ICC Note: A coalition of Islamic parties in Pakistan has pledged to impose Sharia if elected in the July general elections. Christians and other religious minorities fear this possibility, even though it is likely being done just to gain political points. As pointed out my experts in Pakistan, many political parties promise to implement Sharia, but rarely follow through.
06/16/2018 Pakistan (Asia News) – A coalition of radical Islamic parties has pledged to impose Sharia across Pakistan if it wins the next general election on 25 July.
The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) is an alliance of five ultraconservative and fundamentalist parties. In a rally organized in Islamabad, they presented a 12-point electoral program, the first of which is the application of Islamic law.
Speaking to Asia News, Muslims and Christians expressed their disagreement with the proposal, noting how radical Islamic parties have always used religion to attract votes.
The MMA includes Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUIi-F), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith (JA), Tehreek-e-Jafaria Pakistan (TJP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP).
Their own electoral base is in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, on the border with Afghanistan.
Under the 1973 Constitution, all laws in Pakistan must conform to Islamic principles, but Sharia has never been enforced.
Experts complain that election posters often show promises to implement Sharia but at the same time do not explain how that would be done.
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