KARACHI, Aug 5: Promulgation of Shariat in Muslim countries through an executive order would generate contradictions in society and lead to decadence.

This was contended by Dr Manzoor Ahmad during the third Syed Muhammad Taqi memorial lecture on Tuesday.

He said that no religion could be spread through legislation but by examples set by individuals of any society. He warned that if economic uplift and population control programme was not implemented, Muslims would be subjected to prolonged decadence and backwardness. Through economic and industrial developments only, the middle class could be created on which the foundations of a democratic civil society could be laid, he said.

Dr Manzoor regretted that all such ingredients were missing from society at present. He called upon the Muslim countries to spend their resources for collective good, because alone they could not withstand the pressures of the western economy and other supremacy.

He also called upon Muslim countries to practice democracy in letter and spirit, as enshrined in the religion.