Do not know if you found when talking to a Muslim country, what people often complain about? When discussing Iran, a Muslim country, people only complain about the imperfect democracy.Sir, it has to explain a lot of things.Do not you think so?
I like democracy because IMO it is the best system for a country. There is an on-going debate in Pakistan whether parliament is supreme or the Constitution is supreme. In a democracy, neither is supreme.
What is constitution? It is nothing but a framework of laws agreed among the elected representatives of the people as to how they like to be governed. That is why elected representatives have the power to change/amend the constitution as is the case in all democracies prime example being the United States. Therefore in a democracy; it is the people who are supreme. Democracy is therefore essentially secular.
In Pakistan’ Objectives resolution, supreme power lies with Allah and any law considered to be against Islamic principles will be struck down. The same is the case with almost all Islamic countries.
Therefore no country that is essentially religion based, be it Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia or Pakistan can be truly democratic. This would also be true in a deeply Catholic Country. In my humble opinion, a country has to be secular to be truly democratic.
This is easier said than done. US declared that all people were equal, but it took a couple of hundred years and Martin Luther King for blacks to get equal rights.
I personally wouldn’t want Pakistan to be secular either. However, I would want Pakistan to have a liberal progressive state. I have lived in UAE for about 6 years. I think despite being an Islamic kingdom, Dubai sets an example of tolerance and liberalism that other Muslim countries such as Pakistan can copy.
No one forces anyone to offer prayers or fast. However, during Ramdan, all night clubs are closed, sale of alcohol in the hotels is forbidden and no one is allowed to drink or even smoke in public. Other than Ramadan, there is a mosque at every corner as well as huge number of night clubs, and it is up to the individual whether he wants to pray or drink in a bar.
Despite the wine sold in the hotels and night clubs, no one bothers any female walking alone even in the middle of the night. I would be happy with current constitution of Pakistan and happy with the imperfect democracy, if the Quaid’s vision as described in his 11th August 1947 speech is followed.
However, there are members here who rubbish Pakistan and founding fathers as well as Ata Turk on ‘Alleged’ membership of a masonic lodge. As if being a Freemason overshadows all the good deed that the person has done.
There are many such bigots in Pakistan who provide succour and support terrorists to kill other Muslims in the name of Islam. And call even cold blooded killers such as Mumtaz Qadri, who shot the man he was supposed to protect on the mere suggestion that he was against blasphemy laws; a hero of Islam.
As long as such enemies of Pakistan remain part of the society Pakistan will continue to remain breeding ground of suicide bombers and a terrorist haven.
I am a human being first, then a Pakistani and lastly a Muslim. If I am not following the right path, I shall answer to Allah on the day of judgement. My family has been Muslims for countless generations. I have no need to for Wahhabi bigots to teach me to be a good Muslim
In my humble opinion, any national hero who defies colonial powers such as Ata -Turk is a true hero and worthy of all the honour and fame that his nation can give him.