The Daily Times: Yasser Latif Hamdani: The state may enable Muslims to live according to Islamic ideals according to their own interpretation but the state has no business forcing Muslims to live according to Islamic ideals of any interpretation
A secular Pakistan is not a question of idealism. It is not even a question of countering misappropriation of the Pakistan idea. Nor is it merely about Jinnah’s vision. It is a question of foremost practical importance for this republic. Ask the people in Quetta.
We are dealing with a sectarian monster in the form of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. Another religious monster is the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. These monsters have distorted Islam and destroyed Pakistan. It must be remembered that none of these groups have emerged organically. On the contrary, these militant sectarian organisations have thrived due to the patronage accorded to them by General Ziaul Haq in the 1980s. General Zia got the legitimacy for his actions in the name of Islam because the Constitution of 1973 that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave Pakistan has placed religion above all, which in the wrong hands (General Zia) means spawning of the hydra-headed monster that we are now faced with. It must be said here that Bhutto, though personally irreligious, deployed sectarianism in a most unfortunate way in 1974 to outmaneuver the mullahs.
Categories: Ahmadis And Pakistan, Asia, Separation of Church and State
That is a good plan but what will happen about promotions in the ranks? people will heave a sigh of relief but inside them will be lurking a demon of differing beliefs.
The pakistani people are at present feeling that they are the guardians of Islam. That if they did not do anything, Islam will die away. Every one has his own version of Islam.
The damage done by Zia ul Haque was definitely too much. How to undo that damage is not any body’s job. May Allah help those who cannot help themselves.
The writer has a good grasp on the subject of secular governance. He is right in saying that the only way now is the dissolution of the constitution which is not a God-written law.