June 19, 2014
By Saeed Qureshi
The latest third rally was held on June 17 this year at Model Town
neighborhood in Lahore in front of the Dr. Qadir’s residence cum
PAT( Pakistan Awami Tehrik) secretariat. Tragically it turned into a bloody
clash between charged members of PAT and Minhajul Quran on one side and the
riot police on the other. This clash resulted in at least 8 deaths and scores
wounded. In comparison the previous rallies were rather peaceful.
However, this ugly encounter seems to be immensely instrumental,
though by default, in advancing Dr. Qadir’s mission of a revolutionary change.
The Punjab government of PMNL has come under burgeoning pressure and looks like
a culprit although seemingly the chief minister had no role to play in the
police firing that was not intentional but spontaneous.
Dr. Qadri has spurned all government offers for a dialogue and
rejected the formation of a judicial commission to probe the gruesome incident.
On the contrary he alleged that the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of Punjab,
IG Punjab Police, and certain ministers were behind what he termed as the
‘premeditated murder’.
The PMLQ stalwarts Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and Chaudhry Shujaat
Hussain have announced their unconditional support to Dr. Tahir Qadri in his
opposition solely to the federal and Punjab government run respectively by Mian
Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif.
The deep seated political animosity between these two groups is a
public knowledge. Imran Khan has too taken an unequivocal stand in favor of
Allama Tahirul Qadri and even demanded resignation of the chief minister of
Punjab and his law minister. His overtures seem to be merely fortifying the bulwark
against Sharif brothers.
One may recall that a few days ago Chaudhry
Shujaat Hussain and Ch. Pervez Ilahi had a special meeting and even press
conference with Allama Dr. Tahir Qadri in London. Their blind support for
Qadri’s mission is not a secret as Chaudhry brothers are sworn enemies of
Sharif brothers. One could even assume that the PAT rally could be an offshoot
of the complete understanding between two inveterate opponents of Sharif
brothers.
As far Imran Khan, he is adept in blowing hot
and cold in the same breath while demonstrating a semblance of political acumen
or restraint least expected of a politician. The antagonism for the sake of
antagonism speaks for the immature or myopic attitude of Imran Khan even
debunking military action against Taliban in Waziristan. Thus by his mindless
statements he rebuffs military anti-Taliban blitz. He doesn't realize Taliban
are the enemies of the people of Pakistan. They have been busy in destroying
Pakistan’s assets and killed and maimed thousands of Pakistanis through
incessant wave of blatant suicide attacks for almost a decade now.
On May 25, 1989 Dr. Qadri founded a political cum religious party
under the name of Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT). The manifesto of this party
broadly is to “introduce the culture of democracy, promote economic stability,
and improve the state of human rights, justice, and women's roles in Pakistan
and to remove corruption from Pakistani politics”.
His other organization that promotes and propels his objective of
bringing revolution in Pakistan is “Minhajul Quran” a kind of religious forum.
The professed objective and charter of this outlet is to “promote religious
moderation, effective and sound education, inter-faith dialogue and harmony,
and a moderate interpretation of Islam employing methods of Sufism”
The manifestos of both PAT and Minhajul Quran put together, as
Maulana Dr. Qadri claims is to unfold a green revolution in Pakistan. The green
revolution also stipulates the revival of the “Charter of Medina
“The Charter of Medina also known as the Meesaq-e- Medina, was a
formal agreement between the prophet of Islam Hazrat Muhammad and all of the
significant tribes and families of Yathrib or Medina
including Muslims, Jews, Christians and pagans. This
constitution formed the basis of the first Islamic state.
Its main objective was to end the bitter inter-tribal fighting
between the prominent clans of the Aus and Khazraj within Medina. The
historic “Medina Accord” brought Muslim, Jewish, Christian and pagan
communities in Medina under the fold of one fraternity named Ummah for the
first time.
Allama Sahib asserts that while the “Constitution of Medina” laid
down the foundations of an "indivisible composition of
the Muslim Ummah or nation, it also guaranteed fundamental human rights to the
entire community irrespective of their religious or racial orientations.
Dr. Qadri envisions an “Islamic state as a Muslim-majority country
which respects freedom, the rule of law, global human rights (including
religious freedom), social welfare, women's rights and the rights of
minorities”
The redeeming feature of Maulana’s mission is his resolute stand
against terrorism which in regards to Pakistan is the religious terrorism of
Taliban. It connotes that Maulana is a liberal and progressive reformer that
shuns religious fanaticism propelled by the perpetrators through brutal means
and terrorizing the people and by killing them.
In March 2010, Dr. Qadri issued a 600-page Fatwa on
Terrorism, in which he scholarly dismantled and categorically condemned
terrorism without any ifs and buts. He argued that terrorism and violence has
no place in Islamic teaching and therefore no justification can be provided for
it. Dr. Qadri can be portrayed as a religious moderate and a steadfast follower
of gentle Sufi tradition. This aspect of Allama Qadir’s mission therefore, can
be acceptable for the proponents of a modern liberal state and society.
Dr. Qadri aspires and struggles also for a Democratic revolution
through electoral reforms in order to elects people of integrity who will be
subjected to a “pre-clearance” process to qualify for contesting elections to
ensure that the candidates had paid their taxes and they had not defaulted on
loans or got the loans written off.
However Allama Sahib should understand that the modern day
societies are not like that of Medina when the society was in the process of
making. The complexion of the respective present day societies and systems is
welfare oriented, are mostly democratic and responsive to the people’s needs
and aspirations. The political systems by and large are stable and accountable
and the governments come into being with popular franchise. The world community
as a whole is prosperous and fraternal.
The international community is connected through fast and all
encompassing internet technology. People are not drastically divided along
religious lines barring a few Islamic countries. The people enjoy countless
privileges and rights that are enshrined in the constitutions of the respective
countries even of the authoritarian regimes.
The power tussle is rife in several societies but people socially
and economically are more liberated and contented. The countries in the present
time are huge and vast than the city of Medina 14 centuries ago. Even the
present day Medina is a modern city, hugely populated and bustling with a
galore of modern comforts and amenities. The Medina Accord offers an
explicit and shining moral and human guidelines and its theme is literally
prevalent in better part of the world.
For example the Bill of Rights in the American constitution offers
inalienable rights to all the citizens such as right of life, liberty, pursuit
of happiness, freedom of speech, religion, assembly and petitioning the
government. The man is no more slaves of the kings, and elite classes as was in
the past. The rulers in many countries are elected by the people.
In majority of the societies social morality prevails, the
judicial systems dispense justice and media is strident and powerful to spread
information of what was happening every moment. Because of an integrated world
every society and leader is under an unremitting accountability and watch. The
world despite deficiencies acts jointly in case of crisis, calamity, war or
disaster. The Medina Pact was solemnized in a primitive limited society under
very peculiar circumstances. Its revival is not needed as it is already being
practiced on a much wider scale.
Allama Qadri Sahib would look more credible and rather acceptable
if he pursues his moral and political ambitions within the framework of the
constitution and law. To bank upon aggression and mobilizing people with
powerful rhetorical speeches and show of self-righteousness is meaningless.
Such a strategy would backfire because it leads to chaos and commotion. If
Maulana doesn’t revise his reformatory mission and reconstruction approach, his
dream of turning Pakistan into an ideal Islamic state would never come true.
Directing and monitoring an aimless movement while living a
comfortable life in a distant secular and Unislamic land of Canada, looks
hypocritical and contentious. Let him live in the slums of Pakistan and
spearhead the movement and thus transform the destiny of the people of
Pakistan. Example is better than fiery orations or hollow precepts.
Occasionally he talks of Tehrir Square that uprooted a might dictator. But
Pakistan is not Egypt .Pakistan is now a democratic country.
My hunch is that Dr. Qadri in somehow being used by the forces
that are inimical to the incumbent government for one reason or the other. Dr.
Qadri seems to be playing in the hands of some political figures who want to
have short cut to power corridors. Mercifully the democratically PPP elected
government completed its 5 years in power. Let the present government stay at
the helm for the same constitutional period. It would be up to the people to
reelect or reject it in the next elections. That is how the democratic
tradition would be firmly rooted and flourish and that is what Pakistan is in
need of.
Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri is blessed with enormous gift of public
speaking and articulation. He has a huge and growing bulk of followers and also
unlimited financial resources and a safe haven of Canada. He can utilize all
these precious assets by entering the political arena of Pakistan like other
leaders, contest elections and attain power to transform Pakistan into an abode
of his liking and lookout. That would be the best and decidedly rational way to
establish his program and plans.
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