Events leading to
Partition
The separation of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 into two
states of India and Pakistan was an event, accompanied by genocidal violence
and one of the largest displacements of people in the twentieth century. The
Partition was a peak within a chain of recurring violence in the name of Hindus
and Muslims for several generations before 1947.
Jinnah’s Vision
While addressing people of United States in 1948;
Quaid-e-Azam clearly stated what type of state he had dreamed of.
"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."
On another occasion Jinnah Stated:
"The great majority of us
are Muslims. We follow the teachings of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). We are
members of the brotherhood of Islam in which all are equal in right, dignity
and self-respect. Consequently, we have a special and a very deep sense of
unity. But make no mistake: Pakistan is not a theocracy or anything like
it."
The background of
people who fought for independence of Pakistan were not mullah fanatics or any
other religious party, but educated liberals. Jinnah and people such as Liaqat
Ali Khan, Allama Iqbal won independence of Pakistan despite stiff opposition by
the so-called Ulema.
Jinnah's dialogues
contain references to the Islamic principles of social justice and fair play,
but he made it clear in his speeches, that he was against religious extremism.
"Make no mistake: Pakistan
is not a theocracy or anything like it. Islam demands from us the tolerance of
other creeds and we welcome in closest association with us all those who of
whatever creed are themselves willing to play their part as true and loyal
citizen of Pakistan"
Mullahs &
Pakistan
If we conduct a survey today as to who was in favor and
aganist creation of Pakistan among several Muslim groups; you would be shocked
to hear that right wing religious parties who are so called defenders of
religion and nation today were against creation of Pakistan. It was really unfortunate that the Ulemas
were the ones who stood against the leadership of Muslim League. Their medieval
conception of the Shariah remained unmovable and traditional. They were rationally
ill-equipped to understand the crisis Islam was facing during that era.
It is to be noted that creation of Pakistan was made
possible by graduates of Cambridge and other professionals who understood the
need of time. I am not speaking of Molvis as a whole group. There were some of them who
were loyal and honest.
Ataullah Shah
Bukhari, Habibur Rahman Ludhianawi and Mazhar Ali Azhar often referred to
Quaid-e-Azam as Kafir-i-Azam.
Jamat-i-Islami who
today call themselves as champions of democracy and guardians of Islam also
opposed to the idea of Pakistan. The pre-independence views of Maulana Abul Ala
Maududi, the founder of the Jamat-i-Islami were quite definite:
"Among Indian Muslims
today we find two kinds of nationalists: the Nationalists Muslims, namely those
who in spite of their being Muslims believe in Indian Nationalism and worship
it; and the Muslims Nationalist: namely those who are little concerned with Islam
and its principles and aims, but are concerned with the individuality and the
political and economic interests of that nation which has come to exist by the
name of Muslim, and they are so concerned only because of their accidence of
birth in that nation. From the Islamic viewpoint both these types of
nationalists were equally misled, for Islam enjoins faith in truth only; it
does not permit any kind of nation-worshipping at all”
The
Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Hind, the most important group of the Ulema, saw nothing
Islamic in the idea of creation of Pakistan. Its president, Maulana Husain
Ahmad Madani, who was also head of Darul Ulum Deoband rubbished the idea of
two-nation theory, insisting that all Indians, Muslims or Hindus were one
nation.
The disagreement between
the educated Muslims and the Ulema was not new. It started in the early on
during British rule and reached its peak during the resistance for Pakistan. The
movement for Pakistan was guided by the progressive classes under the
leadership of a man who was brought up with western education
Current Scenario
Pakistan’s
political climate has always been polarized between the civil and the military
leaders, with balance of political fortunes tilting in favor of one or the
other, from time to time.
Today the shoots of
these fanatic mullahs have again jumped in political arena. Some have formed
alliances like Difa-e-Pakistan while others have joined parties like PTI. PML-N
which is made of Zia’s remains also supports such fanatics in Punjab.
Just to mention a
few
A distinguished
former Jamaati in the top leadership is PTI Vice President Ejaz Chaudhry who
was ejected from the JI after facing accusations of corruption. He is now the
PTI’s advisor on religious affairs and Imran Khan’s point person in the
Punjab.
On December 18,
more than 40 religious organizations gathered at Minto Park in Lahore for a jalsa
organized by the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (Defence of Pakistan Council).
Prominent amongst those present were Maulvi Sami-ul Haq (the head of Jamiat
Ulema-I Islam – Sami and a prominent Deobandi scholar with close links to
the Taliban), Liaqat Baloch of the Jamat-i-Islami, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed the Ameer
of the JuD (Jamaat ud Dawa), Mohammed Ahmed Ludhianvi (Sipah-e Sahaba
Pakistan, now renamed as Ahl-e-Sunnat wal Jamaat), Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer
(leader of Jamiat Ahl-e Hadith) and Hamid Gul, former DG ISI.
The flags of the
Sipah-e-SahabaPakistan (SSP) have also become a common view seen at almost all
PTI and PML-N rallies.
Another
Difa-e-Pakistan rally is schedules to be held in Karachi on 12th
February 2011.
There is a risk that Pakistan would indulge in civil disobedience which
in some aspects of life has begun and will join the many countries in Africa
and soon become one of the failed states. This risk draws closer every day.
Hence to conclude my blog I would just state that in these tough times
we as a nation are not left with many options. Judiciary with all respect is
just busy in solving high profile cases leaving not even giving slightest head
towards sectarian and political violence spreading and so called
revolutionaries have populated their sections with same old dry cleaned
politicians and extremists and so I fear that one day we are on dangerous path
of losing Jinnah's legacy.
My plea to all don’t let these fanatic mullahs take over your cities as
they took Islamabad hostage during Lal Masjid brigade show.
·
References for all facts
stated can be provided on request
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