Adil Najam
This picture is carried today by both Dawn and Daily Times. Dawn’s title is “Still Heroes” and the caption reads: “Bronze statues of Quaid-i-Azam, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Allama Iqbal put on display at the Science and Technology Expo-2007 being held at National Memorial Museum in Shakarparian in Islamabad.”
A visit to the Museum is on the top of my ‘To Do’ list when I return to Islamabad end of the month. I hope they are still there.
My first thought on looking at the picture was to note how both Jinnah and Iqbal are wearing suits here (this penchant of ours – me included – to dress up these guys in the garbs of our desires has been has been quite a remarkable historical see-saw!). My second thought was to wonder what the folks at Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa might have to say – or do – about this. I hope there is significant security against vandalism here.
But even more than that, I wonder what these three men are sitting there thinking about what is happening today in the country they helped conceive. Late at night when the museum is closed and the statues come alive and walk about, what is it that they sit together and talk about?
Dear Sulman,
The point my dear friend that unfortunately missed you in entirety is that principle of citizenship and issue of fundamental rights exists independently, whether the state is founded on cultural, ethnic or any other form of nationalism… which is why a Non-French speaking French citizen should have the same rights as a French speaking French citizen … so on and so forth We wish to hold the State of Israel (of which you are supposedly a supporter) to the same principle when it comes to Arab Israelis which form 1/8th of the Israeli population.
Even if – in blatant disregard of the fact that in 1940s they were considered Muslims and their votes were sought on that premise- it was decided to declare Ahmadis Non-Muslim .. you cannot- as per the Fundamental Rights Chapter of Pakistan’s constitution- force them to not call themselves Muslims… even if the state continues to consider them so. Thus… not only was the constitutional amendment wrong … but even after the amendment there was no justification for the PPC 298 C … which violates the Pakistani constitution and the fundamental human rights of the said community.
FYI Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a politician… and he admitted that he was merely playing politics when he did what he did… As for Kasuri’s father… he had quit Bhutto’s cabinet in 1973…. a whole year before the passing of the said amendment…
And finally whatever your objections against Ahmadis… you cannot say that simply because Pakistan was created in the name of Islam (which is a dubious and historically inaccurate statement but let me humor you) that Ahmadis should be declared Non-muslim. The fact is that Ahmadis were considered Muslims by Jinnah and the Muslim League, whereas those against Ahmadis were also against Jinnah and the Muslim League. Indeed… Pakistan did not have claim to the Gurdaspur region (about which it still raises a lot of hue and cry) had it not been for the Ahmadi population which brought the over all Muslim population in the majority there… At the very least, the 87% Muslim electorate which became the basis of Muslim League’s claim as a representative body of Muslims included Ahmadis. So what has happened in Pakistan is the denial of the very principles that Pakistan was created on.
So the issue is multi-layered… and in a fair court of law you cannot win your case… unfortunately… judiciary in Pakistan went to hell some 20-30 years back.
The national memorial museum is a very fine place and very well done. It is very educational and has a more balanced history presented than is in the schools.
wah bhai wah. Is this what is called a sufaid jhoot.
The comments are up there for everyone to see (mine were moderated by ATP but only because in my frustration I used some language I should not have, but teh substance is still there).
You said that Ahmedis were a Western conspiracy by the Freemasons.
I said that was nonsense and asked you for proof.
Your proof was to ask me about the Washington memorial.
What is not to understand here?
You made a serious defamatory statement and you shoudl be able to provide some proof for it.
Otherwise anyone can just rise and say so-and-so is a running a brothel so lets take them hostage!
Haha!
Well said Adnan.
@Sulman/Jabir: You guys can never convince our psuedo jinnah expert mr.Hamadani. I have experienced him a lot so do remember what Imam Sha’fi[RA] said once:
I debated a scholar and beat him. Then I debated a layman and that layman beat me- he had no knowledge of the principles and texts. I had nothing to say.
Cheers :-)