Atif Mian
On Thursday, June 5th, the principal of Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, expelled every student who belonged to the Ahmadi community from the college.
A total of twenty three students, fifteen female and eight male, across the five years of medical school have been expelled as a result. Further details regarding the incident can also be found in reports from the BBC and from the Daily Times.
The Ahmadi students were “accused” of preaching their religious beliefs. The principal was pressured into expelling the entire Ahmadi student body by a mob of protesters belonging to Islami Jamiat e Talaba. The mob circled the Principal’s office and demanded the expulsions. The same day, a mob of about 300 college students also barged into Ahmadi students’ rooms, beat them and threw their luggage out of their rooms.
What makes this incident especially troubling is the fact that the decision to expel Ahmadi students was taken by a government-run medical school, under full knowledge of the relevant Punjab ministries.
As an academic, and a Pakistani, I am totally appalled by this latest incidence of religious fanaticism. One hopes that the present Punjab government turns a page, and instead of supporting the forces of extremism, comes to the protection of its ordinary citizens.
Atif Mian is Associate Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business.
@Tina
While your point regarding American Christianity routes in Islamic ideology is admittedly very intriguing (and please do share if you find the title of the book) but when it comes to the matter of my Faith, I prefer not using my brain.
Using my brain, questioning logics and trying to trace the roots of religion will definitely raise some uncomfortable questions which I am not Supposed & Allowed to think and that would lead me start doubting the Allah’s existence itself (Nauz u Billah) and as a result will make me Mulhid and so Wajib ul Qatal.
Beleiving that those who never heard of Islam are doomed to hell , and whatever else Zarb e Momin, Qari sahab, Urdu, Islamiat, and Pakistan studies text books, Most Urdu Columnists, Naseem Hijazi’s novels, Weekly Takbeer and Daily Ummat have told me is rather Safe and easy option :)
It’s funny how the extreme Christian factions and the extreme Muslim factions have so much in common. For example, once a Jehova’s Witness member refused to take any religious material from me in exchange for the Jehova’s Witness material he was using for the purposes of preaching. This is essentially the same mentality that the Mullah’s on this blog are saying that a Muslim should be allowed to preach his ideas, but no one else should be able to voice theirs. Anyone who actually believes that Islam or any religion teaches this illogical train of thought is extremely insecure about their own beliefs and ideas. Open dialog on thoughts and ideas (religious or otherwise) encourages and enhances knowledge and promotes intellectual growth for all involved. Freedom of thought and freedom of conscience are Islamic principles. Therefore, even if those students were preaching their ideas, then according to Islam the correct response should have been to refute their ideas on an intellectual level rather than ban them from preaching. But no… the arrogant Mullah thinks he knows better and decides to threaten the lives of the students and subjugates a spineless administration to expel them from the University.
@Eidee Man
TV used to strictly Haram in Islam and was considered Shaitaani device by ulemas in my childhood days. With the advent of Zakir Naik, Amir Liaquat Hussain, Late Professor Ghulam Murtaza (I hope I remember the name correct) on NTM, Al jazeera TV etc, it has become an essential medium for preaching Islam and I am afraid taking it away from our families will not only take them away from these beautiful preachers but also it will be difficult to find the latest views of Hazrat Maulana Fazal ur Rahman mudzilah Aleh.
Loud Speakers and TV have much to share in common when it comes to Ulemas :)
This is the tragedy of Pakistan. When we seem to be getting out of the clutches of the military we land in the lap of the mullahs.
I can’t understand the viewpoint of people who are against Qaidianis spreading their ideas. If you think this is such a dangerous idea, then are you not simultaneously admitting that your religious ideology is somehow weaker? If so, then you should start by asking your family to stop watching Indian TV (good luck with that) because they are much more likely to turn Hindu, than medical students are to become Qadiani.