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The '''Sunni Ittehad Council''' (''Ittehad'' in [[Urdu]] for "unity", from ''al-Ittihad'' in [[Arabic]] meaning "united" or "jointly") is a [[political alliance]] of Islamic political and [[Barelvi movement|Barelvi]] religious parties in [[Pakistan]] which represents followers of the school of Sunni Islam.<ref name=Dawn/> |
The '''Sunni Ittehad Council''' (''Ittehad'' in [[Urdu]] for "unity", from ''al-Ittihad'' in [[Arabic]] meaning "united" or "jointly") is a [[political alliance]] of Islamic political and [[Barelvi movement|Barelvi]] religious parties in [[Pakistan]] which represents followers of the school of Sunni Islam.<ref name="Dawn">[http://www.dawn.com/news/687293/us-aided-pakistan-group-which-supported-extremists US aided Pakistan group which supported extremists] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404044836/http://www.dawn.com/news/687293/us-aided-pakistan-group-which-supported-extremists|date=4 April 2016}} Dawn (newspaper), Published 11 January 2012, Retrieved 11 December 2018</ref> |
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SIC was formed in 2009 |
SIC was formed in 2009 under the leadership of Sahibzada Fazal Karim, the then President of Markazi Jamiat Ulama-e-Pakistan and Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Sahibzada Fazal Karim was amongst the most distinguished political and religious figures of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and belonged to a highly reputable religious background. The [[Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan]] (JUP) was founded by [[Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Khan |first=Aarish Ullah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=na20oAEACAAJ |title=Sunni Ittehad Council: The Strengths and Limitations of Barelvi Activism Against Terrorism |date=2011 |language=en |access-date=23 November 2023 |archive-date=19 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219061725/https://books.google.com/books?id=na20oAEACAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> Later, it broke into many factions. |
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Sahibzada Fazal Karim died in April 2013 and his eldest son Sahibzada Hamid Raza was elected as the chairman and he is still performing as the chairman of the party.. |
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One of the breakaway 'F' faction of [[Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan]] (JUP) was established by [[Muhammad Fazal Karim|Sahibzada Fazl Kareem]] and Haji Hanif Tayyab. Now, this faction is working under the leadership of Sahibzada Hamid Raza.<ref name=DunyaNews/> |
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After the [[2024 Pakistani general election|2024 election]], the winning independent candidates supported by [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf]] joined this party at [[Imran Khan]]'s behest and it emerged as the biggest party securing largest (92) numbers in the Parliament. |
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Another breakaway 'M' faction of [[Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan]] was working under Sayyid Mahfooz Shah Sahib Mashahdi (Peer of Bhikhi Sharif, Mandi Bahaudin). It also became part of Sunni Ittehad Council. |
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On 19 February 2024, [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf|PTI]] leader [[Gohar Ali Khan]] announced that its party-backed independent candidates in the [[2024 Pakistani general election|2024 general election]] would join Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) as part of their parliamentary strategy. |
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After the [[2024 Pakistani general election|2024 election]], the winning independent candidates supported by [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf]] joined this party at [[Imran Khan]]'s behest.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Sunni Ittehad Council moves ECP for allocation of reserved seats | date=20 February 2024 |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2024/02/20/sunni-ittehad-council-moves-ecp-for-allocation-of-reserved-seats/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=i3IUYU1WVEiA5L9Gu1BAlleuxG421EJSFstmXQLOkjc-1708593988-0.0-3666 |publisher=Pakistan today |access-date=20 February 2024 |archive-date=15 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415005934/https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2024/02/20/sunni-ittehad-council-moves-ecp-for-allocation-of-reserved-seats/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=i3IUYU1WVEiA5L9Gu1BAlleuxG421EJSFstmXQLOkjc-1708593988-0.0-3666 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) submitted on 22 February the joining certificates of independent members aligning with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to the [[Election Commission of Pakistan]] (ECP). According to details provided by the PTI Secretariat, a total of 86 independent members have pledged allegiance to the Sunni Ittehad Council for the National Assembly. Simultaneously, certificates of 105 members of the SIC for the Punjab Assembly and 85 members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have been submitted. Moreover, the joining certificates of 9 independent members of the Sindh Assembly have also been presented to the Election Commission, further solidifying the SIC's presence in key legislative bodies. |
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==Actions== |
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In December 2011, the Sunni Ittehad Council launched a countrywide "[[Difa-e-Pakistan]] campaign" to create public awareness against [[NATO]] attacks on Pakistan’s border military posts in Mohmand Agency. They also decided to hold a "Condemn America Day" on the 23rd of that month. Those NATO attacks killed over two dozens Pakistani soldiers.<ref name=TNI/> |
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Sunni Ittehad Council's chairman, [[Sahibzada Fazal Kareem]], presided this decision wherein it was taken at an 'All Parties Conference' of many parties of [[Ahle Sunnat]] [[school of thought]].<ref name=TNI/> |
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The US government website Usaspending.gov shows that the Sunni Ittehad Council received $36,607 from Washington in 2009. Sunni Ittehad Council had organized anti-Taliban rallies in Pakistan in the past. But the council later demonstrated in support of [[Mumtaz Qadri]] who killed the liberal politician [[Salman Taseer]] for his criticism of anti-blasphemy laws in Pakistan.<ref name=Dawn>[http://www.dawn.com/news/687293/us-aided-pakistan-group-which-supported-extremists US aided Pakistan group which supported extremists] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404044836/http://www.dawn.com/news/687293/us-aided-pakistan-group-which-supported-extremists |date=4 April 2016 }} Dawn (newspaper), Published 11 January 2012, Retrieved 11 December 2018</ref> According to a Hudson Institute report, "A few days after the assassination, leading religious groups led a demonstration of over fifty thousand people in Karachi in support of the [[blasphemy law]]. During the rally, Qadri was lionized as a Muslim hero, while rally leaders sternly warned the crowds against mourning Taseer, whom they claimed had deviated from Islam."<ref name=HI/> |
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In September 2011, the Council reacted to rumors that the United States might invade Pakistan in an attempt to put down terrorist networks in the country. The Council issued a [[fatwa]], stating that [[jihad]] against the US would become obligatory, where the country would encroach upon Pakistani soil, urging the Pakistani government to prepare the nation for a holy war "in the way of God."<ref name=HI>{{cite web|url=https://www.hudson.org/research/9848-the-assertion-of-barelvi-extremism|author=Muhammad Ismail Khan|publisher=Hudson Institute|title=The Assertion of Barelvi Extremism|accessdate=11 December 2018|archive-date=6 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206181355/https://www.hudson.org/research/9848-the-assertion-of-barelvi-extremism|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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On 12 October 2012, a group of 50 Islamic clerics in Pakistan issued a [[fatwā]] against the Taliban gunmen who tried to kill [[Malala Yousafzai]]. Islamic scholars from the Sunni Ittehad Council publicly denounced attempts by the Pakistani Taliban to mount religious justifications for the shooting of Yousafzai and two of her classmates.<ref name="fatwa">{{cite news |
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| author = Jon Boone |
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| title = Malala Yousafzai: 'fatwa' issued against gunmen |
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| newspaper = The Guardian (newspaper) |
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| publisher = |
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| date = 12 October 2012 |
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| url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/12/malala-yousafzai-fatwa-gunmen-pakistan?newsfeed=true |
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| accessdate = 12 December 2018 |
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| archive-date = 6 December 2017 |
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| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171206152850/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/12/malala-yousafzai-fatwa-gunmen-pakistan?newsfeed=true |
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| url-status = live |
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}}</ref> |
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On 19 February 2024, [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf|PTI]] leader [[Gohar Ali Khan]] announced that its party-backed independent candidates in the [[2024 Pakistani general election|2024 general election]] would join Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) as part of their parliamentary strategy.<ref>{{cite web |title=PTI strikes deal as successful independents to join Sunni Ittehad Council |url=https://www.samaa.tv/208739998-pti-strikes-deal-as-successful-independents-to-join-sunni-ittehad-council |website=Samaa TV |publisher=SAMAA WEB DESK |access-date=2024-02-19 |archive-date=19 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219140526/https://www.samaa.tv/208739998-pti-strikes-deal-as-successful-independents-to-join-sunni-ittehad-council |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) submitted on 22 February the joining certificates of independent members aligning with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to the [[Election Commission of Pakistan]] (ECP). According to details provided by the PTI Secretariat, a total of 86 independent members have pledged allegiance to the Sunni Ittehad Council for the National Assembly. Simultaneously, certificates of 105 members of the SIC for the Punjab Assembly and 85 members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have been submitted. Moreover, the joining certificates of 9 independent members of the Sindh Assembly have also been presented to the Election Commission, further solidifying the SIC's presence in key legislative bodies. |
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== Division == |
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Due to some political divisions, the Sunni Ittehad Council broke into two. One faction, led by Sayyid Muhammad Mahfooz Shah Sahib of Bhikki Shareef, declared that Sahibza Conference Kareem and Haji Hanif Tayyab had been removed from their positions due to an attempt to create an alliance with the [[Pakistan Muslim League (Q)]] without the prior permission of the member parties of the Sunni Ittehad Council, along with a host of other allegations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dawn.com/news/767235/alliance-with-pml-q-triggers-rift-in-sunni-ittehad|title=Alliance with PML-Q triggers rift in Sunni Ittehad|publisher=Dawn (newspaper)|author=Khalid Hasnain and Muhammad Saleem|date=28 November 2012|accessdate=12 December 2018|archive-date=11 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111093245/https://www.dawn.com/news/767235/alliance-with-pml-q-triggers-rift-in-sunni-ittehad|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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Sahibzada Fazal Kareem, therefore, established one group Sunni Ittehad Council (F), while Sayyid Mahfzooz Shah made another group called Sunni Ittehad Council (M). Fazal Kareem later died and the leadership of the Sunni Ittehad Council (F) was given to Sahibzada Hamid Raza.<ref name=DunyaNews>[http://dunyanews.tv/index.php/en/Pakistan/200554-Sunni-Ittehad-Council-accepts-Taliban-challenge-of Sunni Ittehad Council accepts Taliban challenge of debate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415010157/https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/200554-Sunni-Ittehad-Council-accepts-Taliban-challenge-of |date=15 April 2024 }} Dunya TV News website, Updated 13 November 2013, Retrieved 12 December 2018</ref> |
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== Ideology == |
== Ideology == |
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As the Sunni Ittehad Council is an alliance of several religious parties, it follows [[right-wing politics]], and advocates for the involvement of [[religion in politics]]. |
As the Sunni Ittehad Council is an alliance of several religious parties, it follows [[right-wing politics]], and advocates for the involvement of [[religion in politics]]. The party follows the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] denomination of [[Islam]], and as Sunni parties do, the SIC preaches the [[Sunnah|teachings]] of the Islamic [[Muhammad in Islam|Prophet Muhammad]] to be implemented, mostly to the [[Government of Pakistan|Pakistani government]]. Although the party follows the [[Barelvi movement|Barelvi]] and Sunni school of thought of [[Islam]], it has joined hands with parties of other [[Islamic schools and branches|denominations of Islam]], most recently with the [[Shia Islam|Shia]] party, the [[Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen|Majlis Wahadat-e-Muslimeen]], under mediation by the SIC’s ally, the [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf]].<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=India TV News |date=2024-02-19 |title=Pakistan: Imran Khan's PTI-backed candidates to join Sunni Ittehad Council, vows to form govt |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/pakistan-imran-khan-s-pti-backed-candidates-to-join-sunni-ittehad-council-mwm-to-form-govt-latest-updates-2024-02-19-917605 |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=www.indiatvnews.com |language=en |archive-date=4 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304014534/https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/pakistan-imran-khan-s-pti-backed-candidates-to-join-sunni-ittehad-council-mwm-to-form-govt-latest-updates-2024-02-19-917605 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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The party has also openly criticized both the [[Taliban]] and the [[United States|American]] [[Pakistan–United States military relations|military involvement]] in Pakistan, while also heavily participating in [[Counterterrorism|anti-terrorism efforts]]. |
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The party has also openly criticized both the [[Taliban]] and the [[United States|American]] [[Pakistan–United States military relations|military involvement]] in Pakistan,<ref name=":a">{{Cite web |last=Dawn.com |date=2012-01-12 |title=US let down by Sunni Ittehad |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/687404/us-let-down-by-sunni-ittehad |access-date=2014-02-10 |publisher=Dawn (newspaper) |language=en |archive-date=25 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225071213/https://www.dawn.com/news/687404/us-let-down-by-sunni-ittehad |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Dawn" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=APP |date=2012-10-16 |title=Sunni Ittehad Council condemns Malala attack, urges crackdown on terrorists |url=https://www.dawn.com/2012/10/16/sunni-ittehad-council-condemns-malala-attack-urges-crackdown-on-terrorists/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en |archive-date=19 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419123358/http://dawn.com/2012/10/16/sunni-ittehad-council-condemns-malala-attack-urges-crackdown-on-terrorists/ |url-status=live }}</ref> while also heavily participating in [[Counterterrorism|anti-terrorism efforts]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawn.com |date=2013-02-05 |title=Sunni Ittehad Council issue fatwa against terrorism |url=https://www.dawn.com/2013/02/05/sunni-ittehad-council-issue-fatwa-against-terrorism/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en |archive-date=24 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524071921/http://dawn.com/2013/02/05/sunni-ittehad-council-issue-fatwa-against-terrorism/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3" /> |
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Following the [[2022–2023 Pakistan political unrest|2022–2023 political unrest]] in Pakistan, the Sunni Ittehad Council voiced support for Imran Khan and the PTI. The SIC is heavily involved in supporting Imran Khan especially after the 2024 Pakistani general election. |
Following the [[2022–2023 Pakistan political unrest|2022–2023 political unrest]] in Pakistan, the Sunni Ittehad Council voiced support for Imran Khan and the PTI. The SIC is heavily involved in supporting Imran Khan especially after the 2024 Pakistani general election. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 16:37, 28 November 2024
Sunni Ittehad Council سنی اتحاد کونسل | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | SIC |
| Chairman | Sahibzada Hamid Raza |
| Founder | Muhammad Fazal Karim |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Right-wing[1] |
| Religion | Sunni Islam (Barelvi) |
| National affiliation | Difa-e-Pakistan[2] Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin |
| Senate | 1 / 100 |
| National Assembly | 80 / 336 [3][4] |
| Balochistan Assembly | 1 / 65 |
| KPK Assembly | 68 / 145 |
| Sindh Assembly | 5 / 168 |
| Punjab Assembly | 103 / 371 |
| Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly | 0 / 33 |
| Azad Kashmir Assembly | 0 / 49 |
| Election symbol | |
Horse  | |
| Party flag | |
 | |
| Website | |
| https://twitter.com/_SICPak | |
The Sunni Ittehad Council (Ittehad in Urdu for "unity", from al-Ittihad in Arabic meaning "united" or "jointly") is a political alliance of Islamic political and Barelvi religious parties in Pakistan which represents followers of the school of Sunni Islam.[5]
SIC was formed in 2009 under the leadership of Sahibzada Fazal Karim, the then President of Markazi Jamiat Ulama-e-Pakistan and Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Sahibzada Fazal Karim was amongst the most distinguished political and religious figures of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and belonged to a highly reputable religious background. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) was founded by Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi.[6] Later, it broke into many factions.
Sahibzada Fazal Karim died in April 2013 and his eldest son Sahibzada Hamid Raza was elected as the chairman and he is still performing as the chairman of the party..
After the 2024 election, the winning independent candidates supported by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf joined this party at Imran Khan's behest and it emerged as the biggest party securing largest (92) numbers in the Parliament.
On 19 February 2024, PTI leader Gohar Ali Khan announced that its party-backed independent candidates in the 2024 general election would join Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) as part of their parliamentary strategy.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) submitted on 22 February the joining certificates of independent members aligning with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). According to details provided by the PTI Secretariat, a total of 86 independent members have pledged allegiance to the Sunni Ittehad Council for the National Assembly. Simultaneously, certificates of 105 members of the SIC for the Punjab Assembly and 85 members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have been submitted. Moreover, the joining certificates of 9 independent members of the Sindh Assembly have also been presented to the Election Commission, further solidifying the SIC's presence in key legislative bodies.
Ideology
As the Sunni Ittehad Council is an alliance of several religious parties, it follows right-wing politics, and advocates for the involvement of religion in politics. The party follows the Sunni denomination of Islam, and as Sunni parties do, the SIC preaches the teachings of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad to be implemented, mostly to the Pakistani government. Although the party follows the Barelvi and Sunni school of thought of Islam, it has joined hands with parties of other denominations of Islam, most recently with the Shia party, the Majlis Wahadat-e-Muslimeen, under mediation by the SIC’s ally, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.[7]
The party has also openly criticized both the Taliban and the American military involvement in Pakistan, while also heavily participating in anti-terrorism efforts.
Following the 2022–2023 political unrest in Pakistan, the Sunni Ittehad Council voiced support for Imran Khan and the PTI. The SIC is heavily involved in supporting Imran Khan especially after the 2024 Pakistani general election.
References
- ^ Dawn.com (19 February 2024). "PTI-backed independents to join Sunni Ittehad Council: Barrister Gohar". Dawn (newspaper). Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ "Sunni Ittehad Council to launch Difa-e-Pakistan drive". The News International (newspaper). 15 December 2011. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ "National Assembly of Pakistan: Members". National Assembly of Pakistan. 20 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "After Senate, constitutional amendment passed in NA with two-thirds majority". Aaj TV. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ US aided Pakistan group which supported extremists Archived 4 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine Dawn (newspaper), Published 11 January 2012, Retrieved 11 December 2018
- ^ Khan, Aarish Ullah (2011). Sunni Ittehad Council: The Strengths and Limitations of Barelvi Activism Against Terrorism. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Pakistan: Imran Khan's PTI-backed candidates to join Sunni Ittehad Council, vows to form govt". www.indiatvnews.com. India TV News. 19 February 2024. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.