Milli Muslim League
Milli Muslim League | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | MML |
| President | Saifullah Khalid[1] |
| Founder | Hafiz Muhammad Saeed |
| Founded | 7 August 2017 |
| Newspaper | Jarrar |
| Ideology | Islamism Islamic fundamentalism Pakistani nationalism Conservatism Kashmir unification with Pakistan |
| Political position | Right wing to far-right |
| Religion | Islam |
| Party flag | |
 | |
| Website | |
| millimuslimleague | |
The Milli Muslim League is an Islamist political party launched by its president Saifullah Khalid. The professed aim of the party is to make Pakistan "a real Islamic and welfare state".[1] The Election Commission of Pakistan does not recognise the party.[2] The United States Department of State regards it as a front for the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. It also stated that its president Saifullah has ties with the alleged terrorist organization.[3]
History
[edit]Jamat ud Dawa members announced on 7 August 2017 the creation of the political party. MML President Saifullah Khalid described the aim of the party saying, "We have decided to make a new political party, so that Pakistan is to made a real Islamic and welfare state." Tabish Qayyum, acting as the party spokesman stated they had filed registration papers for a new party with the Election Commission of Pakistan.[4] Later in August, JuD under the banner of the MML fielded a candidate for the 2017 by-election of Constituency NA-120. Muhammad Yaqoob Sheikh filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate. Saifullah Khalid stated that they would support Sheikh and he was contesting the election as an independent as the MML was still in the process of getting registered.[5]
The Election Commission of Pakistan in September 2017 however refused to grant recognition to the MML and warned leaders against using the party's name during election campaigns.[2] Yaqoob Sheikh came fourth in the NA-120 by-election, securing 5,822 votes.[6] MML announced support for an independent candidate, Alhaj Liaqat Ali Khan, running for the NA-4 by-election, on 4 October.[7] Liaqat Ali Khan secured 3,557 votes in the election which was won by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.[8] The registration application of the party was meanwhile rejected by ECP on 12 October.[9]
Hafiz Saeed announced in December, a few days after his release from house arrest on 24 November, that his organization would contest the 2018 elections.[10] Since its registration was rejected, it fielded its candidates under another party, the Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek.[11] However, the party failed to win any seats.[12]
Designated as a Terrorist Organization by the U.S. Department of State
[edit]On 2 April 2018, the U.S. Department of State designated the MML as well as the Tehreek-e-Azaadi Jammu and Kashmir as aliases of the designated terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba. The department said that MML was a political front for LeT.[3] Both aliases were included in the Foreign terrorist organisation (FTO) list under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224.[13] Facebook removed accounts and pages of the party on 15 July.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b AP (8 August 2017). "Jamaatud Dawa enters political arena, launches Milli Muslim League party".
- ^ a b "Pakistan Election Panel Refuses to Recognise Hafiz Saeed's Political Front". News18. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ a b "US designates Hafiz Saeed's Milli Muslim League as terrorist outfit". The Economic Times. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ Shahzad, Asif (7 August 2017). "Charity run by Hafiz Saeed launches political party in Pakistan". Reuters. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ "NA-120 by-polls: JUD fields candidate". The Nation. 13 August 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ "ECP dismisses MML's plea to register as political party". GeoTV.
- ^ "NA-4 by-poll: MML sets up office in Peshawar, backs independent candidate". The Express Tribune. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ Jibran Ahmad (24 October 2017). "Imran Khan's PTI retains seat in by-election, but new religious parties gain". Reuters. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ "Milli Muslim League registration rejected by ECP". Al Jazeera. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ^ "Hafiz Saeed-backed MML to contest polls". Press Trust of India. The Hindu. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ "Terrorist Hafiz Saeed's New Outfit Plans To Contest Pak Elections In July". NDTV.
- ^ "Extremist, Banned Groups Draw Blank in Pak Polls: Official Results". Press Trust of India. News18. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ "US designates Hafiz Saeed's MML as LeT affiliate in FTO list - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "Facebook disables accounts of Hafiz Saeed's political party ahead of Pak polls: Report". Press Trust of India. 15 July 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2022 – via The Times of India.