Durrani to follow Mufti Mahmud as role model

The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal's Akram Durrani took control in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) on Friday and immediately called for Islamic laws banning music on public transport, alcohol and gambling to be strictly enforced.

Durrani, who pointedly recalled the late Mufti Mahmud's decisionto resign on a matter of principle to show solidarity with the Attaullah Mengal government in Balochistan following its dismissal by prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, pledged to emulate the example set by the Mufti in case a similar situation arose in future.

Mufti Mahmud, who led a coalition government of JUI and NAP, banned liquor in one of his first pronouncements as chief minister.

Durrani also ordered the immediate closure of liquor and gambling dens in his first speech in the NWFP Assembly after his election as leader of the house, or chief minister.

But the time gap of about 30 years between the two orders meant that licensed liquor shops were in business in the province in the 1970s and it was easy to shut them down.

The situation is altogether different now and much would depend on the police to identify and smash bootlegging business that is thriving in parts of the province. The gambling dens too are often known to the law-enforcing agencies but are allowed to operate in return for monthly payoffs.

Durrani, under pressure from the MMA rank and file to undertake Islamisation of the society, also announced a few measures to appease the religious-minded electorate. He ordered a ban on playing of audio and video cassettes on passenger buses and coaches.

He threatened drivers with punishment if they failed to halt their vehicles on the demand of passengers for prayers. He also promised to provide separate places at public bus stands for women passengers to perform ablutions and offer prayers.

More importantly, the chief minister said the MMA was committed to enforce Sharia by implementing the recommendations of the Islamic Ideology Council.

However, he did not mention which recommendations would be implemented. A committee of Ulema would be set up to advise the provincial government on matters like declaring Friday public holiday, putting an end to co-education and starting interest-free banking.

Durrani did well to pay tribute to freedom fighter Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and to late Jamaat-i-Islami leader Dr Mohammed Yaqub who were among the best parliamentarians in the NWFP Assembly.

He also remembered Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan's contribution to the cause of education in the province. Apparently due to an oversight, he forgot to mention the late Hayat Mohammed Khan Sherpao who served the Frontier selflessly and was killed by a bomb blast in the line of duty.

The MMA members earlier set the Islamic agenda by assigning one of their colleagues, Hafiz Akhtar Ali, to give the call for Zuhr prayers in the house.

It was probably the first time in the history of the NWFP Assembly, which came into being in 1939, that "Azan" was given while it was in session.