Conservative and Liberal Approach in Pakistan. By Professor Anjum James Paul

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Pakistan came into existence in August 14, 1947 but what a tragedy that the citizens of Pakistan have not yet become a nation after 64 years as there is no spirit of integrity. People of Pakistan haven divided themselves in many blocks. The most recent development is of attacking the people of different faiths and sects. They are killing one another on this basis. There is no respect of human rights and this is due to lack of education. Pakistanis are becoming narrow minded. Creation of Pakistan was not less than a revolution but it is also a fact that some of the religious parties like Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulma-e=Hind and Majlis-e-Ahrar-e-Islami were against Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the All India Muslim League. Mr. Jinnah was declared as infidel by some of the Muslim religious scholars. The main question of today is what sort of Pakistan Jinnah wanted? Pakistanis are divided on the answer of this question. The ideology of the conservatives and the liberals is totally different. The conservatives say that Pakistan came into being in the name of religion while the liberals present the reference of the speech of Mr. Jinnah that he delivered in the First Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947 in which he said,| “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state” We see that the people of both of the ideologies have explained the words of Mr. Jinnah in favor of their interests. It is so sorry that he died very soon otherwise there would not have been such a grave situation. No other leader was there who could have such a respect and honour after the death of Mr. Jinnah. Ultimately the religious elements gained importance in the Pakistani politics. The were more educated people in the liberal parties that is why the liberals minded opposed the controversial Objectives Resolution of March 12, 1949 which was passed by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan. There was somehow the culture of tolerance in the political parties of the conservative and liberals. ``Ideological differences were on the peak during the military regime of General Zia-ul- Haq (1977-88) who overthrew the elected government of Mr. Zulifqar Ali Bhutto on July 5, 1977 and imposed Martial Law in Pakistan, Mr. Bhutto was a genius and learned. He was a threat for the imperialist powers that is why Tehrik-e- Nizam-Mustafa was launched by the support of such powers. Zia promoted the ideological differences which have taken the Pakistani nation on point of no return .Civil war and then the Soviet interference in Afghanistan in December 1979 favoured the conservatives powers in Pakistan. It became a crime to be a liberal. Religious extremist parties were established by the dictator. Though General Pervez Musharraf banned some of them during his regime (1999-2008) but they are active with new names now. There are two extreme approaches in Pakistan. To excommunicate from Islam who promote western education, culture and fashion. They ruin the educational institutions and particularly female institutions while the others are against the Islamic punishments and ways. These two approaches have divided the entire Pakistani nation. Assassination of late Mr. Sulman Taseer, Governor of Punjab province has left many questions. General Zia thought that it was his responsibility to protect religion. He misused religion for his nefarious political designs .Pakistan is harvesting what has been sown in this land by the rulers. The gap is increasing day by day in both of the approaches. There is difference of poor and rich in every sphere of life. Wealth is only in a few hands. There is not equal distribution of wealth. Due to this the culture of bribery, suppression, corruption, unemployment and violation of human rights of the common people of Pakistan is being promoted. It is also strange that our judicial system is not valid. There is constitutional and Sharia law. Due to this there are many problems. Minorities in Pakistan feel insecure since March 12, 1949 after passing of the controversial Objectives Resolution as there are discriminatory law against them, How can this gap be filled between these two approaches? For this we shall all have to play our positive role. We shall have to educate our people. Education of Human Rights must be promoted. Strict actions must be taken to stop such elements who promote violation and intolerance in Pakistan. (The writer is an educationist and a human rights activist and Director SHADOW ORGANIZATION

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"Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" By Nazir S Bhatti

On demand of our readers, I have decided to release E-Book version of "Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" on website of PCP which can also be viewed on website of Pakistan Christian Congress www.pakistanchristiancongress.org . You can read chapter wise by clicking tab on left handside of PDF format of E-Book.

nazirbhattipcc@aol.com , pakistanchristianpost@yahoo.com