Hopefully, under his leadership, the military will finally say goodbye to the mullahs.
ISLAMABAD: The Father of the Nation had a clear vision about what the country was going to be: an Islamic welfare state based on the principles of democracy, equality, and tolerance. In a radio talk addressed to the people of the United States of America broadcast in February 1948, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah said: “The constitution of Pakistan has yet to be framed by Pakistan’s Constituent Assembly. I do not know what the ultimate shape of this constitution is going to be, but I am sure that it will be of a democratic type, embodying the essential principle of Islam. Today, they are as applicable in actual life as they were 1,300 years ago. Islam and its idealism have taught us democracy. It has taught equality of man, justice and fair play to everybody. We are the inheritors of these glorious traditions and are fully alive to our responsibilities and obligations as framers of the future constitution of Pakistan. In any case Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic State to be ruled by priests with a divine mission. We have many non-Muslims — Hindus, Christians, and Parsis — but they are all Pakistanis. They will enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other citizens and will play their rightful part in the affairs of Pakistan”.
The true message of Islam is the message of peace, tolerance, equality of man, justice for all, love for humanity and co-existence. The Quaid had made it clear that Pakistan was not meant to be a theocratic or autocratic state. Unfortunately, after the Quaid-e-Azam, and particularly during the despotic era of General Zia, the basic ideology of the state was entirely distorted.
General Zia turned Pakistan into a semi-theocratic-cum-autocratic state and the justification behind the swift change in ideology was attributed to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
General Zia shrewdly secured support from Pakistani clerics, Arab monarchs and Western powers, and he used this to prop up his unconstitutional and illegal regime. Unfortunately, it all happened in the garb of portraying himself as an Islamist leader.
Regrettably, even after his departure, General Zia’s legacy continues to haunt us. Freedom of expression and the right to exercise religious beliefs are fundamental rights guaranteed in our Constitution. As Pakistanis, we need to be more tolerant towards one another, particularly towards the minorities. General Raheel Sharif’s older brother and maternal uncle both received the Nishan-e-Haider and that says enough for his family’s commitment to Pakistan. He is a pragmatic and progressive commander, and he has all the right credentials to steer his institution in the most sensible direction. Hopefully, under his leadership, the military will finally say goodbye to the mullahs.
Barrister Afzal Hussain
Advocate High Court
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2014.
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