Milli Muslim League

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 “a real Islamic and welfare state”.[1] The Election Commission of Pakistan does not recognise the party.[2] The U.S. Department of State regards it as a front for the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. The U.S. Department of State also stated that its president Saifullah has ties with the alleged terrorist organization.[3]

Milli Muslim League
PresidentSaifullah Khalid[1]
FounderHafiz Muhammad Saeed
Founded2017
NewspaperJarrar
IdeologyIslamism
Pakistani nationalism
Conservatism
Kashmir unification with Pakistan
Political positionRight wing
Website
millimuslimleague.org

History

Jamat ud Dawa members announced on 7 August 2017 the creation of the political party. Party 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 Qayoum, working as the party spokesman stated they had filed registration papers for a new party with Pakistan's electoral commission.[4] Later in August, JuD under the banner of the party 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 will support Sheikh and he was contesting the election as an independent since MML was still in the process of getting the party registered.[5]

The Election Commission of Pakistan in September 2017 however refused to grant recognition to MML and warned leaders against using the party's name during election campaigns.[2] Yaqoob Sheikh won the fourth position in NA-120 bye-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 party.[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 release from house arrest on 24 November, that his organisation will contest the 2018 elections.[10] Since its recognition was rejected, it fielded its candidates under another party Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek.[11]

Designated as terrorist organisation by the U.S. Department of State

On 2 April 2018, the U.S. Department of State designated the Milli Muslim League as well as Tehreek-e-Azaadi Jammu and Kashmir as aliases of the designated terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. The department said that MML is a political front of 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.[12]

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References
  1. AP (8 August 2017). "Jamaatud Dawa enters political arena, launches Milli Muslim League party".
  2. "Pakistan Election Panel Refuses to Recognise Hafiz Saeed's Political Front". News18. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  3. "US designates Hafiz Saeed's Milli Muslim League as terrorist outfit". The Economic Times. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  4. Shahzad, Asif (7 August 2017). "Charity run by Hafiz Saeed launches political party in Pakistan". Reuters. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  5. "NA-120 by-polls: JUD fields candidate". The Nation. 13 August 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  6. "ECP dismisses MML's plea to register as political party". GeoTV.
  7. "NA-4 by-poll: MML sets up office in Peshawar, backs independent candidate". The Express Tribune. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  8. Jibran Ahmad (24 October 2017). "Imran Khan's PTI retains seat in by-election, but new religious parties gain". Reuters. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  9. "Milli Muslim League registration rejected by ECP". Al Jazeera. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  10. "Hafiz Saeed-backed MML to contest polls". Press Trust of India. The Hindu. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  11. "Terrorist Hafiz Saeed's New Outfit Plans To Contest Pak Elections In July". NDTV.
  12. "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.
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