The edict views casting vote as an ‘Islamic obligation’ of the people. PHOTO: FILE
Over 300 clerics belonging to different schools of thought issued the decree in Islamabad nearly two weeks ahead of the parliamentary elections, Chairman of the Pakistan Scholars Council Allama Tahir Ashrafi said.
The edict is in contrast with the stance of the Taliban, who view the democratic system as un-Islamic and have also asked the people to stay away from casting votes.
Allama Ashrafi told The Express Tribune that the edict views casting vote as an ‘Islamic obligation’ of the people and the action of those who avoid casting vote will be considered a ‘sin’.
He said that the decree has been prepared in light of the opinion of senior religious scholars, who also urge the people to go to poll in the next month elections.
The decree said that the system could be changed through vote.
Responding to a question about women’s rights to vote, Allama Ashrafi said that the decree favoured vote right to women. However, the decree said that female officials should be deployed at women polling stations.
Allama Ashrafi asked the people to cast votes in the elections and use their right in favour of good candidates and if there is no good candidate then the people can choose a “less bad” person.
The religious decree comes at an important time as electioneering is going on throughout Pakistan while the Taliban and few other militant groups have opposed the election system.
Earlier, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan had said that they will not forcibly stop people from going to the polling stations. But he asked the people to boycott the elections declaring the democratic system “un-Islamic”.
Allama Ashrafi said that there are thousands of religious seminaries associated with the Pakistan ‘Ulema’ Council, who have endorsed the decree.
He also said that all major political parties, including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), PML-Quaid, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Jamaat-e-Islami, as well as minorities have also supported the decree.
COMMENTS (44)
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@C M Naim:
I wonder if Ahmedi persecution will stop if Ahmedis do not vote??? Or Shia Hazaras will not be bombed if they decide to do so??? If every class of society just thinks of all the wrongs done to them.....
@Faqir Ipi:
Like you said that non-voters have a rich history, you do have a logical point there but by voting you do scream out louder about your own opinion! Holding back just says, "I don't like you." But voting for someone who might not get selected says, "Hey I hate you and I like that person better." Unless you are scared to make a distinct CHOICE, you can live with your hypothesis.
@Marooned: Though tour comment doesn't worth a reply, but for sake of clarity can you come up with some logic for your stance.
hahaha........Money. it can do any thing
@Sam: OMG..?? what are you..?? 5 ..???
@Amir:
The Talibans follow the ancient doctrine of force! The fatwa they accept must come from Mullah Omar!!
Rex Minor
@Pakistan One: Bhai Sahib, you consider Mullah Fazal as ZALIM?
Are we heading towards a western church style? I bet this Fatwa would never be applied on Saudia
Ashrafi who? The same guy who issued decree in favor of Afghan Taliban who chop up ones fingers who cast votes in Afghanistan?
PML-N will win the elections with thumping majority InshaAllah !
I would urge all our religious scholars to declare Taliban kafir. Their thoughts and actions are horrible and only a kafir can act like that.
For Taliban driving/riding a car, use of landline/mobile phone, going for Hajj on a plane etc etc, should also be un-Islamic.... what a joke and what a waste of time on a fatwa ;--)
Thank you Ashrafi for your research and services to Pakistan. I wasnt planning to vote but now I will just because...
At least, something to cheer about.
What should one do if the choice is to vote for a thief, a looter, an anti-state element, a parochialist, a sect-biased person or any other person with such disqualifiers?
My first reaction to this news was simply an outburst in laughter! With edicts from such people I am forced to develop an opinion that today there is no difference between Aalim and Zaalim
OMG as if their opinion matters... its democracy thats how the world runs....lol will clerics ever stop doing comedy ???... didnt they issue a fatwa for not to have relations with a communist ideology ...????...lol
@Adnan: you cant force people to vote, you can only educate them to understand that their right to vote comes out of the social contract between the Pakistani state and its citizens. Otherwise you're no different than the feudals. _ And can this council provide the quranic source from which this edict gets it legitimacy, because isn't inventing a sin assuming God's authority.
obligation for men only or for women also ?
It is commonly said, "If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain about the outcome." The opposite is true. By playing the game, voters agree to the rules. Only those who don’t play and withhold their consent have a right to complain about the outcome, especially since the winner will have his hand in the non-voter’s pocket.
Voting is not an act of political freedom. It is an act of political conformity. Those who refuse to vote are not expressing silence. They are screaming in the politician’s ear: "You do not represent me. This is not a process in which my voice matters. I do not believe you."
Non-voting has a rich and long history through which the dissenting electorate has expressed everything from religious convictions to political cynicism. That history has been conspicuously ignored. If people truly believe voting is important, they should use their mouths to do more than insult non-voters and utter election slogans."
I hope this fatwa is not used against the Ahmadis, who have refused to cast vote in elections on account of their persecution. To fight a fatwa with another fatwa is to add to the power of fatwa over the law of the land. Let the state provide the needed security.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: For a responsible person like you to shy away from national responsibility of voting is disappointing.
Good Move .Most of us listen to our religious heads so why not . This will motive the ultra orthodox and religious people to step out and vote. now how about some one saying voting is compulsory for women too. I mean its compulsory but how many women know this / how many women will come out and vote / how many women are allowed to vote. Please make it mandatory to all eligible women to come out and vote.
Tahir Ashrafi, wasn't that the same person who said suicide bombings are justified?
@Voice Of D.I.Khan: You are correct
Tahir Asharafi ... he is in directly associated with banned outfits who are against the democratic rule of law and now they are promoting people to vote for democracy .... these words are coming because of $$ (Paisa bolta hai!!!)
I am not sure what is the ETs policy for commenting, I hope ET will publish these comments
The molvies have made giving fatwas a joke. So, if I don't vote in elections just because all the candidates in my constituency are too corrupt, dishonest and untrustworthy, would I become a kafir?
@AnisAqeel: who are you to decide whether Boston bomber is muslim or not? (hehehe this is the same argument seculars use to defend themselves...hypocrisy at its best).
Too many years of Indulgence in religion has taken Pakistan down the drains. If there is ever a survey conducted on commonsense and knowledge / understanding of religion Pakistan will stand much behind Afghanistan, Sudan and Nigeria. Bangladesh will be far ahead.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Than please dont point fingers and by saying that pakistan has nothing no law ,no system ,no rules because you didnt vote. please think about it.
Fatwa , probably to motivate people tto vote religious parties and the big RELIGOIS man Imran khan .
This is a good and responsible counter action, Appreciated
This is the worst kind of JOKE and INSULT of the religion these people claim to follow...unbelievable...
Tahir Ashrafi is not a true scholar. He is an opportunist and always sides the sitting Government.
Poor muslims without a proper guidence ..
Great fatwa. People must come out & vote for clean candidates. Otherwise no other way to get rid of corrupt politicians. Vote 4 change.
I don't want to become a sandwich between the Cleric and the Taliban, therefore, I am not going to cast my vote this time.
Wondering how banned groups such as Hizbul Tahrir will react to this, calling the current system unislamic is their bread and butter!
Tahir Ashrafi....????? I think He was the leader of a banned outfit....!!!!
A responsible decision to convey to the general public that is less informed and plagued with fanaticism. Second sensible news this week from cleric after refusing to perform funeral services for a terrorist in the Boston tragedy. A terrorist can't be termed as a Muslim, only if our cleric ponders a bit.
We live in 21st century..... sorry, 21st century fox movie :-p
I am glad these religious scholars are steeping into world. Still there are many with their personal agendas and will be declaring that it is a sin to participate in election. I hope people can recognize them and condemn them.
Obligation!!!!!!..So what, we do offer our prayers five times a day
Good one, we are just 65 years late though!
What a joke. How about a fatwa against PPP, MQM, ANP who have destroyed this country in the past few years?