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Perspective: #Pakistan’s Ahmadi Inquisition

This dark episode of Spanish history is repeating itself in Pakistan

In the 15th Century, the Catholic Monarch Ferdinand II and Isabella I of the Spanish Empire established a particular panel or tribunal of ‘inquisition’ which worked till the 19th Century. It was a panel that aimed to ‘decontaminate’ Catholic orthodoxy and religious unification among the Christians in the Empire.

Steadily, the rulers came under the influence of the pope and an institution of the ‘Grand Inquisitor’ emerged. In the 16th Century, the clergy and the priests were appointed as the judges of the inquisition tribunals, and the church became the symbol of power that determined the faith and beliefs of the people.

This eventually led to the hegemony of the pope. Individuals suffered horrible punishments during the Inquisition. Some stern punishments included physical torture, starvation, hanging from the arms, and life imprisonment.

One of the key objectives of the Spanish Inquisition was to eradicate religious differences in the Spanish society and to amalgamate the nation. Brutalities during the inquisition gave a sense of unrest among the Jews and Muslims in Spain.

This rigid strand of the Spanish Catholic thought led to the society becoming radicalised under the aegis and supervision of the state. Both state and church had a mutual, vested interest in doing this. Now sadly, this dark episode of Spanish history is repeating itself in Pakistan.

The Islamabad High Court’s interference in personal matters of religion or its efforts to determine the faith of citizens is contrary to Pakistan’s constitution and Jinnah’s vision for the country

The national and international political forces used the ‘religion’ card to destabilise Pakistan. The establishment was also allegedly involved in supporting religious extremists to execute its policies. India’s RAW, the CIA and Mossad in Israel all used radical groups to perpetuate terrorism in Pakistan.

According to a NADRA report presented before Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Chief Justice, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui in the case of the Election Act of 2017, there are 167,000 Ahmadis in Pakistan. 10205 Pakistanis, meanwhile, have converted to Ahmadiat while 6000 of them moved abroad on new passports.

One’s religion and faith is a private issue, but the IHC tried to make official matters pertaining to faith and made it mandatory for every citizen “to get their identity with authentic particulars” by declaring his or her faith and belief. According to the court, no Muslim is allowed to appear as a non-Muslim while no non-Muslim can appear as a Muslim.

The court also ordered submitting an affidavit based “on the definition of Muslim and non-Muslim” as per article 260(3)(a)(b) of the Constitution to get a CNIC, birth certificate, and passport. This raises the question of why the state should force an independent citizen to profess his or her faith.

The court interfering in personal matters of religion or its efforts to determine the faith of citizens is also contrary to Pakistan’s constitution. The contents of the IHC’s order are also against the spirit of Mr Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan.

Such orders also affect nationalism in Pakistan, and become the reason for a rising tide of hatred and difference between religious communities and sects. Such a strand of ‘officialised Islam’, moreover, also creates a sense of insecurity among minority communities like Ahmadis because Pakistan’s courts are taking decisions according to the wishes of extremist ‘mullahs’, which stands against the ethos of a prosperous Pakistan.

The orders of the IHC will also further marginalise the Ahmadia community. The state and the court’s efforts to codify Islam are producing disastrous consequences, since several Khatm-i-Nabuwat conferences and seminars were held in Punjab in the wake of this court order. These conferences passed many resolutions against Ahmadis that stipulated the strict implementation of anti-Ahmadia laws.

In Sialkot, a religious extremist and an alleged PTI political worker Hamid Raza led a mob on May 23, 2018 during the night of Holy Month of the Ramazan that demolished a historic Ahmadia Baitul Zikar. Raza later thanked the state elements such as the DPO, the DCO, and municipal corporation officials for helping them in demolishing the worship place.

Ahmadis are also facing increasing threats and marginalisation in professions and jobs. An Ahmadi, Safian Ahmad in the Punjab Prison Department, for instance, and a female teacher in Kot Momin are facing severe difficulties in this regard. Ahmadis are also in a constant state of insecurity and anxiety despite all the contributions they make to Pakistan.

Last week, in Chak No 368 Khumbi District Layyah, an issue occurred among Ahmadis and non-Ahmadis when Ahmadis wanted to bury the dead body of an Ahmadi in a joint grave yard. This is yet another example of the state supporting anti-Ahmadia activities which is leading to a sharp rise in the challenges Ahmadis face in Pakistan.

In the present paradigm, the Pakistani judiciary, particularly the IHC has failed to take action against elements that hold dharnas, and their extremist and anti-state statements and activities. Despite the orders of the higher judiciary, the leadership of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Ullah has still not been arrested which is a substantial taint on Pakistan’s judicial system.

http://timesofahmad.blogspot.com/2018/05/perspective-pakistans-ahmadi.html

Taliban Taking Over #Pakistan ?NEW INTERNAL SECURITY POLICY SEEKS TO GIVE CLEAN CHIT TO TAKFIRI TERRORISTS?

The outgoing government on Thursday unveiled a new National Internal Security Policy (NISP) proposing reconciliation with individuals and groups willing to shun the path of violence. However, it is being inferred that banned takfiri terrorist groups are likely to enjoy facilities under this policy because it appears they will not be punished for their unpardonable crimes against humanity in all over Pakistan because their ringleaders still enjoy protocol while innocent Shia Muslims have been subjected to enforced disappearance. 

The incentives for shunning of violence and militancy and for re-integration have to be made greater than the continuation of militancy and anti-societal discourse and practices, the NISP 2018-2023 asserts.
It refers to the successful formulation of programmes for re-integration and of reconciliation pursued by many Muslim countries including Indonesia and Bangladesh, and notes that key priority areas in this regard have to be the worst affected areas due to insecurity and terrorism; it is strange to cited Bangladesh where pro-Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami leaders were convicted or hanged.
In this regard, the policy acknowledges that formerly Fata region, Balochistan, and areas of KP and Karachi have to be paid particular attention. Due to social and political contestation, these areas have been hotbeds of unrest and targets of subsequent security operations.
An incentive structure to provide a way out to militants stuck in the cycle of violence, de-radicalisation and rehabilitation programmes and an outright ban on the use of violence for achieving political goals are key to improve security, reads the policy document.
Efforts will be made to build consensus on offering incentives for militants under clear and transparent terms to shun violence. For this purpose the following reforms shall take place:
A mechanism will be developed to review cases of militants who agree to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies.
De-radicalisation and rehabilitation programmes will be used to enable former militants to join the mainstream. Professionals and moderate scholars will be engaged for the said purpose.
Alternative livelihoods either by providing jobs, vocational training or other means will be provided to former militants once they are certified not being a security risk, while the children of suspected terrorists under custody will be taken care of.
No armed group must be allowed to operate a political wing and participate in electoral processes and vice versa. National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) will compile data on Pakistani individuals linked with terror organisations involved in war theatres abroad. Appropriate action will be taken to deal with returning fighters.
The policy aims to protect the life, property and fundamental rights of the citizens of Pakistan by establishing the rule of law. To this effect, it recognises that this requires enforcement of state laws/regulations in letter and spirit through an effective coordination between various constituents of the criminal justice system.
Violation of human rights can become a crucial driver for extremism and radicalisation, and it is, therefore, essential to establish the rule of law and deliver justice, the Policy observes.

http://www.shiitenews.org/index.php/pakistan/item/34675-new-internal-security-policy-seeks-to-give-clean-chit-to-takfiri-terrorists

پیپلز پارٹی کا عام انتخابات 25 جولائی کو کرانے کا مطالبہ

پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی نے آئندہ عام انتخابات ہر صورت مقررہ تاریخ 25 جولائی کو کرانے کا مطالبہ کرتے ہوئے خبردار کیا ہے کہ اگر انتخابات موخر ہوئے تو ملک بے چینی اور ہیجان کا شکار ہوجائیگا۔

پیپلز پارٹی کے رہنما اعتزاز احسن، نیئر بخاری، فرحت اللہ بابر، شیری رحمان، خورشید احمد شاہ، مراد علی شاہ اور سعید غنی نے میڈیا سیل بلاول ہائوس میں ہنگامی پریس کانفرنس سے خطاب کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ نامزدگی فارم پر قانون سازی پارلیمینٹ کا حق ہے، جسے عدالتی حکم کے ذریعے تبدیل نہیں کیا جاسکتا۔

اعتزاز احسن کا کہنا تھا کہ گزشتہ ایک دو روز کے دوران ہونے والی سیاسی پیش رفت سے لگتا ہے کہ جیسے کوئی سسٹم ہے، جو انتخابات کو التویٰ میں ڈالنا چاہتا ہے، اسلام آباد ہائی کورٹ الیکشن کمیشن کی جانب سے کی گئی متعدد حلقہ بندیوں کو کالعدم قرار دے چکی ہے اور بلوچستان ہائی کورٹ سے بھی اسی طرح کے فیصلے متوقع ہیں، عدالتی فیصلوں کی روشنی میں ازسر نو حلقہ بندیاں کی گئیں، تو ازسر نو اعتراضات بھی سامنے آئیں گے جس کیلئے مزید وقت درکار ہوگا۔

ان کا کہنا تھا کہ اگر کل سے نامزدگی فارم کا اجراء نہ ہوا اور عدالتی حکم کے تحت فارمز کی چھپائی کا کام بھی ازسر نو شروع کیا گیا تو اس عمل کو مکمل ہونے میں بھی وقت درکار ہوگا، جس کے باعث انتخابات میں تاخیر ہوسکتی ہے، پی پی پی اس طرح کی تاخیر کے حق میں نہیں ہے، پیپلز پارٹی کا موقف غیرمبہم ہے کہ انتخابات ہر صورت مقررہ تاریخ 25 جولائی کو ہونے چاہئیں۔

https://jang.com.pk/news/501225

#Pakistan - Mainstreaming #FATA and the #PPP’s role

By Shahzad Tahir

History bears testimony to the extensive bloodshed, unimpeded anarchy, atrocities and rampant human-rights violations of the WWII that bolstered the conscience of the world. Consequently, this led to the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December 1948 in Paris at the UN General Assembly. The declaration entitled every human being to a set of 30 basic human rights. If the aforesaid premise was to be reflected in a nutshell, it wouldn’t be imprecise to assert that it took the ‘world’ a ‘world war’ to devise and agree on a basic set of human rights.

Until March 24th 2018, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Pakistan inhabited by 15 million Pakhtuns continued to be a subject of human-rights violations due to its governance framework, the Frontier Crimes Regulations. A relic of the British colonial rule, the FCR denied basic human rights to Fata. Notably under the notion of collective responsibility, an entire tribe would share the penalty for a crime committed by a single tribesman. The FCR also denied right to justice due to a bar from approaching a court of law. In addition, another relic of the British colonial regime, Article 247 of the Constitution of Pakistan provided for vesting the executive and legislative authority of Fata with the president, similar to the British viceroy. Glad that now its history.

Arguably, it took the incumbent government a lot of resentment to agree to the mainstreaming of Fata by merging it with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province via the 31st Amendment, it is a moment of pride and triumph for democracy and human rights in Pakistan. The story of Fata’s mainstreaming is neither of a day, nor a month, year or a decade but of decades in which generations of the Pakistan Peoples Party have remained resilient advocates of the rights of the people of Fata; a story the world needs to know.

Being the architect of 1973 Constitution of Pakistan, PPP’s founder, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, inserted Article 247-6 in the Constitution which envisaged merger of Fata with Pakistan’s mainstream in consultation with the tribal jirga. In this regard, the first serious attempt in Pakistan’s history to mainstream Fata was made by then prime minister ZA Bhutto. Bhutto constituted a ministerial committee comprising senior members of the PPP to devise a framework for the merger of Fata with North West Frontier Province (now K-P) enabling political and economic reforms, chiefly giving the adult franchise right to vote, which they previously didn’t have.

Fearing imbalance in the tribal region on the other side of the Durand Line, the merger was hesitantly delayed for a while at international request and was decided to be taken up after the 1977 elections with a fresh mandate. However, before Bhutto’s envisioned effort could be resumed, democracy was toppled over by General Ziaul Haq’s coup d’état on July 5th 1977. The government’s report titled ‘Report of the Committee on Fata Reforms 2016’ which led to the merger of Fata with K-P reiterates this fact stating “This initiative [of ZA Bhutto’s government] would have succeeded had the 1977 military coup not occurred.”

Fata’s cause made slight progress when Benazir Bhutto’s government extended the Adult Franchise Act of 1996 to the region granting every adult the right to vote for their representatives previously whereas the tribal chieftains or Maliks only were eligible to vote. But unfortunately democracy was paralysed again when Benazir Bhutto’s second elected government was ousted.

Battling forces that conspired against the will of the people, democratic forces in the country continued the struggle towards Fata’s mainstreaming that ZA Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto had envisioned. In March 2004, Benazir Bhutto constituted the Fata Reforms Committee of the PPP; the first dedicated segment of a political party tasked with Fata reforms.

In the same year, Benazir Bhutto invoked her party’s representation in parliament to solicit parliamentary channels for Fata reforms. Eventually in 2004, a PPP presented resolution was unanimously passed in the Senate seeking reforms in Fata followed by the Senate’s adoption of a PPP-led Human Rights Committee’s report seeking changes in Senate.

Fata’s unabridged mainstreaming remained Benazir Bhutto’s key agendas. Her next target was filling the political vacuum in Fata. A constitutional petition in the Supreme Court was filed by Benazir in 2006 demanding extension of the Political Parties Act of 1962 to Fata. “Fata is a unit of the federation, but it has been handed over to religious parties operating from mosques and madrassas,” the petition stated.

Benazir used all available channels to secure basic rights for the people of Fata. The Shaheed Bhutto Foundation under patronage of Benazir carried out studies on Fata, extensively engaged stakeholders and rigorously campaigned to seek a political way forward for mainstreaming Fata. The government’s Fata reforms report has endorsed the foundation’s efforts.

In 2007, Fata’s cause suffered a huge blowback with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. PPP once again came into power in 2008 and then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani in his first address to parliament committed to change the FCR.

In April 2008, a committee of the cabinet was constituted to propose FCR reforms. Respecting the traditions of the land, the government consulted a jirga of tribal elders to restore peace and eventually consensus was developed with stakeholders on reforms. The jirga was invited by president Asif Zardari and a political, judicial and administrative reforms package was announced on Independence Day eventually however, it had to face delays due to opposition under various pretexts.

Two years later, having developed some consensus and disregarding some opposition, president Zardari gave assent to ‘Amendments in FCR 2011’ and extension of ‘Political Parties Order 2002’ to tribal areas. Meanwhile a PPP bill seeking amendments to Article 247 was also adopted by the Senate. Recently, a Fata Youth Jirga emerged as a powerful forum demanding the mainstreaming of Fata which was fully endorsed by a third generation of PPP’s leadership, Bilawal.

It might have taken the government a lot of resistance in the form of political powers in parliament, the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement and forums like the Fata Youth Jirga to eventually give rights to Fata, similarly as the world realised to agree on the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights after WWII, but it is a victory for the people of Pakistan, democracy, political stability of the country and the region and the PPP’s role must not be forgotten during this voyage.