Perhaps seminaries should be next on clean up operations’ lists
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who created Pakistan in the face of stiff opposition from some of the widely known clerics of his time, visualised this country as a modern democracy rather than theocracy. In democracies, elected representatives rather than clerics make laws and the courts interpret the laws. There is no place for the clerics anywhere in the legal system. The constitution recognizes the CII only as an advisory body whose comments are not binding on the government.
A law has been passed by the Sindh Assembly to regulate the conversions to Islam by non-Muslims amidst complaints of forced conversions or effecting the change of religion by luring or pressurising the minors, particularly girls. The Sindh Assembly was acting perfectly in accordance with the constitution when it criminalised forced conversions. Former senator Sami ul Haq thus needs to be given a shut up call when he demands the dissolution of the Sindh Assembly and imposition of the Governor’s rule for making the law. An elected legislature cannot be dismissed to pander to a cleric’s whims.
Sami ul Haq’s advice to the new COAS to change the direction of the Zarb e Azb and NAP from terrorists is equally preposterous. Over 40,000 Pakistanis have died in terror related attacks including 5,000 security personnel during less than a decade. Zarb e Azb has significantly brought down the number these attacks providing a sense of relief to the common man. The NAP, which is aimed at creating the necessary infrastructure to root out terrorism and to neutralise the terrorists and their financiers and helpers, was formulated through national consensus – to which political parties of all shades are signatories. As terrorists still continue to target innocent citizens and law enforcement personnel there is a need to continue the operation till the last terrorist is taken out.
Those like Sami ul Haq, who consider the seminaries under their control as gold mines and the students as captive political workers, are allergic to reveal their sources of income, the mode of the funds’ usage and introduction of a moderate, nonsectarian curriculum. The operation to cleanse the seminaries also needs to be continued.
