Pak Jamiat chief stirs up Deoband battle

LUCKNOW: The chief of Pakistan's Jamiat-ul-Islam, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, has landed in Deoband to broker peace between the two warring factions of Jamiat-Ulema-i-Hind over the continuance of Maulana Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi as vice chancellor of the Darul Uloom. Rahman's intervention comes a week ahead of the meeting of the Darul shoora to decide Vastanvi's fate, said a top source at the seminary. The Pakistanicleric, in Deoband to pay tribute to the late former rector of Deoband, MaulanaMaghubur Rehman, met the feuding uncle and nephew of the two Jamiat factions,Maulana Arshad Madni and Mehmood Madni, over lunch on Tuesday. Rehman, isbelieved to be opposed to Vastanvi, and his association with Arshad Madni goesback almost four decades. "Fazlur Rehman, who had tried to unite theMadnis back in March 2007 as well, did his best to bring about a rapprochementduring his two-day camp in the seminary. The results have been satisfactory,"said the source. In fact, many at Deoband are now saying that Arshadand Mehmood Madni, who most recently disagreed over the expulsion of AssamUnited Democratic Front chief Badruddin Ajmal from Jamiat's Assam unit, may yetjoin hands to dislodge Vastanvi. If the rapprochement works out, it couldprovide a new twist to the ongoing controversy. Accompanied by asix-cleric delegation, Rehman, who is also the head of Pakistan'sMuttahedi-e-Amal, arrived in Deoband on Sunday night. The day after, he visitedthe grave of Maghubur Rehman to offer prayers. He also took part in a programmehosted in the Maulana's memory. Arshad Madni was constantly by his side. Rehmanalso met Mehmood Madni at his residence and followed it up with the lunch wherethe two Madnis came face to face, said the source. "Fazlur Rehman'sassociation with Arshad Madni goes back nearly 40 years," said a senior facultymember at Deoband on Wednesday. "A confirmed conservative, Rehman won't supportVastanvi. And this time his attempts to forge peace may work. Divided, theMadnis would lose their hold over Deoband," said the faculty member. The threewere at a dinner meeting in Delhi at the time of filing the report.All of this may still not affect Vastanvi's chances. After ArshadMadni's falling out with Assam MP Badruddin Ajmal, his combine could fall shortby four votes, said a Deoband insider, and added, "Unless Fazlur Rehman's highprofile brings about a change of heart, the ground under rector Vastanvi's feetcould get a little slippery but would hold firm."