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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (43554)	1/13/2003 11:10:04 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

The 'Mullahs' are thrown a gauntlet by the Pakistani PM,, he says ' you guys have double standards and you guys are not the arbiters of guardian of Islam. Stop using religion as a tool' The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) leaders should shun double standards, advised Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali on Sunday. He was addressing the foundation laying ceremony of Government Girl's Degree College and Government Girls' High School in Dhok Kala Khan, Shamshabad, here. Federal Minister for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmed presided over the ceremony, which was also attended by the acting district nazim, Rawalpindi, the tehsil nazim and the PML-QA candidate for NA-56, Sheikh Rashid Shafique. The prime minister said the MMA leaders hold negotiations with the government in the night and issue different statements to the press in the day. He said the MMA is not 'Thekaidar' guardian of Islam. "We, the PML-QA, and other parties are also Muslims and believe in Islam. As such the people should reject such leaders who use the name of Islam for doing politics," he said. "Rather", he said, "they should understand politics. It is not a small thing. Politics means to serve the people with sincerity and dedication. The masses hold our accountability during the elections and elect us. We do politics to serve them and resolve their grievances." "We should make a policy of keeping balance with regard to worldly and religious matters. We should maintain our respect and dignity," he said. Referring to the statement by the MMA candidate that his visit to Rawalpindi is part of electioneering for PML-QA candidate, the prime minister said victory and defeat is part of election game. He said, "We have rendered all kind of sacrifices and extended support to the US during the Afghan war. But now America should realise our compulsions. The government should apprise America of our compulsions." However, he said, "We will not compromise on any religious matter if America wants so." Agencies add: Jamali said he and his cabinet have been handed over the reigns of the government with an open heart. "Probably no military general could have done so," he said, referring to the transition of General Pervez Musharraf's government to the civilian rule in the country. He said the president had told the cabinet that he and his colleagues had done what was in the best national interest and now it was up to the civilian government to take charge of things. He said, "We say prayers five times a day and do our best to follow the teachings of our religion Islam. They (the MMA leaders) don't have to worry about it," he said. Recalling the first time, way back in 1946, when he first visited the city on his way to Lawrence College, Ghora Gali, he said at that time Murree Road used to be a narrow road and he used to travel on buses owned by the Pindi-Murree Transport and Murree Hill Transport. "At that time I used to carry on my luggage and walk to the college and even today I believe walking on my own feet, without any support," he said. He said in the 60s he was proud to have served as a polling agent and a personal body guard for Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, while still being a student. He said it has been a long journey of learning and experiences till he came to Islamabad. Jamali asked the large gathering to vote according to their conscience. He expressed the hope that Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, PML-Q candidate for NA-56, will bag maximum votes.