours. Surely IQ levels must be the same.
Rajagopal, the Taliban are following as much Islam as you are.
Rajagopal – i’m sad to say i actually completely agree with you. Taliban is pure Islam. We may not like what we see or hear but it is the truth.
fazl-ur-rehman saab, its not up to you to decide who rules Balochistan. Maybe you would prefer if we put Malala in charge?
21st centuary islam being invoke by violence;hatred and killings…..
What is Islam fold? I think, this question is very important to explain and it is all guided in Quran and the life of our Prophet. Whether leading a life like the companions of our Prophet is something objectionable in modern times. What else our Prophet done in 23 year of life, Dawah and establishing the rule of Almighty Allah. Now, one has to see who is on the way of Our Beloved Prophet and who is on other side. No body has to adjudge it but yourselves.
Speaks volumes about the governance of Pakistan when a meeting does not even meet it’s quorum requirements.
The minister’s good speech remind me of his recitation of Surah Ikhlas. The gentleman couldn’t even recite the written scripture. I hope YouTube is opened again for the masses to witness themselves.
Rehman Malik, took the role of a preacher to make a holy, though ambiguous, offer to Taliban militants: “Return to the fold of Islam”
This must be the joke of the century. The blind is leading the blinds
Nobody is addressing the root cause of the problem. Everybody is trying to evade it. Pak politicians must stop their shortsighted policies of thinking in Islamic terms only. Pakistan can survive only as a moderate Islamic nation where rights of general public and minorities are safeguarded. All provinces need to be given their due rights. As things stands today Pakistan is ruled by Punjabis who dominate army and establishment. Nobody cares for Balochis, Sindhis, Hazaras, Shias. Ahmedias have been declared as a kafirs. This is the state of a country created in the name of Islam !!!!
Corrupt politicians and army have only been befooling the Pakistani public for all these 65 years.
Rehman Malik can not beat TTP on Islam because the later claims to be” true” muslims and wants to implement true sharia in Pakistan. TTP stands on high moral ground because politicians like Rehman Malik appear to be hypocrites- on one hand supporting USA led war on terror and on the other criticizing drone attacks just for public consumption
It has been clearly evident in 1971 that Islam was unable to stop dismemberment of Pakistan. TTP, if it came to power Allah forbids, then Taliban rule in Pakistan will be repeated. Are Pakistanis ready for that ? There will be only death and destructions beyond imagination- nothing else.
taliban is not death & destruction.Taliban is true islam and terror for the enemies of Islam .
you expect taliban not to react when you kill there people using drones and other means
Talk of Islam by none other than our Home Minister ? And Fazlur Rehman does not seem to be interested in any thing else except being against governor rule in Baluchistan.
those who walk out may not be paid for a month! though it will make no difference to many khaas pot belly
How can a incompetent man like him be a federal minister, this man does not which hole is he talking from
Sorry not able to give more than one thums- up.
Islam as already been invoked too many times in the Jihadi media. I feel sorry for Islam as everyone uses it for their own puposes.
I have respect for your words.
Religion is methodology to inject spirit for getting the dreams comes true with an aim to unite the Ummah, placing country to a state where everyone gets daily needs and finally the UMMAT live with dignity and prosperity. Unfortunately,neither states nor NGOs are taking any such action but rather putting back the country to stone age.
“I invite all Taliban to come into the fold of Islam and stop ‘qatl-o-gharat’ (murder and pillage).” By making such a statement, either Rehman Malik does not know the art of diplomacy and negotiations or he is not sincere about wanting peace in Pakistan at this time when elections are about to happen.
Rehman, you are the man. Go after talibans. You can do it.
Malik and Taliban will make good business partners.
The Taliban ensure every one gets a haircut and Malik has been in this business for many generations.