Secularism is the way forward

[King Solomon]

KARACHI, April 18: Secularism is not against religion; it is the message of humanity.

This was the gist of the speeches delivered by eminent speakers at the launch of the Pakistan chapter of the Forum of Secular Bangladesh and Trial of War Criminals of 1971 at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday.

Prior to the launch, a documentary Portraits of Jihad directed by distinguished Bangladeshi filmmaker Shahriar Kabir was screened. The subject of the film was the spread of religious fundamentalism in Bangladesh. It gave a detailed account of how extremist groups tried to shake the foundation of Bangladeshi society through terror, making their recruits acquire training abroad and target those who spoke against fundamentalism or upheld secular values.

It was a moving documentary that commenced with the footage of an attempt on the life of Shaikh Haseena Wajid in 2004 and ended on a positive note with Lalon Fakir’s mystical words.

Iqbal Haider, the president of the forum, complimented the people of Bangladesh for having got rid of militancy. He said the foundation of Bangladesh was laid on four principles enshrined in their constitution — secularism, socialism, nationalism and democracy — which made all the difference.

“On the contrary, we Pakistanis are infected with fundamentalism, ethnicity, sectarianism etc,” he said, and claimed that the largest number of Muslims were killed (by Muslims) in Pakistan.

He said that extremists were free to attack jails, shrines and schools; 900 schools were destroyed by Taliban within the last three years in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, depriving children of education.

Following the path of secularism did not mean deviating from the basic principles of Islam, he argued. “Secularism is the message of humanity; it is not against religion,” he concluded.

Shahriar Kabir informed the media that when the BNP and Jamaat-i-Islami were in power in Bangladesh, a vibrant civil society movement in the country took root because of which extremist forces suffered a humiliating defeat in the next elections. He said Bangladesh had succeeded in coming up with a viable education policy introducing uniform
curriculum in schools and madressahs. He was of the view that no government could fight against terrorism without the help of civil society.

With respect to Pakistan, he said he was optimistic as the people of the country were not fundamentalists.

Speaking about the importance of the forum, he said while religious parties had built their networks all over the world, those who spoke with reasoning did not know each other.

Senator Hasil Bizenjo praised the way Mr Kabir’s documentary highlighted a sensitive issue, and lamented that despite the fact that Pakistan was more affected by violence no such documentaries were made in the country. He remarked it was time that intellectuals of Pakistan came forward.

Artiste Sheema Kermani stated that there were two victims of fundamentalism — women and art & culture —, adding that “we could only move forward if we adopted secularism; otherwise there is little hope for Pakistan”. She complained that the media, especially the electronic media, did not give enough coverage to the activities that highlighted tolerant values.

Advocate Javed Qazi agreed with Shahriar Kabir that there should be a Sufi conference in Pakistan and told the media that it could be held in Karachi in winter.

Later, the host of the programme, Munazza Siddiqui, read out the names of the ad hoc committee of the forum.

 

[Desert Fox]

KARACHI, April 18: Secularism is not against religion; it is the message of humanity.

This was the gist of the speeches delivered by eminent speakers at the launch of the Pakistan chapter of the Forum of Secular Bangladesh and Trial of War Criminals of 1971 at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday.

Prior to the launch, a documentary Portraits of Jihad directed by distinguished Bangladeshi filmmaker Shahriar Kabir was screened. The subject of the film was the spread of religious fundamentalism in Bangladesh. It gave a detailed account of how extremist groups tried to shake the foundation of Bangladeshi society through terror, making their recruits acquire training abroad and target those who spoke against fundamentalism or upheld secular values.

It was a moving documentary that commenced with the footage of an attempt on the life of Shaikh Haseena Wajid in 2004 and ended on a positive note with Lalon Fakir’s mystical words.

Iqbal Haider, the president of the forum, complimented the people of Bangladesh for having got rid of militancy. He said the foundation of Bangladesh was laid on four principles enshrined in their constitution — secularism, socialism, nationalism and democracy — which made all the difference.

“On the contrary, we Pakistanis are infected with fundamentalism, ethnicity, sectarianism etc,” he said, and claimed that the largest number of Muslims were killed (by Muslims) in Pakistan.

He said that extremists were free to attack jails, shrines and schools; 900 schools were destroyed by Taliban within the last three years in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, depriving children of education.

Following the path of secularism did not mean deviating from the basic principles of Islam, he argued. “Secularism is the message of humanity; it is not against religion,” he concluded.

Shahriar Kabir informed the media that when the BNP and Jamaat-i-Islami were in power in Bangladesh, a vibrant civil society movement in the country took root because of which extremist forces suffered a humiliating defeat in the next elections. He said Bangladesh had succeeded in coming up with a viable education policy introducing uniform
curriculum in schools and madressahs. He was of the view that no government could fight against terrorism without the help of civil society.

With respect to Pakistan, he said he was optimistic as the people of the country were not fundamentalists.

Speaking about the importance of the forum, he said while religious parties had built their networks all over the world, those who spoke with reasoning did not know each other.

Senator Hasil Bizenjo praised the way Mr Kabir’s documentary highlighted a sensitive issue, and lamented that despite the fact that Pakistan was more affected by violence no such documentaries were made in the country. He remarked it was time that intellectuals of Pakistan came forward.

Artiste Sheema Kermani stated that there were two victims of fundamentalism — women and art & culture —, adding that “we could only move forward if we adopted secularism; otherwise there is little hope for Pakistan”. She complained that the media, especially the electronic media, did not give enough coverage to the activities that highlighted tolerant values.

Advocate Javed Qazi agreed with Shahriar Kabir that there should be a Sufi conference in Pakistan and told the media that it could be held in Karachi in winter.

Later, the host of the programme, Munazza Siddiqui, read out the names of the ad hoc committee of the forum.

Bangladesh is a homogeneous country, so there goes the ethnic violence out the window. Secondly, it was the secular leaderships of Pakistan (Musharraf) who made decisions which have caused extremism to flourish and intensify in the last decade.

Pakistan must implement limited secularism and not rid the state of religion completely, otherwise you are taking away Pakistan's sole reason for which it was created; to give Muslims a separate homeland from the hindu majority india.

 

[hunter_hunted]

I will distribute sweets on that day when bangladesh chapter will finally be put to stop from pakistan history . Elites r doing their best to remove the word Islamic from Pakistan. But by the grace of Allah they will not succeed. Secularism is just a myth just to deceive people from reality.

I have just a small question to these so called broad minded people.

Tell me can a muslim become the president of USA ??? Can shariah be implemented in usa n its minion states atleast for muslims. If not then simply STFU

 

[niaz]

According to the estimates of 1931 total population of the British India was about 278-million, out which 237-millions belong to the various Hindu sects and the Sikhs, Muslims about 36-million and about 5-million Christians. All other smaller communities such Parsis etc. totalled less than 0.5-milion.

Demand for separate homeland was based on the two nation theory which postulated that subcontinent Muslims and Hindus were two nations because of the influence of religion on living habits and cultural practices on things as basis as eating habits.

Underlying fear was that one man one vote system would create overwhelming Hindu majority resulting in a loss of cultural and religious identity of the Muslims. For example a scenario whereby construction of new mosques or a total ban on the slaughter cows or even on Azaan thru a bill passed in the Hindu majority parliament thru could not be ruled out.

Cessation of Bangla Desh proves beyond doubt that religion alone does not make a nation. Other things such as ethnicity and language are of equal importance. This is evident from the fact that as Afghanistan from the time of her birth in 1709 included 4 separate nations, Pashtun, Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazaras have been acknowledged. In Pakistan there are demands for Pakhtunistan, independent Baluchistan and Sindhu Desh. Does it imply that the Quaid was wrong?

Certainly not, the decision was correct at that point in time and we should not be judging it with 64 years hindsight. Besides, who could have forseen the advent of bigot Zia.

The statement by Honorable Hunter_Hunted

“Tell me can a Muslim become the president of USA ??? Can shariah be implemented in USA n its minion states at least for Muslims? If not then simply STFU” defies logic.

Based upon 2010 estimate, total Muslim population in the US (this includes Ahmadis) is about 2.6-million or about 0.8% of the population. Therefore the whole idea of imposing Sharia in the US is an absurd argument.

Despite all the noise that USA is an enemy of Islam, the facts are:

According to 2007 survey there are about 1,200 operating Mosques (about 50% Sunni) and about 90,000 Muslim immigrants get permanent resident status each year. There was no problem for the Muslims until the 9/11.


Claim by Honourable Desert Fox “.

Secondly, it was the secular leaderships of Pakistan (Musharraf) who made decisions which have caused extremism to flourish and intensify in the last decade.” Is historically incorrect.

Secatrianism has been flourishing in Pakistan since the miliatry coup of 1977. However,
there were no targeted sectarian attacks until SSP and Sepahe Mohammedia came into existence in the 1980s.

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi or LJ in particular is the main militant organization targeting Shias. It has operated in Pakistan since Sepah-e-Sehaba (SSP) activist Riaz Basra broke away from the SSP in 1996 and formed LJ. Riaz Basra gained notoriety when he orchestrated the assassination of Iranian diplomat Sadiq Ganji in Lahore. Basra was also involved in the killing of Iranian Air Force cadets visiting Pakistan in the early 1990s, when sectarian attacks on Shias in Pakistan were at their peak. Both acts occurred in the northern city of Rawalpindi and greatly disturbed contemporary Pakistan-Iran relations.

Coming back to the theme of secularism; I am against making Pakistan a secular state because it goes against the underlying principle of creation of Pakistan. However, there is a major difference between a theocratic state such as Wahhabi Saudi Arabia or Shia Iran and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as she existed before bigot Zia usurped power in 1979.

I am aware of the 19th century movement for Islamic Emirate by Syed Ahmad Shaheed and Shah Ismail Shaheed, but that was against the Sikh rule and probably had English Gov’t blessing. However, let us be clear, no religious party, whether Sunni, Wahhabi or Shia had any hand in the political struggle for separate country for the subcontinent Muslims called Pakistan.

Therefore religious extremists have no claim on Pakistan. All we need is the elimination of the poison of sectarianism and religious extremist philosophy of Wahhabis, Takfiris, Salafin etc.; and Pakistan would again revert to being a liberal Islamic country, that Pakistan was until hijacked by the forces that never wanted Pakistan anyway.

Recently I saw the video of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who was dead against Pakistan struggle. In my view, living in the company of people of different faiths such as Sikh & Hindus for centuries had generated respect of other's beliefs among the subcontinent Muslims. 64 years of living apart has finished this off and instead generated an intolerance of differing beliefs altogether. This is indeed a very dangerous weakness of national character and has resulted in many of the dire predictions of the Maulana Azad about what would happen to Pakistan coming true.

 

[truthseer]

KARACHI, April 18: Secularism is not against religion; it is the message of humanity.

Secularism means that religion shall have no bearing on the laws. It is not a humanitarian message since sectarian laws (see North Korea) can be brutal. Barefaced lie

This was the gist of the speeches delivered by eminent speakers at the launch of the Pakistan chapter of the Forum of Secular Bangladesh and Trial of War Criminals of 1971 at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday.

So?

Prior to the launch, a documentary Portraits of Jihad directed by distinguished Bangladeshi filmmaker Shahriar Kabir was screened. The subject of the film was the spread of religious fundamentalism in Bangladesh. It gave a detailed account of how extremist groups tried to shake the foundation of Bangladeshi society through terror, making their recruits acquire training abroad and target those who spoke against fundamentalism or upheld secular values.

Yawn! This is Bangladesh and note the word 'extremist'. There's a difference between religion and extremism

It was a moving documentary that commenced with the footage of an attempt on the life of Shaikh Haseena Wajid in 2004 and ended on a positive note with Lalon Fakir’s mystical words.

This has no bearing on its merits

Iqbal Haider, the president of the forum, complimented the people of Bangladesh for having got rid of militancy. He said the foundation of Bangladesh was laid on four principles enshrined in their constitution — secularism, socialism, nationalism and democracy — which made all the difference.

Wrong! Foundation of Bangladesh was based on separation from Pakistan and complete independence, not secularism.

“On the contrary, we Pakistanis are infected with fundamentalism, ethnicity, sectarianism etc,” he said, and claimed that the largest number of Muslims were killed (by Muslims) in Pakistan.

Self hate, might want to check a psychiatrist.

He said that extremists were free to attack jails, shrines and schools; 900 schools were destroyed by Taliban within the last three years in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, depriving children of education.

They are not free to attack these places. If found, they shall be jailed so utter nonsense.

Following the path of secularism did not mean deviating from the basic principles of Islam, he argued. “Secularism is the message of humanity; it is not against religion,” he concluded.

Again, this is stupid. Also, since Islam gave Shariat, any other system is against it

Shahriar Kabir informed the media that when the BNP and Jamaat-i-Islami were in power in Bangladesh, a vibrant civil society movement in the country took root because of which extremist forces suffered a humiliating defeat in the next elections. He said Bangladesh had succeeded in coming up with a viable education policy introducing uniform
curriculum in schools and madressahs. He was of the view that no government could fight against terrorism without the help of civil society.

Again, this has nothing to do with secularism

With respect to Pakistan, he said he was optimistic as the people of the country were not fundamentalists

We aren't. However, this does not equal secularism

Speaking about the importance of the forum, he said while religious parties had built their networks all over the world, those who spoke with reasoning did not know each other.

Right. Because only those without religion can speak with sense. What brilliant logic. What's next, can only those who are atheists vote?

Senator Hasil Bizenjo praised the way Mr Kabir’s documentary highlighted a sensitive issue, and lamented that despite the fact that Pakistan was more affected by violence no such documentaries were made in the country. He remarked it was time that intellectuals of Pakistan came forward.

Utter Nonsense once more. Intellectuals can be Muslim

Artiste Sheema Kermani stated that there were two victims of fundamentalism — women and art & culture —, adding that “we could only move forward if we adopted secularism; otherwise there is little hope for Pakistan”. She complained that the media, especially the electronic media, did not give enough coverage to the activities that highlighted tolerant values.

Right because calligraphy and other arts are attacked by fundamentalists? On a similar note, how many cinemas have been blown up? None or none?

Advocate Javed Qazi agreed with Shahriar Kabir that there should be a Sufi conference in Pakistan and told the media that it could be held in Karachi in winter.

Later, the host of the programme, Munazza Siddiqui, read out the names of the ad hoc committee of the forum.

So nothing of substance in the entire article except nonsense, huh?

 

[Zarvan]

KARACHI, April 18: Secularism is not against religion; it is the message of humanity.

This was the gist of the speeches delivered by eminent speakers at the launch of the Pakistan chapter of the Forum of Secular Bangladesh and Trial of War Criminals of 1971 at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday.

Prior to the launch, a documentary Portraits of Jihad directed by distinguished Bangladeshi filmmaker Shahriar Kabir was screened. The subject of the film was the spread of religious fundamentalism in Bangladesh. It gave a detailed account of how extremist groups tried to shake the foundation of Bangladeshi society through terror, making their recruits acquire training abroad and target those who spoke against fundamentalism or upheld secular values.

It was a moving documentary that commenced with the footage of an attempt on the life of Shaikh Haseena Wajid in 2004 and ended on a positive note with Lalon Fakir’s mystical words.

Iqbal Haider, the president of the forum, complimented the people of Bangladesh for having got rid of militancy. He said the foundation of Bangladesh was laid on four principles enshrined in their constitution — secularism, socialism, nationalism and democracy — which made all the difference.

“On the contrary, we Pakistanis are infected with fundamentalism, ethnicity, sectarianism etc,” he said, and claimed that the largest number of Muslims were killed (by Muslims) in Pakistan.

He said that extremists were free to attack jails, shrines and schools; 900 schools were destroyed by Taliban within the last three years in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, depriving children of education.

Following the path of secularism did not mean deviating from the basic principles of Islam, he argued. “Secularism is the message of humanity; it is not against religion,” he concluded.

Shahriar Kabir informed the media that when the BNP and Jamaat-i-Islami were in power in Bangladesh, a vibrant civil society movement in the country took root because of which extremist forces suffered a humiliating defeat in the next elections. He said Bangladesh had succeeded in coming up with a viable education policy introducing uniform
curriculum in schools and madressahs. He was of the view that no government could fight against terrorism without the help of civil society.

With respect to Pakistan, he said he was optimistic as the people of the country were not fundamentalists.

Speaking about the importance of the forum, he said while religious parties had built their networks all over the world, those who spoke with reasoning did not know each other.

Senator Hasil Bizenjo praised the way Mr Kabir’s documentary highlighted a sensitive issue, and lamented that despite the fact that Pakistan was more affected by violence no such documentaries were made in the country. He remarked it was time that intellectuals of Pakistan came forward.

Artiste Sheema Kermani stated that there were two victims of fundamentalism — women and art & culture —, adding that “we could only move forward if we adopted secularism; otherwise there is little hope for Pakistan”. She complained that the media, especially the electronic media, did not give enough coverage to the activities that highlighted tolerant values.

Advocate Javed Qazi agreed with Shahriar Kabir that there should be a Sufi conference in Pakistan and told the media that it could be held in Karachi in winter.

Later, the host of the programme, Munazza Siddiqui, read out the names of the ad hoc committee of the forum.

Secularism is the biggest lie and disaster for human world Islam has its own political social and economic system and it doesn't need the kufr of secularism which has already failed in Muslims world and showing signs of failure in the western world to and will soon fail completely their

 

[truthseer]

By the way, those advocating the system would do well to see the West who don't have secularism. The Republican Party of the US is the biggest example

 

[Android]

Secularism is the biggest lie and disaster for human world Islam has its own political social and economic system and it doesn't need the kufr of secularism which has already failed in Muslims world and showing signs of failure in the western world to and will soon fail completely their

have a look at turkey dude compare them with non secular muslim states

 

[Zarvan]

have a look at turkey dude compare them with non secular muslim states

Turkey has started progressing under those who are know to be Islamists and wait and see soon they will be replaced by more strict Islamists really very soon

 

[truthseer]

have a look at turkey dude compare them with non secular muslim states

Take a look at US and Bush along with the new highly popular Republican candidates.

 

[Gin ka Pakistan]

Questions ?

In a Secular country , should there be holidays for religious festivities ? if Bangladesh gives three days off for Eid then its not a secular country because it should do the same for all other religion's festivities of other religions. Why should a secular nation give days off only for one religion alone ?

 

[DRaisinHerald]

Actually, BDesh isn't secular

have a look at turkey dude compare them with non secular muslim states

Actually, funny thing is, Turkey was dying under secular leaders. It wasn't until Erdogan came that Turkey started to progress into what it is today.

 

[Zarvan]

Actually, BDesh isn't secular

Actually, funny thing is, Turkey was dying under secular leaders. It wasn't until Erdogan came that Turkey started to progress into what it is today.

also mostly in Turkey Minorities are being killed by secular terrorists

 

[Android]

Questions ?

In a Secular country , should there be holidays for religious festivities ? if Bangladesh gives three days off for Eid then its not a secular country because it should do the same for all other religion's festivities of other religions. Why should a secular nation give days off only for one religion alone ?

i visited bsngladesh once on durga puja and last day of puja is a national holiday there

 

[truthseer]

i visited bsngladesh once on durga puja and last day of puja is a national holiday there

So there should be holidays for Christmas, Eid, Pooja, Diwali, Yom Kippur, Easter, etc?