Adil Najam
Ordinarily, I might have just posted this photograph below as a comment on yesterday’s post on Diwali celebrations in Karachi (also here). But please, just look at the people in this photograph; its way too interesting to be relegated to a comments section.
The occasion is a Diwali celebration at the Islamabad Headquarters of the Pakistan Muslim League, standing (and clapping) extreme left is Syed Mushahid Hussain, Secretary General of the Pakistan Muslim League, next to him is Ijaz ul Haq (Minister of Religious Affairs, and son of Gen. Zia ul Haq), fourth from left is Tariq Azim, State Minister for Information.
The Daily Times (31 October, 2006) provides more details of the event:
Members of the Hindu community from across the country participated in the event where they performed their religious rituals and traditional dances in candlelight to mark the event… A number of office bearers of the party and ministers, including PML Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Syed, Minister for Religious Affairs Ijaz-ul-Haq, State Minister for Information Tariq Azim, Minister for Minorities Affairs Mushtaq Victor and members of the National Assembly (MNAs) Bindara, Donia Aziz, Akram Masih Gill and others were present on the occasion. Officials of the Indian High Commission also participated in the event.
Hussain said that Quaid-e-Azam had envisioned a Pakistan where all the religious minorities enjoyed equal rights. He underlined the importance of inter-faith harmony for the greater prosperity of the nation and announced that the PML would also celebrate the birthday of Baba Gurunanak next week. He said that the minorities played a vital role in building any nation. He said that the present government was allocating high importance to giving all minorities’ equal. Hindus are playing a leading role in country’s economic development and the present government will leave no stone unturned to ensure their safety and well being, he added.
This is, of course, a political gesture – some might even say a gimmick. But if so, let us have more such gestures and gimmicks. They will, in time, hopefully help change our perceptions and treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan.
This audio lecture by Sheikh Feiz is about celebrations forbidden by Islam such as Birthdays, Easter, Christmas, Halloween , Valentine ..ETC. Sheikh Feiz talks about the history of these useless and unislamic occasions and also talks about how to deal with people who celebrate these occasions.
Born in Australia, Sydney, Feiz Muhammad travelled to Medinah seeking knowledge from several Scholars of Islam. After having spent 4 years studying in the Islamic University of Medinah, Sheikh Feiz travelled back to Sydney to live his dream – to call to the path of Allah. His unique style of speech attracts a wide range of listeners, and is very beneficial and interesting to listen to. At current, he is completing his Doctorate degree in Islamic Law in Malaysia, and we ask Allah (swt) to accept all of his work.
Audio : Mp3
Size : 10 MB
Quality : Excellent
Duration : 1 hr
Comments : Not 2 b Missed
Download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/1495366/Sheikh_Feiz_-_ Forbidden_Celebrations.mp3
Pakistan is always run by similar people only front leadership changes every now and then.
I think it will be better to give them respect instead of just acting like them, or dressing like them for a couple of minutes!
And after that, respect[like love] begets respect!!!
Just my 2 cents!!!
Even if it is a gimmick,,,, let us cherish and celebrate the positivism for the moment
PS: Zia ul Huq ki rooh to tarap gayi hogi
It’s a Positive step … I guess It’s nothing but a Political Gimmick .
The way minorities and majorities in Pakistan are killed every day in some nook of the country … it’s just a public stunt … nothing worthy off … !