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Milli Muslim League

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Milli Muslim League
AbbreviationMML
PresidentSaifullah Khalid Kasuri[1]
FounderHafiz Muhammad Saeed
Founded7 August 2017 (7 years ago) (2017-08-07)
NewspaperJarrar
IdeologyIslamism
Islamic fundamentalism
Pakistani nationalism
Conservatism
Kashmir unification with Pakistan
Political positionFar-right
ReligionIslam
Party flag
Milli Muslim League Flag
Website
millimuslimleague.org

The Milli Muslim League is an Islamist political party launched by the Jamat-ud-Dawa and its leader Hafiz Saeed.[2] 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.[3] The United States Department of State regards it as a front for the militant organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. It has also stated that its president Saifullah Khalid Kasuri has ties with the militant organization.[4]

History

[edit]

Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) members announced on 7 August 2017 the creation of the political party. MML President, Saifullah Khalid Kasuri, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT),[5] 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, also under SDGT sanctions, acting as the party spokesman, stated they had filed registration papers for a new party with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).[6][7] Later in August, JuD under the banner of the MML fielded a candidate for the 2017 by-election of the NA-130 Lahore-XIV constituency. Muhammad Yaqoob Sheikh, sanctioned as an SDGT as well, filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate. Kasuri 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.[8][9]

The ECP in September 2017 however refused to grant recognition to the MML and warned leaders against using the party's name during election campaigns.[3] Yaqoob Sheikh came fourth in the NA-120 by-election, securing 5,822 votes.[10] MML announced support for an independent candidate, Alhaj Liaqat Ali Khan, running for the NA-4 by-election, on 4 October.[11] Liaqat Ali Khan secured 3,557 votes in the election which was won by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.[12] The registration application of the party was meanwhile rejected by ECP on 12 October.[13]

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.[14] Since its registration was rejected, it fielded its candidates under another party, the Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek.[15] However, the party failed to win any seats.[16]

It remerged as the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), to evade the ECP ban, for the 2024 Pakistani general election. Specially Designated Global Terrorists (linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, LeT) Talha Saeed (Hafiz Saeed's son and president of PMML), Hafiz Abdul Rauf, Faisal Nadeem and Muzamil Iqbal Hashmi contested from NA-127 Lahore-XI, NA-119 Lahore-III, NA-235 Karachi East-I and NA-77 Gujranwala-I respectively.[17][18][19][20][21] Other LeT linked designated terrorists serving as PMML party officials include Muhammad Ehsan, general secretary, and Muhammad Fayyaz, finance secretary.[22][23][24]

Kasuri, now the secretary general of PMML, publicly denied involvement in the 2025 Pahalgam attack after reports emerged in Indian media of him being behind the planning of the attack.[25][26]

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.[4] 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.[27] Facebook removed accounts and pages of the party on 15 July.[28]

References

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  1. ^ a b AP (8 August 2017). "Jamaatud Dawa enters political arena, launches Milli Muslim League party".
  2. ^ Siddiqa, Ayesha (15 September 2017). "The JuD & LeT guide on how to win friends and influence people". The Friday Times. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Pakistan Election Panel Refuses to Recognise Hafiz Saeed's Political Front". News18. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  4. ^ a b "US designates Hafiz Saeed's Milli Muslim League as terrorist outfit". The Economic Times. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Sanctions List Search". Office of Foreign Assets Control. United States Department of the Treasury. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Tabish Qayyuum". OpenSanctions.org. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  7. ^ Shahzad, Asif (7 August 2017). "Charity run by Hafiz Saeed launches political party in Pakistan". Reuters. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Sanctions List Search". Office of Foreign Assets Control. United States Department of the Treasury. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  9. ^ "NA-120 by-polls: JUD fields candidate". The Nation. 13 August 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  10. ^ "ECP dismisses MML's plea to register as political party". GeoTV.
  11. ^ "NA-4 by-poll: MML sets up office in Peshawar, backs independent candidate". The Express Tribune. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  12. ^ Jibran Ahmad (24 October 2017). "Imran Khan's PTI retains seat in by-election, but new religious parties gain". Reuters. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Milli Muslim League registration rejected by ECP". Al Jazeera. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  14. ^ "Hafiz Saeed-backed MML to contest polls". Press Trust of India. The Hindu. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  15. ^ "Terrorist Hafiz Saeed's New Outfit Plans To Contest Pak Elections In July". NDTV.
  16. ^ "Extremist, Banned Groups Draw Blank in Pak Polls: Official Results". Press Trust of India. News18. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  17. ^ "Party backed by Hafiz Saeed to contest all seats". DAWN.COM. 25 December 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  18. ^ "Sanctions List Search". Office of Foreign Assets Control. United States Department of the Treasury. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Sanctions List Search". Office of Foreign Assets Control. United States Department of the Treasury. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  20. ^ "Faisal Nadeem". OpenSanctions.org. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  21. ^ "Muzammil Iqbal Hashimi". OpenSanctions.org. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  22. ^ "Gazette" (PDF). Printing Corporation of Pakistan. Election Commission of Pakistan.
  23. ^ "Muhammad Ehsan". OpenSanctions.org. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  24. ^ "Fayyaz Ahmad". OpenSanctions.org. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  25. ^ "Govt urged to counter India's propaganda against political party official". The News International. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  26. ^ Siddique, Muhammad Asim (23 May 2025). "Saifullah Kasuri's close aide makes shocking revelations over Pahalgam attack allegations". SAMAA TV. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  27. ^ "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.
  28. ^ "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.
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