Danesh Kumar, a senator from the Balochistan Awami Party and a member of the minority community, has pointedly criticized the Pakistani government’s reliance on financial transactions involving interest (Riba), which he argues blatantly contradicts Islamic teachings.
Addressing the Senate, Kumar highlighted that engaging in interest (Riba) is considered a grave sin within Islam, equivalent to declaring war against Allah. Despite this, he noted that the government continues such practices, which he described as hypocritical.
During his speech, Kumar cited a specific verse from the Quran that admonishes the faithful to renounce any remaining interest if they truly believe, to emphasize the severity of the issue in Islamic doctrine. He expressed his dismay over the persistence of such practices in Pakistan, questioning the potential for national progress under such conditions.
Moreover, Kumar criticized the lack of presence from government officials during the session, suggesting a systemic neglect of meaningful legislative debate.
The criticism was echoed by Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, who expressed humiliation that a Hindu senator had to remind Muslim lawmakers of their religious obligations. In a dramatic display of remorse, Haideri slapped himself, calling on his colleagues to abandon interest-based transactions in obedience to divine law.
