Amir Nafees says the largest gathering of the faithful after the Haj congregation could be used by the rightwing to foment trouble for Islamabad’s pro-US policy
With tension mounting between the religious rightwing and the government following Islamabad’s decision to support the US military campaign against the Taliban and Osama bin Ladin’s Al-Qaeda network, the Punjab government is nervously eyeing the Tableeghi Jama’at’s annual congregation at Raiwind starting Friday.
The congregation has been held uninterruptedly at Raiwind, about 40 km south of Lahore, since 1938. It was started at its present location by Maulana Muhammad Ilyas, a Deoband graduate, and now attracts an average of 1.2 million faithful over the 3-day proceedings culminating in the collective dua (prayers).
While the Tableeghi Jama’at (TJ) is generally known to be apolitical and non-violent, its Deobandi roots are now a matter of concern for the government. Intelligence officials say there is evidence that over the past few years many activists of Deobandi jihadi groups and sectarian parties may have become affiliated with TJ.
Security officials fear that the congregation might be used by religious-political elements to put further pressure on the government. In the areas adjoining Afghanistan, in the NWFP and northern Balochistan, the rightwing as well as deeply conservative Pashtun tribes, are already preparing to fight government forces, if necessary, to register their opposition to Islamabad’s pro-US policy. Most significantly, these north western tribal areas of Pakistan are also the source of most TJ faithful to the annual get-together at Raiwnd. |
