Mufti Mahmud

Maulana Mufti Mahmud (Pashto: مولانا مفتى محمود‎), was an influential cleric, veteran member of Congress Party, and the founding member of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI). Born in January 1919, he was an ethnic Marwat Pashtun and hailed from Abdul Khel. He was a militant activist of the Indian National Congress, participating in the Indian Independence Movement in 1940s. He opposed the idea of Partition of India and campaigned against the Muslim League.

After the 1970 General Elections, he became the president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam founded by Moulana Shabir Ahmed Usmani. And into a coalition with the National Awami Party & Pakistan Peoples Party. On March 1, 1972, he was elected as the Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He along with his cabinet resigned in protest at the dismissal of the NAP - JUI (F) coalition government in Balochistan on 14 February 1973.

Mufti Mahmud played a vital role in the debate on Qadiyani Issue in Pakistan. He led a team of Islamic Scholars which worked for the declaration of Qayiyanis (Ahmedis and Lahori Groups) as non-muslims in the Special Committee from Aug till Sep 1974. He got influence and popularity after this issue.

He supported Afghan-Jihad against USSR (see also Soviet-Afghan War). He died on 14 October 1980. He was buried in Abdul Khel, Paniala, his home town. His son Fazal-ur-Rahman would became a notable in the national politics of Pakistan as well.

See also

• Criticism of Pakistan