KARACHI: Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar warned the Pakistan Parliament on Tuesday [Feb 22] that infringement on one fundamental human right led to the violation of the other and finally to fascism. Public opinion could not be curbed by force. [He] was opposing the resolution demanding a ban on communal organisations engaged in political activities. The resolution was moved by Professor Rajkumar Chakravarty (Congress) and was withdrawn after a 75-minute debate.

Professor Chakravarty and Mr B. K. Dutta … pleaded that Muslim League should give up its communal character. They feared that allowed to continue in its present form it would turn Pakistan into a theocracy. To confuse theocracy with an Islamic State was ignorance of political science, Dr I.H. Qureshi challenged. Priesthood was the prerequisite for a theocracy and Islam did not recognise any priesthood.

“To ask that Pakistan should not be an Islamic State is asking for the impossible.” If a section of the people wanted a particular set of laws for themselves allowing others to live according to the tenets of their own religion what objection could be raised against such a demand, he added.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Trump’s folly
Updated 13 Feb, 2025

Trump’s folly

This latest pronouncement only reinforces the fears of those who see the plan as a blueprint for ethnic cleansing.
Corruption ranking
13 Feb, 2025

Corruption ranking

IT comes as little surprise. Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2024, unveiled on...
Support from remittances
13 Feb, 2025

Support from remittances

EVEN though workers’ remittances dipped, albeit negligibly, in January on a month-over-month basis, the earnings...
Ill omens
Updated 12 Feb, 2025

Ill omens

One wonders whether institutional leadership realises the long-term ramifications of the ongoing "remaking" of judiciary.
Sunken dreams
12 Feb, 2025

Sunken dreams

ANOTHER tragedy has struck Pakistani migrants seeking a better future. A boat capsizing off the Libyan coast has ...
Hate in India
12 Feb, 2025

Hate in India

HISTORY shows that rulers use hate speech to provoke hate crimes and ‘othering’ among communities. Indian Prime...