Christian Clergyman Joins Islamist Political Party
A Pakistani Christian bishop recently joined an Islamist political party, placing his faith in the group's platform that focuses on people power over military force.
Jamiat Lama-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman announced the Christian clergyman Nazeer Alam's joining their group in an event held at the Qasr-i-Naz, the Dawn reports.
The JUI-F president stated that their political organization thrives under the country's parliamentary system because of their acknowledgment of the ineffectiveness of military imposition in today's world.
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The party focuses more on harnessing the power of the people. The JUI-F chief said that they are working to let their voices be heard in state affairs — stressing that they are striving to give minorities their rights. He also stated that Pakistan can only thrive under a parliamentary and democratic government system.
"My own father during his ministry in KP did not allow late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's government to nationalise missionary schools and ordered the government schools to bring the quality of education there up to the level of missionary schools," Rahman was quoted saying.
Rahman welcomed the clergyman's decision to join their ranks. He defined Bishop Alam's support as a good sign for their cause and said that the teachings of the Church should not be reserved for any one religion only. Alam vowed to serve Pakistan and advocate democracy with JUI-F.
Rahman also stressed that freedom was the birthright of all humans regardless of their religion. The politician emphasized that in an Islamic state, the rights of the people and peace must be protected.
For over a decade, Pakistan has been struggling against Islamic extremists, hosting some of the terror group's most powerful factions.
