بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الصلاة والسلام عليك يا رسول الله
Over
seven years ago I wrote an article titled “Failure of the Pakistan
Project” in which I said: “The State in fact became more obsessed
with security and as a result much more authoritarian than ever
before. The new narrative has astonishingly resulted in the very
abrupt decline of various religious movements and their
marginalization. Coupled with increased emphasis on Western-style
liberal education, the forces of religion are facing an uphill battle
to stay relevant at least among the masses.” Pakistan is a unique
Muslim country in that not only was it established on the basis of
religion, it is a place where the Ulama and other Islamic
institutions have relatively greater autonomy. Some credit has to go
to the British Raj which allowed Madaris to flourish and limited its
interference in their affairs. In explaining the current controversy
in Pakistan surrounding the registration of the Madaris, Debdutta
Chakraborty, a correspondent for the Print, says: “Historically,
madrasas were registered under the Societies Registration Act of
1860, which left them largely autonomous with little government
oversight.” This state of affairs continued largely unchanged until
the government came up with its National Action Plan, which included
as one of its aims the regulating and reformation of the Madaris. In
October of this year (2024), the current government of Pakistan, a
fragile coalition that lacks a popular mandate, agreed to approve the
Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2024 which would restore
some autonomy to the Madaris and reverse the trend toward greater
government oversight in exchange for the largest religious party in
the Parliament, the Jamiat Ulama-i-Islam led by Maulana Fazl
ur-Rahman, helping to pass the 26th
constitutional amendment. The constitutional amendment passed with
the Jamiat’s backing, but when the amendment for the Societies
Registration reached President Zardari’s office, he vetoed it. This
veto is a naked treachery and breaking of the government’s promise.
Worse, Zardari’s reasoning for vetoing the bill was the fear of
“international consequences” and “sectarianism”. Zardari, an
extremely corrupt and dispicable person, is not only a secularist and
a leftist, but also belongs to the heretical Shi’a sect. The Shi’a
in Pakistan are particularly opposed to the religious interests of
the mainstream Sunni Muslims and seek to curb the influence of our
Ulama and religious institutions, especially the Madrassah. The cited
concern about repercussions from international quarters, particularly
the FATF, is a clear indication that there is a conspiracy against
the Madaris in Pakistan as they are as bastions of Islamic orthodoxy
and resistance to the diabolical project of modernity and secularity.
The Sunni Ulama are increasingly joining forces to raise their voice
against the government’s treachery and demanding the restoration of
autonomy for the Madaris. But some which have become a mouthpiece for
the State, such as the so-called Council of Islamic Ideology and Pakistan Ulema Council, led by
the discredited Tahir Ashrafi, dare to dissent from the position of
the Sunni Ulama as articulated by Mufti Taqi Usmani and Mufti Munib
ur-Rahman. These discredited traitors are nothing but darbari Mullas. Some of the members
of the Council of Islamic Ideology are not even observant Muslims,
let alone Ulama. The Council therefore has no credibility or
authority in the sight of orthodox Sunni Muslims. It is imperative
that the Sunni Ulama and other hardline, right-wing Islamic forces in
Pakistan unite and solidify their opposition to the project of
secularization. The conspiracy against the autonomy of the Madaris is
intended to weaken the forces of Religion in Pakistan. Politically
active Ulama and Islamic organizations should be wary of trusting the
government. We have witnessed their consistent treachery and
willingness to sellout the interests of our Religion and compromise
its glory. The government of Pakistan is dominated by clean shaven,
suit and tie wearing men who are highly influenced by the ideals of
secularism and liberalism. Infiltration by anti-Islamic forces of the
Shi’a and Qadianis is another sad reality in Pakistan’s corridors
of power. With regard to the Shi’a, the Sunni Ulama and religious
organizations have at times displayed a weakness in cooperating and
allying with the former in the name of pan-Islamic unity. The Mullas
of the Shi’a, despite their pretension to Islamic causes, are not
to be trusted as they are backstabbing slime. Neither are the main,
non-religious political parties operating in the country (PMLN, PPPP
and PTI) sincere to the cause of Islam. They often attempt to
hoodwink the Ulama and Islamic organizations for short term benefits
but in the end will always betray the cause of this Religion and
compromise its glory.
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