Iqbal Day: Speaker’s underline need to uphold parliament’s supremacy

“Iqbal’s ideas are relevant even today for Muslims and Pakistanis for ushering change,” says Dr Ayub Sabir.

ISLAMABAD:

Participants at a seminar on Friday stressed on the need to uphold parliament as the supreme legislating authority in line with Allama Iqbal’s philosophy.

“Iqbal’s ideas are relevant even today for Muslims and Pakistanis for ushering change,” said guest speaker Dr Ayub Sabir at “Iqbal’s Understanding of Islam”, organised at International Islamic University Islamabad’s (IIUI) Faisal Mosque campus.

“Iqbal was in favour of parliamentary reform,” he said. Replying to a question about the role of voters, he said Iqbal thought basic understanding of the underlying social and political system is essential for making the right choice.

Iqbal emphasised ijtihad (resolution of issues in the light of Islamic laws by scholars) to find solutions to issues faced by the Muslim world, only taqlid (imitation) cannot serve the purpose, he concluded.

Dr Khalid Masud said, “[We should not] stop the youth from questioning social taboos for fear of blasphemy or endangering the unity of the ummah as it is high time we let them express themselves.”

The event was held by the Islamic Research Institute and Iqbal International Institute for Research and Dialogue to commemorate Iqbal Day.

Competitions held to promote Iqbal’s ideals

A speech and tableau competition was organised at the Rawalpindi Arts Council to observe Iqbal’s birth anniversary.

In the speech competition, Savera from Morning Star School came first and Javeria Khurshid from Iqra School stood second. In the tableau competition based on Iqbal’s poetry, Bright Public School came first, while Wish Academy secured the second position. A photography exhibition based on Iqbal’s life and struggle was also held.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2012.