Pakistan's religious double game - part 2

Pakistan is right now at a crucial crossroad to decide what it stands for and for what purpose Mohammad Ali Jinnah achieved this land. Killing in the name of religion is nothing new in Pakistan but the killing of a prominent figure, Governor Salman Taseer, got widespread attention and media coverage. Every political representative disapproved the act and was against this specific killing but almost nobody was even bold enough to speak out about Mumtaz Qadri's logic behind it.

In times where our society is psychologically manipulated by religious factions, are politicians who run this country for us independent to make their decisions? It's not just the political landscape, the ordinary citizen is in a desperate situation, either they speak out the truth and face social alienation and torture or just go with the flow and support the clerics. The norm till now was going with the last option even if it was the wrong choice to make. What wonders me, is the sheer double standard that every Pakistani is displaying.

If you take the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, it is the most persecuted religious organization in Pakistan. Its members are mistreated, tortured and deprived of any social and economic stature. It would require a separate discussion about the atrocities on Ahmadies, but what really is astonishing is the way that people of Pakistan in general treat Ahmadies in different situations. Living abroad, me as a proud Ahmadi, when i meet Pakistani friends, who are not Ahmadies, they refrain from talking about the Ahmadiyya Jamaat issue and say to me:

"Leave it, we are not in Pakistan - just live your life here as you wish"

These same people when going to Pakistan, would be obligated to declare Ahmadies as Infidels as not to be socially distanced. Do these people have a conscience? To suit ones beliefs according to situation and own interest for the most is the norm in the western countries.

Killing of Ahmadies in Pakistan is propagated by the Khatm e Nabuwwat organization by means of public gatherings and flyers. The majority of clerics in Pakistan approve of this organization and second their opinion. No investigation or the mere interest is taken by the government. According to this organization, killing someone who is against the blasphemy law is an act that would ensure a place in heaven, which is deemed to be obligatory for every true Muslim. But what if they would be abroad here, what would they do, would they still be inciting this act knowing the law would imprison them by the sheer intent of killing someone? The true face of a believer comes in sight when he faces hurdles and still keeps loyal to his beliefs. So every Pakistani who lives abroad has to be asked, why don't they take up arms and start the killing of Ahmadies? Its an act declared to be holy by the clerics. Every political leader has to be asked why don't they openly support this stance. They should openly proclaim that this is the true religion. May be every person in Pakistan is following a double standard life. Why are clerics not successful in achieving the support of the rich who can propagate this message across every media channel of Pakistan? Why don't TV channels show these clerics preaching this message on TV.

Every political figure should openly declare whether they are for or against the killing of Ahmadies.

Summary: To see the true face of these so called Muslim Pakistanis and political leaders in specific, the only way is that they come out in a western country and openly declare whether they are for or against the killing of Ahmadies. I'm sure they would refrain from it because material gain is much more deer to them then the religion they adhere to.

Pakistan's religious double game

Although living in the 'Islamic' Republic of Pakistan are we really Muslims? A question that would definitely be answered with a 'sure' or even by todays standards would be frowned upon. But still i ask - are we really muslims? There are alot of anomolies that one could go into but one that is never been debated or even talked about is the womans veil in our society according to islamic teachings - because we apparantly prescribe to it. I'm not putting forth the radicalized version of the 'womans veil' but living in times of 'Enlighted Moderation' we still are muslims. Alot has been said about the subject of woman and the veil and in the society we live in we see all sorts of women with their own interpretation of the veil - good or not good i'll leave it to them. But what is interesting is the fact that the mainstream clerics who are a spiritual guidance for us are playing a double game here. On one side they want women to wear the full hijab (the one that goes from head to toe) and on the other side there is no objection to the elite women who is not even having on a 'Dupatta'. Entertainment shows, News Talk Shows every one watches them, i'm sure these maulanas watch them too everyday. Women on TV Talk Shows wearing tight dresses, wearing no dupatta or hijab - its becoming the norm. Apparently, there is no difference anymore from the indian news broadcast and the pakistani one.

I never heard of any maulana with an objection in this matter. But they are really hardlined with other issues like blasphemy law these days. Approving the killing of a governor in the name of god is deemed to be more worthy then raising an objection to the changing norms of our generation. Why are maulanas silent in this regard? Why don't they put fatwas on these channels? Are there personal gains involved?

Its not just the clerics, the majority of the people are involved in it. Nobody talks about it - whats wrong. We like to watch Award Shows full of glamour and all the beauty of the participants - its not less then the one held in indian culture. But maulana sahib doesn't say a thing. Why don't they disapprove of it?

Ok, if you as an orator or spiritual guide do not object to it then i guess its nothing wrong with it. Then there is no wrong in not wearing a veil or a hijab. But why is it that this is only seen in pakistan's posh areas. Lahore Defence, Islamabad Jinnah Market etc. you'll see pakistani-muslim girls wearing t-shirts and jeans. Slowly as you move towards the suburbs and then to the more rural area - the veil or hijab gets more acceptance and usage. I'm sure the elite and posh community has a mosque or two in their secotrs or areas. I'm also sure these mosques have a maulana or a maulvi sahib in there. Isn't it the duty of these people to guide the lost souls. Its youngsters who are prone to the western culture, its the bitter fruit they want to try out themselve to come to a conclusion - but its the duty of parents and evenmore the task of our spiritual leaders to guide us. But why don't they say a thing about this matter?

Is it may be because they wouldn't want to distance themselve from the rich and powerfull who are their prime source of income? I'll leave the issue of the relationship of rich and maulvi sahib for you to ponder on.

In summary, ask yourself these questions:

1. Why are the posh girls or girls/woman on TV allowed to be that free in not caring for their veil and no religiuos/spiritual leader talks about it?

2. Why are girls or women in rural areas bound to wear a veil or even mistreated if they don't wear hijab? Isn't it that the best hijab according to maulvi sahibs in rural areas is the one that goes from head to toe?

Disclaimer: I'm not for a radicalized version of Islam neither to judge the norm a woman prescribes to. Its a decision that every person has to make for himself what is good and what not. Whether one respects his true religious teaching or not is a decision one has to make on his own. Equally i don't regard every Maulvi sahib the same but the majority is like this - this is the fact.