| February 12, 2002 | Tuesday | Ziqa’ad 28, 1422 |
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Musharraf’s visit to the US
Increase in power rates
Utility tariff hike
Belgium’s example
Larkana garden
Grievances of pensioners
Dental colleges in Karachi
Alternative energy sources
Gas bills
Backtracking again?
Admissions to Peshawar colleges
WITH reference to the article “Building bridges of inter-faith friendship” (Jan 20) by George Carey and Zaki Badawi, I would like to compliment the authors for contributing to the discourse on such an important subject.
This will, hopefully, add to the efforts already being made by many eminent leaders of different faiths, including Muslims, in the West.
Some such dialogues had been held some years back, for example one in London (around nine world faith representatives participating) and another last year, in Amman (around 15 faith representatives participating). This is, in my understanding, a constructive and highly desirable course to adopt in today’s world.
Muslims should be actively participating, if not actually initiating inter-faith dialogues around the globe, and more specifically in Pakistan. The universalistic postulates and postures of Islam, in fact, enable us to integrate the humanity more widely. If anybody has doubts about this pluralistic approach of the Quran, he or she must refer to the following (and many similar) verse(s) of the Quran.
The verse says, “... if God had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His Plan is) to test you in what He hath given you; so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to God; it is He who will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute”. (The Quran, translated by A. Yousuf Ali; Sura A-Maa’idah: 51). The verse seems to give us a very deep message, if we are to reflect over it.
One of the key messages of the authors is “if we are to live together with a well-informed and sympathetic understanding of each other there is clearly a crucial educational role for those who know our tradition well and can interpret them in today’s world”. The key is to interpret our history in a way that rings forth that part of the divine message, which has more universal appeal.
I strongly believe that as Muslims if we expect others to understand tradition better, then the need is make an effort to understand other faiths and cultures in a way that we would like others to study our faith.
Our teachers, preachers, writers, and intellectuals need to understand other faiths and cultures from a broader perspective than a narrower angle, to be able to appreciate the diversity of what I call the human experience of the transcendence and mundane, sacred and secular. We cannot understand self without the proper recognition and understanding of the “other”.
Similarly, the government, as well as the private institutions, should make sincere and sustained efforts to encourage pluralism among their employees, by bringing diversified groups into a harmonious whole by highlighting what binds, rather than what divides, whether in terms of faiths or cultures, without necessarily forsaking identities, sectarian or communal.
JAN-E-ALAM KHAKI
Karachi
EVERYBODY will be looking forward to the outcome of President Musharraf’s visit to the US. Pakistan became the front line state in the war against terrorism and had provided all the support, not only to the US but to its allies as well. Time has come for Washington to reciprocate Pakistan’s response to their call.
India has put its forces along the borders. But, in spite of the gravity of the situation, the US wants Pakistan to resume talks with India on the core issue of Kashmir. This issue has been discussed by Pakistan with India many times at various levels but without any result. The US must now act as a mediator between Pakistan and India, as without this the Kashmir issue would remain unresolved. If the US wants peace in South Asia, mediation is a must.
During his forthcoming visit to Washington, the President is also requested to discuss the policies of the US Customs Service as Pakistani exporters are facing great difficulties in getting the goods cleared within the specified period of time. This has let down Pakistani exporters who are suffering heavy losses.
The time has come for the American entrepreneurs to make investments in Pakistan. After a ban on the extremist organizations, the climate here has become more favourable for foreign investment. US economic aid and investments would bring the two countries much closer to each other.
President Musharraf should also take up again the matter of Pakistanis detained in various US jails after the September 11 attacks. As a gesture of goodwill, these detained persons should be released at the earliest by the US law enforcement agencies.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi