pakistanisecularist1

pakistanisecularist1

Joined Member # 1295575
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Big difference... Saudi Arabia's law is for everywhere on everyone... The french law is only for state schools and thus an element of choice is maintained... In any event... I agree with the EU's ruling... furthermore as a Muslim I must add that the only way you will keep the fundamentalist genie in the bottle is by making such laws... Please refer to my previous post.

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I will add one thing to this conversation... there is no denying that there is a special sense of unity and belonging when it comes to the Muslim peoples'... the term 'Muslim' extends beyond what we understand of 'Christian'.... in many ways being a Muslim is synonymous to being a Jew... it denotes ethnic identity almost. As with Israel, in Pakistan it was the fear of the Muslim minority that led to the creation of the state... I don't deny the

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Baker street... This means that anyone can assume anything and declare that to be part of their religious belief... Would you then be willing to allow polygamy because it is there in Islam ? The fact of the matter is that these things are not integral to religious worship as such. If France feels that the Burqahs and Hijabs are counterproductive of national development and creates differences between citizens then I think they h

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Dear Baker street ... Why do you assume that Burqah is part of the religious belief for the Islamic people. It is not part of any religious beliefs for the Islamic people... I am afraid this is the drama of the Mullahs. and nothing else sadly. My mother, wife , cousins have never observed Purdah, Burqah or Hijab... nor have any of my personal friends... yet no one has ever accused them of being bad muslims out here in Pakistan. <

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Secularism exists in the world in two forms, as an ideology and as a state principle. As a state principle it is more or less present in all modern nation states of the world, including USA, India and to a lesser extent even in Pakistan, which was founded as a secular state but since has defined itself as an Islamic Republic. Secularism as a state principle means non-

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Pakistani History books have made the grave error of not according the high place to Tilak and Gokhale that their achievements merit. They are mentioned in passing, as Jinnah's seniors in the Congress Party but nothing more. Indeed, Jinnah was most influenced by these two men, imbibing idealism and nationalism from them. His fondest hope had been of becoming a 'M

2 Replies 5,366 Views

In 1967 Ghulam Abbas, arguably Pakistan’s finest short story writer, wrote a story called ‘Hotel Mohenjodaro’, that never ceases to amaze me. It was almost as if Ghulam Abbas had a crystal ball. Looking into it he saw clearly into the future and wrote what we are experiencing today. Abbas sets the scene in Pakistan’s future in the closing years of the 20th century, in

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Sadly there is a disturbing trend amongst Indian Pseudo-Intellectuals (as opposed to the real Indian intellectuals who are known for their integrity and scholarship) and politicians to concoct a view of Pakistan which has no roots in objective reality. Whereas we Pakistanis are lucky that there are people like Khushwant Singh, M J Akbar, Kuldip Nayyar and Raj Mohan Ga

1 Replies 3,073 Views

Bill Oreilly, that hawkish blabbermouth host of the `Oreilly Factor` aired on the not so fair and balanced `Fox News`, once arrogantly exclaimed `Who would wanna go to Lahore for vacation`. Obviously he hasn`t been to Lahore on the Basant Night for had he been there, he would know that any person with half a brain would prefer Lahore to that artificial parad

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"No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you. We are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of their houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable conditions in which our women have to live." -- Mohammad Ali Jinnah 1944 (Founder of Pakist

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The famous `Concordat` was the agreement between Napoleon and the Pope of the Catholic Church by the virtue of which the state religion of France was declared to be `Roman Catholicism`. Even after Napoleon`s eventual exile and abdication, France was unable to shake off this part of Napoleon`s legacy. Clerics continued to be strong, and all spheres of public life in Fr

0 Replies 2,361 Views

In a recent article on chowk, F R Khan has asked the question as to what system of governance is better suited for Pakistan, i.e. Presidential or Parliamentary democracy. He asserts that Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s decision to opt for the office of Governor General had necessitated a presidential form of Government. However he fails to mention that the country’s first provi

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Pakistani historians ignore him because he was too modern, secular and liberal for them, and the Indians ignore him because he was Muslim League’s brightest young super star. Mian Iftikharuddin is a forgotten name from our history. Pakistani historians ignore him because he was too modern, secular and liberal for them, and the Indians ignore him becau

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Once again Lahore is getting ready to enter into its most festive, cultural and colorful month. February will kick off with the Muslim festival of Bari Eid, and then Lahore will celebrate Basant, Jashn-e-Baharan, Horse and Cattle show, and Mela Chiraghan. It seems however that Basant has suddenly over night become controversial for those in the city who are the self s

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I have chosen this as a welcome article because it tells you where I am coming from. I am a Pakistani and a Muslim... I believe in separation of church and state. Ever since, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk abolished the Khilafat and separated Church from state, a great debate has raged in the Islamic world. Perhaps no where is it more intensely debated than in Pakistan, where Jinna

0 Replies 1,046 Views