A close look at blasphemy law

THE article ‘What is blasphemy?’ (July 26) by Ayaz Amir makes interesting reading. His contrivance at diluting the concept of blasphemy by stuffing it with every delinquent behaviour, immoral attitude and criminal act might not have crowned with success, yet it proves how adept he could be, if he so chooses, in the jugglery of words and art of gimmickry.

However, it eludes comprehension why an irresponsible, reprehensible and malicious act which injures the most delicate and innermost susceptibilities of billions of human beings be not viewed as a heinous crime against humanity and a gross violation of human rights calling for the most severe punishment.

Could anyone of those who clamour for the abolition of the law of blasphemy deny that such a demand amounts to nothing less than having a free licence to use derogatory, language against the Prophet of Islam and a free hand to desecrate and commit sacrilege against what the Muslims the world over hold as sacred and holy and dearer than life?

Could this irresponsible, rather inhuman demand be justified by any moral principle or legal norm?

One is perfectly free to choose his religion but does the freedom to choose a particular religion also entail a right to calumniate, denigrate, vilify and besmirch others’ religion and religious personalities?

To say that the law of blasphemy is being misused hence it must be abolished is totally devoid of reason and sense.

Which of the laws is not capable of or actually being misused? Does it mean that the entire book of statutes be washed off? Is not this situation a direct outcome of a corrupt-to-the core legal system, an outdated, unjust, stinking remnant and a rotten vestige of British imperialism which is so dear to our hearts that even after more than half a century we are still sticking to it?

Why should the law of blasphemy be made responsible for the deadly ramifications of this system?

DR FAZLUR RAHMAN

Director, Islamic Guidance Trust

Karachi

I READ the article, ‘What is blasphemy?’ by Ayaz Amir (July 26) and found that we still have people among us who know how to say things.

Religion being my subject, I can say the Holy Quran contains the best of what man needs as guidance from his God. But the Muslims are still entertaining the old versions of interpretation. This is why the pundits of our religion have not appreciated the points of Ayaz Amir in his article, although he is both convincing and explicit in his style.

Ayaz Amir is right when he says: For argument’s sake let us take the worst case scenario: that some benighted soul has actually burnt a page or two of the Holy Quran or uttered sacrilegious words against God or His Prophet, (peace be upon him). Clearly, no man in his right senses would do such a thing, certainly not in Pakistan where religious sensitivities run high. But still if something of the sort is done, what does the perpetrator deserve? Our compassion and a psychiatric examination or a death sentence?

He justly concludes that the trouble is that over the years bigotry and intolerance have made such deep inroads into our society that all three parties in the blasphemy cycle — complainant, police officer, judge — think that they are doing the right thing, and also earning divine favour into the bargain, when they are pressing charges under this law.

This is zeal sanctioned by law and clothed in self-righteousness.

PROF RAFIQ MUHAMMAD

Lahore

Political kickbacks

ARDESHIR Cowasjee’s revelation (‘We never learn’, Aug 4) about MQM’s leader and founder Altaf Hussain, implying that he accepted five million rupees from Yusuf Haroon, is amazing. The moralistic codes and protocols of professional journalism require a non-bohemian mindset while one is writing on someone. He or she who displays an investigative tendency towards journalism must also know the person about whom the writer intends to write. Mr Cowasjee has done such in the past so he could have done it this time, as well.

It is mentioned in his column that Yusuf Haroon received Rs5 million from the ISI for Mr Altaf Hussain, but nowhere does the columnist conclude whether the amount was received by the latter. However, he tries to picture a scenario in which readers are deceived into believing that the amount is really paid to the third party.

First of all, let me inform readers that in the art of political kickbacks, or in further polluting an already polluted rightist politician fiscally, the intelligence community never trusts a third party, especially a politician. Cash flows from one hand to another, to pay to another, simply don’t exist in the codes and ethics of the secret world. In the foggy deals, one is either to receive it directly or forget the whole deal. That is why those heavy weights whose names were mentioned by Mr Cowasjee, instead, could simply put their own front men for the fund receiving.

The long list of the rightist politicians who received kickbacks from the intelligence community was first brought to the public notice in 1994 by Gen Babar, an intolerant operator of Operation Clean Up against the MQM, in those days. Is it not surprising, when all sorts of charges were being made against the MQM in those days, why accusation of such kickbacks were not made against Mr Altaf Hussain? Amongst that list, there was a mention of one former parliamentarian from Punjab who, too, bore the name of Altaf Hussain. Some media splashed the name without mentioning his “legislatorship”. The MQM denied it immediately.

Here I also wish to mention an episode in which an envoy visited MQM’s Azizabad office in the early nineties with a heavy bag. Mr Altaf Hussain politely refused to accept it. He was the only politician who rejected such an offer.

The MQM in categorical terms denies receiving any illegal amount, kickbacks directly or indirectly for its founder and leader Altaf Hussain or any of the then MQMs senior leaders, from or through any intelligence community or its member or through a third party. Involving Mr Altaf Hussain amongst the vast and defamed list of rightist politicians and religious leaders at this time by Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee is nothing but regrettable propaganda aimed at scandalmongering when less than two months are left to the October elections.

KUNWAR KHALID YUNUS

Karachi

Buried under garbage mountains

EVER since the government has made stringent security arrangements around the foreign consulates in Block 5, Clifton, the streets and roads of the area have been buried under mountains of uncollected garbage.

The playground, adjacent to the Rustum Bagh, in our area has become a huge dump of garbage as the residents have been disposing of all their rubbish into it. On inquiry, it transpired that the municipal officials were running short of manpower to lift the garbage.

We do pay all the taxes but have been made to buy electricity and water besides arranging our own security. Should we now arrange garbage lifting by ourselves also? What the Nazimeen and councillors are supposed to do? I urge the Nazim of our area to visit his constituency if he could spare some time from his holidays abroad.

We had been told by some authority that funds had been released for the beautification of the city. All around us are nothing else but thousands of plastic bags and mounds of other rubbish which are an open invitation to diseases and epidemics.

I appeal to the authorities to take an immediate action and not to turn a blind eye towards the matter of public health and hygiene.

AYISHA F. DOSSA

Karachi

Umrah policy

I WANT to apprise the concerned authorities of the hardships being faced by the pilgrims after the introduction of new Umrah policy.

Saudi tour firms, operating through their partners in Pakistan, have not come up to their expectations because of the poor handling of passengers, inefficiency in fulfilling accommodation and transport requirements and a general apathy of their staff who leave pilgrims in the lurch as they either never turn up at Jeddah airport to receive them or abandon them shortly after collecting their return tickets.

When the pilgrims manage to reach hotels at Makkah, to their utter disappointment there is no reservation for them and they have to bargain a new deal for getting a shelter. Middle class pilgrims have to suffer the most due to non-availability of extra funds at their disposal in case of the violation of agreement by their host company. “Since these companies, too, regulate the tour schedule, pilgrims have no choice to stay in Makkah or Madina for as many days as desired by them within the seven or 15 days’ package.

The new policy may be revised.

ONE CONCERNED

Lahore

Glory of the East

THE bomb blasts, ethnic violence and brutal murders of doctors, non-Muslims and foreigners are acts utterly cruel and deplorable.

Our country was created by Quaid-i-Azam and other great leaders through the unity and long drawn out struggle against the prejudiced alliance of the Hindus and British rulers.

The likes of our great leaders this country has not seen in the past 55 years. The general concept of tolerance and accommodation is amply manifested in Islamic history and even on the flag of Pakistan. Is this the Pakistan that Allama Iqbal had dreamt of and Mohammad Ali Jinnah had worked so hard to bring to reality?

I also fail to understand the symbols of ‘Faith, Unity and Discipline’, the three swords erected by Z. A. Bhutto. Do swords represent these noble attributes or merely his party’s election symbol?

Over a period of time, ironically, Karachi, the gateway to Pakistan, has come to be regarded as one of the most dangerous spots in the world. Sir Charles Napier, the first British Governor of Sindh had lovingly described Karachi: “thou shalt yet be the glory of the East.”

There is an important lesson to be learnt from what Genghis Khan advised his children and grandchildren on his deathbed. He gave each an arrow, and told them to break it. “That is what will happen to you if you try to go through this life alone,” he said.

However, despite its strifes, bomb blasts, heat and dust, etc., Karachi remains for me the dearest city in the world. There is no landing-by-night more beautiful than Karachi’s. May its lights and hustle bustle live on forever.

DR ZEBA H HAFEEZ

Karachi

Magic word

MY uncle is a resident of Defence Housing Authority (DHA). A couple of weeks ago, amid the routine power failure, he made a number of calls to the KESC complaint centre for the restoration of power.

As usual, no positive response was given by those assigned to remove faults and restore electric supply.

Fed up with their indifferent attitude, my uncle finally called up the centre and introduced himself as an army major. The magic word worked as the response was excellent.

Over the next 15 minutes, my uncle received three telephone calls from the KESC centre updating him about the location the trouble-shooters had reached on their way to the major’s house.

Within half-an-hour, the power was restored but only to my uncle’s residence.

Should I express my gratitude or deplore the discrimination quite evident in the case? I am sure, similar is the attitude of all other departments and government officials.

AMNA KALEEM

Karachi

Pakistani winner

I SALUTE Haider Ali for winning the first gold medal for Pakistan in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, by defeating his Indian rival, Som Bahadur Pun.

No doubt this great victory was the solo effort of the player at an international competition.

I think the sports ministry in India, headed by Uma Bharti, fearing a defeat, had prevented its cricket team from playing against Pakistan.

I advise Indian government to keep sports and politics separate and let all the sports teams of both the sides to compete against each other.

ENGR. AAMIR A SALARIA

St. Louis, USA

Improving things in Wapda

THE President’s favour to Wapda’s move to increase electricity rates by 19 paisa per unit is disappointing. It seems that the actual increase, together with the 400 per cent surcharge already there, would come to 99 paisa per unit.

For commercial and industrial consumers, the increase would be perhaps much higher. The move would ultimately affect prices of all other commodities, especially the consumer goods.

The government itself owes more than Rs24 billion to Wapda, according to press reports as it has not paid for electricity bills for many years. Other big defaulters and thieves appeared to be feudal lords who create law and order problem when Wapda tries to recover its dues or install a meter and remove hooks from power conduits. They use electricity worth Rs12 billion a year.

Power theft in urban areas also cost Wapda dearly due to Kunda fixing and tampering with meters.

The facts about power theft have come to light many years ago but Wapda is adjusting the losses by increasing power rates instead of controlling the theft and recovering its dues. The ultimate sufferers have been those who pay their bills regularly and use electricity honestly.

In any case, increasing burden on honest consumers is not justified. I appeal to the government to reconsider its decision. If an increase in power rates is inevitable, the government should cut the surcharge.

SHAH N. KHAN

A consumer

Women’s rights

THE issue of women’s rights has vigorously come to fore following the sensational stories of victims in Meerwala and Mianwali events recently.

In order to curb such heinous crimes against women effectively, I suggest that a new compulsory subject “Women’s Rights” should be introduced in primary schools. The course should cover women’s rights under the Shariah and the Constitution of Pakistan.

IJAZ-UL-HAQUE

Bethlehem, USA

Punishment

THIS is with reference to the letter ‘Shoaib Akhtar’s ingratitude’ (Aug 3) in which the author has suggested suspension of Shoaib Akhtar for not agreeing to represent Pakistan.

Why has a similar action against Abdul Razzaq and Saqlain Mushtaq not been suggested? They, too, had refused to play for Pakistan in the recent one-day tourney.

TARIQ RAZA

Jubail, Saudi Arabia

Research productivity

AFTER having read some letters and news items in July 9 and 21 issues of Dawn I discussed the Research Productivity Allowance (RPA) with many people.

The RPA is indeed appreciable as long as it is based on a formula of international recognition called the ‘impact factor’. This, perhaps, confirms and verifies that a person is really a scientist.

Introduction of impact factor in Pakistan, which appears to be unbiased and devoid of favouritism, has revealed for the first time the actual number of scientists in the country.

However, it may have created some heart burning among those who are awfully busy visiting libraries in search of practical application of research and those who are busy mixing, filling, packing and selling different products and avoid libraries and research organizations.

They have been generating huge revenues for to their organizations.

In my opinion these people should be considered equally for they strive hard to help their organizations survive in the absence of sufficient funds.

I sincerely hope that Pakistan Council for Science and Technology would device a local formula for their benefit, too.

DR M QUDRAT-E-KHUDA

Karachi

Islamic financial system

THIS is in response to Amin Dawood Saleh’s article (Aug 5). He has criticized the proponents of the Islamic financial system and declared the system incompatible with the prevailing economic factors, especially the element of inflation.

I would request the writer to look into the following basic tenets of the Islamic financial system and see if it provides a solution to the problems highlighted by him in his article:

The Islamic financial system essentially favours equity investments. This system is structured in such a way that financing or lending is always matched with creation of real assets. Equity investment ensures that the investor shares the risk of variation in earnings.

Thus, in a true Islamic financial system, money supply or credit supply is always matched with supply (production) of real goods. As inflation is always caused by the mismatch between real assets production and money supply, inflation in itself becomes zero when the supply of assets is matched perfectly with the money supply.

This eliminates the need to incorporate a ‘guaranteed’ rate of return to the investor to keep his purchasing power intact over the lending period. Moreover, asset creation will improve the supply of goods, thereby reducing the inflation rate. The insignificant inflation rate and lower cost of bank deposits will automatically lower the cost of production and further reduce the inflationary pressure.

This virtuous cycle will ultimately improve employment rates and incomes in the long-run, thereby preserving or enhancing the purchasing power parity.

Islamic financial system does not recognize money as capital, therefore, money cannot earn a profit on itself. The present financial system sees money as capital itself and guarantees a return on it, thereby increasing the income gap between the poor and the rich. Wealth begets wealth, therefore, the present system allows for the rich becoming richer, and the poor getting poorer.

It is imperative that money should be seen as a medium of exchange and nothing else.

The present financial system is highly unstable and susceptible to collapse at any time mainly due to the predominance of speculation in the majority of monetary transactions.

The Islamic system forbids speculation by declaring it ‘gambling’. The stock exchanges of any country are in no way truly indicative of the real wealth creation in any economy as they are driven mostly by speculation rather than economy or company fundamentals.

The concept of institutionalization of Zakat in tandem with equity-based financing and non-guaranteed returns tends to curb the inequitable distribution of income and allows for better social development at all levels.

SITARA AKRAM

Lahore