These are not just our core principles, but the very raison-d’etre of our nation state!
As per the dream of our founding father, ours was a heterogeneous, multi-cultural multi-ethnic nation where people of different faiths, castes, sects and creeds were equally welcome … A country created not not just for Muslims to practice their faith but “all’ the peoples who populated East and West Pakistan.
Sadly, this ‘core’ concept is lost on our current politicians whose very rhetoric propagates and promotes sectarianism. We are living in very dangerous times indeed- a time when minority rights are trampled on and yet none of us have the courage, the sheer guts to come out on the street and protest this blatant and often out rightly bloody discrimination.
Therefore, when Imran Khan announced that he was going to appoint Atif Mian as his finance minister when/if he came into power, I was ecstatic, especially because Qadianis are one minority sect that have endured the most horrific biases ever endured. What a wonderful idea to appoint someone to a sought after post purely on merit, overlooking his religious leanings. For those who are un-aware, Atif Mian is among the top 25 economists in the world and all the top financial institutes and outlets of the world value his opinion. And then a few days later the shoe dropped… when in an interview he, in not so many words took his previous appointment back. The idiotic assumption by the interviewer that we expats have an issue with his appointment should have been investigated because frankly speaking none of us believe along sectarian lines. What would have also been investigated, as suggested by the same moronic interviewer is that, whether Atif Mian had ever propagated against the Prophet Muhammed (SAW)- evidence of which I have not been able to find.
If it is Prophetic tradition that Imran Khan wants to emulate, as he stated in his interview then may be he needs to start with his (SAW) mercy, tolerance and compassion, especially towards the non-Muslims and in particular the non-believers. Imran khan should learn from the Seerah of the beloved (SAW) in particular Sahih Bukhari, Tradition Number 1311, which reports that as a funeral of a Jew passed before Prophet Muhammad [peace and blessings be upon him], as a sign of respect, stood up. In doing this, he showed respect and shared in the feeling of sorrow with the Jewish family and community. “Why did you stand up for a Jewish funeral?” he was asked. The Prophet replied: “Is it not a human soul?”
If he wants to imitate his (SAW) rule over the people of Makkah and Medina, Imran Khan must pay special attention to the period during and following the fatah of Makkah. What better example of that would be then when Muhammed (PBUH) decided to return to Mecca, his birthplace? He assembled an army of 10,000 and marched towards Mecca. On the way to Mecca, he saw a female dog that had given birth to a litter of pups. Afraid that the army would be bothersome to the mother and her pups, Muhammed (PBUH) assigned one of his men to stand guard over them.
Is that not compassion?
Another example is that of Sa’ad, a companion of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), who was the standard bearer for the Muslim army on the way to Mecca and started chanting that this was ‘a day of war, sanctuary no more’. He was promptly removed from his position in order to make a point about the compassionate nature not just of that day but the Islamic faith as a whole.. This same sentiment he showed towards the Meccans, who had persecuted him and his followers mercilessly for decades, by declaring a general amnesty for all. When he (SAW) entered Makkah, he went forth with absolute humility- his head bowed low. When he entered the city, the Meccans feared retribution because of their cruelty, instead the Prophet cited the example of the Prophet Yusuf (May Allah be pleased with him) who had compassion and forgave his brothers that had tried to kill him (A.S). In like manner, the Prophet Muhammed practiced compassion with his enemies by giving even the worst of them sanctuary (Amaan).
Avoiding bloodshed in Mecca, creating order, establishing an archetype for forgiveness, turning away from the animalistic nature of humans that the angels had predicted- was that not the ultimate example of compassion, of mercy, of forgiveness, of human dignity? As God says in the Quran, “Indeed we have dignified the son of Adam”
“You”, Mr. Khan, quote my beloved Prophet (SAW) yet you have learned nothing from the mercy that he (SAW) was. “You” claim to be standing for truth- then stand for everyone’s truth not that of the select few. Part and parcel of democracy is tolerance and religious freedom, neither of which is mutually exclusive. In a nation rife with bigotry and intolerance, all it takes is subtle disregard to declare open season on minorities. The rhetoric has to change in order for Naya Pakistan or rather a Purana Pakistan to thrive- the Pakistan that Allama Iqbal, Jinnah and thousands that laid their lives down for us, envisioned. So Imran Khan, it is time we humans practice the same dignity, mercy, compassion and love with which we were created. I wrote this with a very heavy heart, because I would like to believe that I am supporting an infallible leader…. But as of right now… alas it isn’t so.
I agree. I always thought he was bold and assertive and brave. But it turns out he is the same as every one else