The Hasba
Bill
By Col. Riaz Jafri
(Retd.)
Westridge
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
The Hasba Bill introduced by the MMA in the NWFP
assembly has stirred a big commotion from the
opposition parties and the Human Rights activists,
who have termed it undemocratic, unconstitutional,
inhumane and even unIslamic.
Throwing away of the copies of the bill by some
of the opposition members on the assembly floor
has been given an altogether different twist by
the MMA, as they have equated the act to desecrating
the holy name of the Prophet (PBUH) which was
written in the text of the bill. This is typical
of our ulema who always give a religious color
to an otherwise innocent act to their advantage
by playing upon the sentiments of the innocent
and naïve people.
Anything said against their version of the governance
is declared by them as un-Islamic. The word ‘secular’
is an enigma to them which they wrongly interpret
as ‘La Deeniat’, instead of its real
meaning of being ‘non monastic’ –
above the religion or not concerned by the religion,
which is not being anti-religion.
Similarly any enlightened moderation is wicked
and sinful to them. Any advancement in education,
medicine or living style is a fulfillment of the
American agenda to them. They are imperceptibly
and gradually nibbling away at the progress and
advancement of the Pakistani nation in the name
of religion. They are making inroads leading us
all to the medieval age and the era of bows and
arrows. Who has given them this authority to push
us back into the 6th century when other nations
today are reaching beyond space and exploring
the moon and the planet Mars?
Introduction of the Hasba Bill at this juncture
is yet another ploy of theirs to hoodwink the
innocent masses into voting for them in the coming
LG elections, as they had exploited their election
symbol ‘Book” in the last election
symbolizing it, Tauba Naoozo Billah, with the
Holy Qur’an. Had they not performed an act
of blasphemy by doing so and desecrated the Holy
Book then? It’s time someone stopped them
from playing with the sentiments of the innocent
masses every now and then.
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