Political Leader and Statesman
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal or the United Action Front, is an alliance of the divergent religious parties in Pakistan which was initiated by Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani, leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan – the political representative of 80% of sunni Muslims known universally as Ahl Sunna wal Jamaah. Maulana Noorani was first elected to parliament in 1970 and was president of a moderate-traditional Sunni Muslim party, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP).
Unlike many other religious leaders in the country, he had always opposed the army's involvement in politics, and remained part of the opposition's campaign against successive military rulers. Maulana Noorani throughout his life strived for the enforcement of an Islamic Order in Pakistan and the supremacy of its Constitution and parliament.
It must be noted that although the MMA had initially decided to rotate the Presidency of the alliance every six months, it was actually agreed to retain Maulana Noorani as its leader because of his immaculate qualities and leadership capabilities. This is why he is called Qaid-e-Ahl Sunna.
MMA members(left to right) under the leadership of Maulana Noorani: Prof. Sajid Mir, Qazi Hussein Ahmed, Maulana Noorani, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maulana Samiul Haq.
"Maulana Noorani was a great Islamic scholar and man of principles. He rendered great services to the Muslim Ummah, nation and democracy. The services of the late MMA leader would be remembered for long. Maulana Noorani had contributed a lot to from the MMA and joint opposition in parliament. The vacuum created by his death would never be filled." Prof. Ghafoor
"Maulana Noorani was a symbol of Ummah’s unity, who provided a platform to all the religio-political parties belonging to various schools of thought in the name of MMA." Syed Munawwar Hassan (JI)
"Maulana Noorani’s death at this crucial stage is a great loss and a national tragedy." Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri (JUI)
"Maulana Noorani was a practising Muslim and during his long association with him he did not find any contradiction in thoughts, belief and actions." Prof. Shah Faridul Haque (JUP)
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