A Democratic Pakistan
-  Nasreen Jalil, Karachi

THE JI chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmed has recently said that voters should defeat the forces of secularism through active participation in the coming local body elections.

Secularism as ignorantly interpreted by the religious parties means total exclusion of religion from society.

Since no political party has any such plan on its agenda, his challenge is actually aimed at the movement in progress for moderation and tolerance that is gaining ground in Pakistan.

The MQM accepts the challenge and asks voters to make a clear choice between modernism and backwardness. Let us ask the people to choose between the following two options:

1.Do they hold in high esteem the Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal who conceived and created Pakistan or Maulana Maudoodi, who not only opposed the creation of Pakistan but also called the makers of Pakistan as ‘kafirs’?

2. Do they want a modern, progressive and democratic Pakistan or do they want a theocratic Pakistan run by a backward-looking obscurantist clergy?

3. Do they want a stable and economically strong Pakistan or a Pakistan plagued by sectarian and ethnic conflicts?

4. Do they want a secure Pakistan respected by its neighbours and the international community as a country totally devoted to the task of raising the standard of living of its people by employing all its resources or do they want a Pakistan meddling in the affairs of other countries through aggressive and militant emissaries whose bravado could possibly result in Pakistan being declared as a rogue country?

5. Do they want a total Talibanization of Pakistan through the introduction of the Hasba Bill or do they want to live in a free society, which respects human rights and human dignity, freedom of speech etc.?

A small minority has taken over the centre-stage in Pakistan’s politics due to certain unfortunate internal and external factors and they are now trying to impose a Taliban-type culture and society in the country.

It is now the duty of the so- called silent majority to assert itself and express its dominant position by backing the parties which represent progressive views.●

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