THERE is a debate going on in your paper on the KLF coverage. But an important outcome has been ignored.

Before Pakistan, Muslims of India lagged behind in such vital fields as literacy, especially science and technology. The Hindus who were ahead in this field would continue to dominate in these areas considering the Muslim preference for religious knowledge over the secular. The result was that we had no effective presence in the Indian public administration and management, commerce, industry and financial sector.

Pakistan’s emergence produced leading figures in all such vital spheres of human activity.

Lo and behold! Pakistan produced nuclear scientists, financial experts, bankers, industrialists, legal brains, and others with the result that Pakistan industrialised so rapidly that countries asked for our five-year plans. We exploded a nuclear device to the surprise of all.

The unwelcome clash between religious knowledge and science has only produced terrorists instead of beneficial citizens. We are living in an era when mankind is reaching out to the moon, Mars, etc. Rumours in the press say the US is already preparing to establish a human colony on Mars.

May God shower all His blessings on Sir Syed Ahmed Khan whose vision and courage literally pushed the Indian Muslim into the mainstream of the educated comity.

F.H. Ansari

Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2017