Adil Najam
This is a VERY DISTURBING video. Please view at your own discretion.
It is important, however, that we speak about and shout out about this video.
It shows a 17-year old girl being flogged by a Taliban leader of some sort in a perverted form of justice. Reportedly the incident happened in Kalakalay, Swat around 3 months ago (before the supposed peace deal with the government). The girl is being ‘punished’ for going somewhere without a male relative. Supposedly, the male companion was also flogged.
This video is also be discussed vigorously at Pakistaniat’s new Facebook page. Some of that disussion does not carry over here, although we hope it ultimately will.
In more recent developments, supposedly Sufi Mohammad in Swat has condemned the act and said this was not Baitullah’s Taliban. More importantly, the recent reinstated Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry has taken su moto notice of this incident. According to The News
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Friday took a suo motu notice of the media footage in which a 17 year old girl is being whipped out in the broad daylight in Swat. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhdy ordered the matter to be presented before a larger bench on April 6. He also summoned Secretary Interior, IG and Chief Secretary on April 6. He ordered formation of 8-member larger bench to be headed by himself.
This is a story that all Pakistanis and all Muslims must speak about and speak against. There are those who will try to make this a story about what Pakistan or Islam is. Such bigoted approaches are to be resisted. This is not a story about what Pakistan is. This is clearly not about what Islam is. This is a story about what the enemies of Islam and enemies of Pakistan are doing. This is a story about what Pakistan must not allowed to become. The bad news is obvious in the video itself. The bad news is about the criminality being conducted in the name of religion. The good news is that the media, the judiciary and ordinary Pakistanis ARE speaking up and speaking out. We must do more so. For if we do not speak out against this criminality, who will?
why any so-called civil society activist has never protested against making women a mere show-piece in stage shows, theatres, fashion shoots, catwalks and entertainment media? Isn’t that a “bahurmati” of womenfolk.
UPDATE on the Chief Justice’s Suo Moto notice hearings. From THE NEWS:
@Adnan Siddiqi
I haven’t taken any funds from West, and neither has the Pakistani media, which circulated the video that shows the Taliban injustice against a young Swati girl. You can make some more the quotations of Imam Shafai in your quest to hide that injustice, the educated will continue to reject it and demand justice.
@Karachiite
Whatever self-praise the Jamaatis and mullahs may put on themselves, their record in the creation of Pakistan, and in the uplift of the Muslim community of India is abysmal. The ulema opposed Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, they opposed Allama Iqbal, they opposed Quaid-e-Azam, they opposed All-India Muslim League. The ulema have been wrong on all major decisions including their fantasy that Muslims could dominate a united India, which could be refuted by simple demographics.
The Constitution, laws and procedures of Pakistan are not emotional slogans, they are documented realities which you can examine for yourself. They deal with ever-expanding subjects concerning state, individual and society. The same goes for English laws which have a long history and long application and require long study. The non-application of Pakistani law/constitution is another matter entirely.
On the other hand what is Shariat ? A vague concept which in Pakistan gets reduced to interference in personal lives, an obsession with females, and an eagerness to flog, stone and cut off hands. That is why Pakistani Shariat qualifies as an emotional slogan, it is nowhere a substitute legal system.
Finally regarding re-definition of Islam/Pakistan. The Constitution of Pakistan gives its citizens the right to disagree and dissent , without being branded a kaffir and subject to punishment. That is the spirit of Quaid-e-Azam , whom you Jamaatis still call a kaffir. To give up this natural right of dissent will be to surrender to the mullahs, who are basically as ignorant today as they were 100 years ago.
@Karachite:
Hamid Mir claims Molvi Kafayatullah and Hussein Ahmad Madni asked Quid-e-Azam for Rs 50,000 (a large sum in those day when salaries where Rs 25/30 and less). When Quid-e-Azam refused these two deobandi guys went to Indian Congress because Congress was able to give them the money.
http://jang.com.pk/jang/mar2009-daily/26-03-2009/c ol6.htm
Not very principled or dignified.
@Karachite:
How come Allah did not guide these “pious” ulema of deoband and instead guided Jinnah? Something tells me these molvis are not in Allah