A ceremony took place to launch the new works and website of Dr Javaid Iqbal at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, on Saturday.
Addressing the attendees, Dr Iqbal discussed concepts of Islamic governance, Islamic states and secular states.
He stated that Quaid-e-Azam had made clear that Pakistan would not be a theocratic state. However, he said that Jinnah wanted a system that was Islamic in nature because Islam encapsulated humanity, democracy, rights of minorities and upheld the sanctity of rule of law.
Dr Iqbal stressed that Allama Iqbal’s vision supported Ijtihad based on consensus as opposed to one originating from individuals.
At present Pakistan was neither an Islamic state nor a republic or a democracy, he opined. Jinnah’s Pakistan was dead and had been replaced by Bhutto’s Pakistan, he said. He further stated that hypocrisy and political interests were being furthered in the name of Islam.
He encouraged Allama Iqbal’s disciples to come to the forefront to further his vision.