Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri (Urdu: راجہ ناصر عباس جعفری) is a Pakistani politician and member of the Senate of Pakistan from Punjab. He is a Shia Muslim cleric and the head of the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM).[1]
Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri | |
|---|---|
| راجہ ناصر عباس جعفری | |
 | |
| Member of the Senate of Pakistan | |
| Assumed office March 2024 | |
| Constituency | Punjab |
| Chairman of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen | |
| Assumed office 15 May 2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Political party | Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen |
Political career
editJafri is a Shia Muslim who advocates for good Shia-Sunni relations. He became involved in religious politics and has promoted Moderate Islam, Islamic Socialism, and Islamic Democracy, rather than terrorism or aspects of Islamic fundamentalism.[2][3] Through his leadership of the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), he has advocated for the rights of Shias in Pakistan.
Jafri has also been a staunch critic of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a major terrorist group, and has strongly opposed 'secret government talks' or peace talks with the TTP.[4][5]
As leader of the MWM, he established positive relations with parties following other sects of Islam, particularly in 2014 when he formed a close alliance with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), a Barelvi Sunni organization.[6]
He also supported the emerging Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by Imran Khan in the 2013 elections, where he and Khan formed an alliance to promote peace and justice.[7]
Jafri’s most prominent move in Pakistani politics came during the 2022-2023 political unrest when he sided with Imran Khan and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Since the early 2010s, he has actively protested against corruption and disunity among Pakistanis and Muslims, consistently supporting Imran Khan’s policies against corruption and rigging.
In the 2024 general election, he formed an alliance with PTI. He also noted that the selection of the Sunni Ittehad Council to represent PTI politicians rather than the MWM was not an issue, and that he, the MWM, the SIC, and the PTI were united in a bloc against corruption.[8][9][10]
Jafri was elected unopposed from Punjab province during the 2024 Pakistani Senate election as a MWM candidate.[11][12]
References
edit- ^ "Allama Nasir Abbas elected MWM Chairman". www.24newshd.tv. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ Tehreek, Pakistan Awami. "PAT thanks Majlis-e-Wahat-ul-Muslameen for supporting revolution - Pakistan Awami Tehreek". www.pat.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- ^ The Islamic Politics For Future, The Ideology Agenda of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (Pakistan), (2016), p. 25
- ^ Ali, Kalbe (2021-11-22). "MWM opposes 'secret' talks with TTP". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- ^ MWM rejects talks with the Taliban
- ^ "Sunni Ittehad Council, MWM's Qaumi aman convention in Islamabad | Abb Takk News – Breaking News, News in English and Latest Headlines". 2014-02-21. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- ^ "PTI and Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen decide to jointly promote unity, peace and harmony". PTI official. November 20, 2013.
- ^ "Ex-PM Khan warns against forming government with 'stolen votes,' party announces alliance with MWM". Arab News PK. 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- ^ Junaidi, Ikram (2024-02-20). "PTI 'merges' with seatless party for three assemblies". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- ^ "PTI to form alliance with MWM: Barrister Gohar". The Nation. 2024-02-10. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- ^ "Seven candidates elected senators unopposed from Punjab". Business Recorder. 28 March 2024. Archived from the original on 1 April 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Rana Yasif; Syed Ali Shah (28 March 2024). "Seven senators elected unopposed from Punjab". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.