Author: Brig (Retd) Muhammad Jamil Khan
Publication: Nation.com.pk/
Date: December 25, 2005
URL: http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/dec-2005/25/columns5.php
[Note from Hindu Vivek Kendra: It is quite
amazing how educated people in Pakistan rationalise Islam. And, I think, it
is this that is preventing any sensible reform in Pakistan.]
Pakistan came into existence on the basis
of two-nation theory - Hindus and Muslims. The Muslims of the Subcontinent
under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam relentlessly struggled for a separate
homeland where they could lead life according to the principles of Islam.
Prolonged rule of the British and the Hindus' suppressive attitude marred
the identity of the Muslims. Quaid-e-Azam's vision of the state and the Muslims'
ambition of the type of state were identical. Before we analyse the type of
systems formulated by our leaders for managing the state, let us briefly study
the vision of the Father of the Nation.
During the movement the nation was mentally
prepared to get the state according to the Quaid's interpretation of Pakistan.
Unfortunately Quaid died on 11 September 1948 and could not paste his vision
in the form of constitution. Quaid's vision was to form a modern progressive
Muslim state according to the expectations of the nation. The models propounded
by our leaders so far have repeatedly failed and been rejected by the nation.
Let us refresh our memories from history about Quaid's vision of the nation
from his statements and speeches delivered before and after achieving Pakistan.
Some excerpts from the Presidential address
to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan at Karachi on 11 August 1947. "You
will no doubt agree with me that the first duty of a government is to maintain
law and order, so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects
are fully protected by the State." He felt bribery was a big curse prevailing
at that time in the society and said, "I think, our condition is much
worse - is bribery and corruption. That really is a poison. We must put that
down with an iron hand." About his policy on humane principles 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 of worship in this State of Pakistan."
Regarding humane aspect of management he said
on the inauguration of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly at Karachi on 14
August 1947, "Our Prophet (PBUH) not only by words but by deeds treated
the Jews and Christians, after he had conquered them, with the utmost tolerance
and regard and respect for their faith and belief. The whole history of the
Muslims, wherever they ruled, is replete with those humane and great principles
which should be followed and practised."
Quaid while addressing Bar Association Karachi
on 25 January 1948 said, "Islam is not only a set of rituals, traditions
and spiritual doctrines. Islam is also a code for every Muslim, which regulates
his life and his conduct in even politics and economics and the like. It is
based on the highest principles of honour, integrity, fair play and justice
for all, one God and the quality of one God is one of the fundamental principles
of Islam. In Islam there is no difference between man and man. The qualities
of equality, liberty and fraternity are the fundamental principles of Islam".
He said during the broadcast talk to the people
of Australia on Feb 19, 1948, "The Holy Prophet thirteen hundred years
ago laid the foundation of democracy. The great majority of us are Muslims.
We follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (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".
During his address to the staff and students
of Edwards College Peshawar on April 18, 1948 he said, "Now, we have
much more difficult tasks ahead how to reconstruct, how to build it up and
how to revolutionise and remodel the past legacies from which we are suffering,
namely, the mentality, the character and the civil customs of which we have
been the victims for a century or more as slave people".
The salient conclusions from these sayings,
which are worth meditating while comparing with the prevailing policies and
systems, enforced from time to time.
Quaid was a very learned personality and had
in depth study of Islam. He firmly believed in the teachings of the Holy Prophet
(PBUH), which he has been advocating to the masses in his speeches. His desire
was to develop brotherhood among the Muslims in which all are considered equal
in rights, dignity and self-respect. It is worth noting that he did not believe
in lawlessness and terrorism in the Muslim society.
He had the desire of implementing Islamic
principles in politics, economics, judiciary, etc., based on highest moral
values of honour, integrity, fair play and justice for all. As the fundamental
principles of Islam he believed in equality, liberty and fraternity. It is
worth noting that he did not mean making Pakistan into a theocratic state
confined within the four walls of the Mosque. He was conscientious that religious
groups were mono-tracked due to their restricted vision, sectarian rifts and
educational background.
The Muslims of the Subcontinent remained under
the subjugation of British and Hindus for more than a century. Subjugation
blemished the genetic fibre of the Muslims. Their thinking, expression, behaviour,
dresses and even their gestures started resembling the Hindus and British
people. The British rulers also ensured that religious teachings were restricted
to the mosques and learning of Quran only in Arabic without imparting knowledge
of the language to understand and follow Allah's message. The national language
was English, which was taught from the school level as a compulsory subject.
Under such cultural environment the thinking of our intellectuals also became
pro British. Their imagination stretched only up to formulating the constitution
similar to West Minister Democratic Model. The Constitution of 1956 was promulgated
without realising that the system was not meant for culture, education level
and our moral values. The system could not give stability to a newly formed
state and badly failed to run the country.
The second model enforced was through the
martial law. It was a presidential form of government called "The Basic
Democratic (BD) Model". It was again a Western oriented constitutional
model primarily to deal with the economic and political issues through the
BD members of the Electoral College of the President. In this system also
social aspect and welfare of the community in particular was not considered
pivotal in the reforms. Since an authoritarian brought the system therefore
with his ouster the system was also eliminated as it failed to satisfy the
nation.
The third model, which came into existence,
was a socialist democratic model. It professed fulfilling the social requirement
of the common man i.e. 'Roti, 'Kapra' and 'Makaan' besides managing the economy
through nationalisation of the industry. Apparently the common man felt very
satisfied as the system envisaged meeting his basic needs and was given the
social liberty to take the law in his own hand and disobey his seniors. Generally,
the law and order situation became from bad to worse with no regard to the
moral values, which is the essence of a Muslim society. The system therefore
collapsed due to clash of thoughts and principles between the socialist group
and Islamic oriented community. The system was overpowered by another martial
law. This constitution was however shelved and not abrogated.
Repetition of the same constitutional model
duly amended by the martial law administrators from time to time and followed
by subsequent civil governments repeatedly failed to run the state and come
up to the expectations of the nation. All ills like bribery, black-marketing
and lawlessness are still prevalent in our society. The country has not so
far been able to attain requisite political stability nor restore internal
security.
After the demise of the Quaid in September
1948 the state came into the hands of agricultural and industrial feudal and
military autocrats. These groups had stereotype British and Western secular
grooming and orientation with selfish political vested interests. Their thinking
capabilities were limited to coining constitutional models as seen during
their British slavery with partial induction of Divine Laws to give Islamic
semblance.
Western constitutional systems mostly concentrate
on economic, social and political aspects with varying degree of morality
according to the desire of the ruling government. The moral values in secular
systems are regulated through social customs and public opinion. In Islamic
system every aspect is governed through Divine moral principles. Crimes like
drinking, womanising are not a serious violation of moral values in secular
system. In Islamic code there is no compromise on these practices. The Quaid
envisioned giving the state a most modern approach in development in every
walk of life in accordance with the Islamic principles.
Unfortunately, the approach of our religious
parties, which stepped into national politics and policymaking are mono-tracked
and tend to be extremists. They lack exposure of other academic areas to correlate
scientific and management techniques to run the state affairs according to
the code of Islam. On the other hand the wealthy feudal and military top brass
did possess the management acumen but preferred to adopt stereotype Western
secular approach. Islamic principles prevented them from following the negative
activities inherited from the Hindu and British culture.
The Quaid believed in clean, modern and democratic
model by following Islamic moral values. His concepts certainly did not suit
the feudal community and were ignored due to which we have not been able to
achieve political stability. All aspect of our constitution therefore requires
to be debated. This change would set our bearing in the right direction and
clean our society from all ills and negative practices. It is high time that
we come out of the inherited shackles of slavish mentality, the character
and the civil customs and reorient our national policies as envisioned by
the Father of the Nation.
