Sudan’s ruling party slams the stance of Turabi’s party against Islamic constitution
March 4, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has slammed the stance of the Islamist and opposition Hassan al-Turabi’s party against the Islamic constitution hinting that it will face a political crisis.
The Popular Congress Party (PCP), criticised the participation of its deputy secretary general, Abdallah Hassan Ahmed, in the founding meeting of a political front between some Islamist and far right parties to press the government to adopt an Islamic constitution after the separation of South Sudan.
The opposition National Consensus Forces which include the PCP, also issued a statement denouncing calls for an Islamic constitution and reiterated its commitment to a citizenship state and democracy. They also accused the ruling party of colluding with the ‘Takfiri’ and advocates of sedition and fragmentation of the country on ethnic, religious and regional basis.
Reacting to the criticism, NCP deputy chairman Nafie Ali Nafie said on Sunday that he expects a “political earthquake” in the ranks of the Islamist party after its clear support for a secular state in Sudan.
“I know many sincere members” of the PCP who are keen on their commitment to the Islamic constitution and who “will not accept that behaviour,” Nafie said. He further added that Turabi’s deputy sent a positive signal to the large basis of Sudanese supporting the Islamic constitution, reminding his attachment to his initial convictions despite his opposition to the regime.
The PCP was formed by Hassan Turabi and his followers in 1999 after a split among the ranks of the NCP, which led Omar Hassan al-Bashir to power in 1989 through a coup d’état.
Kamal Omer, PCP political secretary told reporters yesterday that his party studied the document proposed by the Islamic front and found it violates the Islamic principles for a citizenship state, “therefore the Party does not feel concerned by this text,” he stressed.
He further said that the government and the ruling party presented the worst experience of Islam in the wake of the separation of the South Sudan and the war raging in South Kordofan and Blue Nile. He pointed out that Islam is now on trial because of these behaviours.
The opposition official said there should be an agreement on the interim period that will follow the collapse of the current regime, underlining that any future constitution should be agreed by all the components of the Sudanese people.
Kamal said the membership of his party are conscious and not running behind power and money. He further added that the PCP is confident in “the innate religiosity of the people of Sudan”.
“Islam has become a reality in countries such as Tunisia and Egypt, let alone Sudan despite the bad experience of rulers now,” Kamal stressed.
(ST)