Strange Secularism Of Pakistan People’S Party

 time that when People’s party will face this situation
            Rehman Malik recently announcedand how they will react. Now it is a time of practical
that in the second round of negotiations betweentest for People’s Party.
government and Tanzeem-ul-Madaris, the two sides      Today if we are facing this menace of
are agreed upon certain points. Following are thoseterrorism, one of the reasons is that our religious
points.Madaris have also played a role in it. But sorry to say
 that Peoples Party just in second round of negotiations,
1)                  Madrisa Regulatoryproved to be a wall of sand. How the government can
authority will be under ministry of education.assure that no foreigner will take admission without
2)                  Separate boards willregistration? The government has convinced the
be established for five religious sects.owners and organizers for audit but what about
3)                  All the Madaris willforeign funding? And it is worth mentioning here that in
have to affiliate with any one of the boards.our government budget there is no allocation of funds
4)                  All these boards willfor religious Madaris. Funds from government side can
follow the same course of study.stop the way of foreign funds. Same course of study
5)                  An audit of Madarisis not the solution of eradication of sectarianism but it is
will be compulsory.the explanation of material that encourages
6)                  Foreign studentssectarianism. Comparative study of religions and
without registration will not be admitted to Madaris.“Fiqa” is the main cause of hatred towards
 other sects and religions.  
Before discussing the flaws in this agreement it is      The next illogical decision is of establishing
important to examine the policy of People’s partyseparate boards for different sects on sectarian basis.
regarding sectarianism, terrorism and fundamentalism.What was the reason to make sectarian boards and
People’s Party apart from their slogan of Roti,the then affiliating them to ministry of education? It
Kaprha and Makan, also claim to establish liberal andmeans that government supports sectarian divisions
progressive society in Pakistan. Peoples’ Party alsoeven at educational level. People’s party has
wishes to be recognized as secular political power onbowed its head and they admit that sectarianism is
international level. That’s why People’s Party isreality of our society that can not be eradicated.
against fundamentalism, sectarianism and terrorism.      If scheme of study is same so is there any
It is also a fact that all the fundamentalists involved inneed for separate boards on the basis of sects?
terrorism are against People’s Party. But stillMoreover People’s Party has admitted the
People’s Party in the presence of all these threats,hegemony of these religious pundits on the people of
is active and struggling parallel to these forces. But thePakistan. Furthermore any Madrisa not affiliated with
question is that is it enough that we have such aone of these boards can not claim to be part of
secular party in our system? Will People’s Party bereligious education sector. Means that religious
able to eradicate ignorance, religious suffocation, andeducation and its explanation will only be authentic if it
get the society free of religious imperialism of theseis approved by these sectarian boards. Isn’t it
sectarian forces?mean domination of sectarian pundits on religion?
            For this tuff task People’s      The government has classified these boards
Party must play such a role that the desperate peoplein five categories. The nation is well aware about four
of Pakistan can feel it. Pakistani nation is fed up to livesects that is Barelvi, Deobundi, Ahl-e-Hadis and Shia.
in this world of political slogans and fantasies. The timeNow what about fifth sect? Is it Jamat-e-Islami? If it is
has given People’s party a chance to accomplishJamat-e-Islami so the nation must com to know that
this task and when Pakistani nation will evaluateJamat-e-Islami is a sect not a political party.
People’s party, they will look at the practical steps      People’s Party must try to establish
in this direction. We confess that People’s Party isMadrisa education on such pattern that the hegemony
facing severe crises and up till now they areof sectarian classes over religious education can be
somehow successful. But we were waiting for thisbrought to an end.