Which Revolution Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri Is Talking About?
25 June 2014
By Saeed Qureshi
During the past two years, Allama Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri
has staged three large rallies in Pakistan. One was in
Lahore on December 23, 2012. The second mammoth rally
was in Islamabad on January 14, 2013, where his party
workers and devotees staged a four-day sit- in
agitation that culminated in an agreement between the
then PPP government and Dr. Qadri. This agreement
titled "Islamabad Long March Declaration" promised
electoral reforms and increased political
transparency. It was in fact a convenient face saving
way- out for both the sides.
The latest third rally was held on June 17 this year
at Model Town neighborhood in Lahore in front of the
Dr. Qadir's residence cum PAT( Pakistan Awami Tehrik)
secretariat. Tragically it turned into a bloody clash
between charged members of PAT and Minhajul Quran on
one side and the riot police on the other. This clash
resulted in at least 8 deaths and scores wounded. In
comparison the previous rallies were rather peaceful.
However, this ugly encounter seems to be immensely
instrumental, though by default, in advancing Dr.
Qadir's mission of a revolutionary change. The Punjab
government of PMNL has come under burgeoning pressure
and looks like a culprit although seemingly the chief
minister had no role to play in the police firing that
was not intentional but spontaneous.
Dr. Qadri has spurned all government offers for a
dialogue and rejected the formation of a judicial
commission to probe the gruesome incident. On the
contrary he alleged that the Prime Minister, Chief
Minister of Punjab, IG Punjab Police, and certain
ministers were behind what he termed as the
‘premeditated murder'.
The PMLQ stalwarts Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and Chaudhry
Shujaat Hussain have announced their unconditional
support to Dr. Tahir Qadri in his opposition solely to
the federal and Punjab government run respectively by
Mian Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif.
The deep seated political animosity between these two
groups is a public knowledge. Imran Khan has too taken
an unequivocal stand in favor of Allama Tahirul Qadri
and even demanded resignation of the chief minister of
Punjab and his law minister. His overtures seem to be
merely fortifying the bulwark against Sharif brothers.
One may recall that a few days ago Chaudhry Shujaat
Hussain and Ch. Pervez Ilahi had a special meeting and
even press conference with Allama Dr. Tahir Qadri in
London. Their blind support for Qadri's mission is not
a secret as Chaudhry brothers are sworn enemies of
Sharif brothers. One could even assume that the PAT
rally could be an offshoot of the complete
understanding between two inveterate opponents of
Sharif brothers.
As far Imran Khan, he is adept in blowing hot and cold
in the same breath while demonstrating a semblance of
political acumen or restraint least expected of a
politician. The antagonism for the sake of antagonism
speaks for the immature or myopic attitude of Imran
Khan even debunking military action against Taliban in
Waziristan. Thus by his mindless statements he rebuffs
military anti-Taliban blitz. He doesn't realize
Taliban are the enemies of the people of Pakistan.
They have been busy in destroying Pakistan's assets
and killed and maimed thousands of Pakistanis through
incessant wave of blatant suicide attacks for almost a
decade now.
On May 25, 1989 Dr. Qadri founded a political cum
religious party under the name of Pakistan Awami
Tehrik (PAT). The manifesto of this party broadly is
to "introduce the culture of democracy, promote
economic stability, and improve the state of human
rights, justice, and women's roles in Pakistan and to
remove corruption from Pakistani politics".
His other organization that promotes and propels his
objective of bringing revolution in Pakistan is
"Minhajul Quran" a kind of religious forum. The
professed objective and charter of this outlet is to
"promote religious moderation, effective and sound
education, inter-faith dialogue and harmony, and a
moderate interpretation of Islam employing methods of
Sufism"
The manifestos of both PAT and Minhajul Quran put
together, as Maulana Dr. Qadri claims is to unfold a
green revolution in Pakistan. The green revolution
also stipulates the revival of the "Charter of Medina
"The Charter of Medina also known as the Meesaq-e-
Medina, was a formal agreement between the prophet of
Islam Hazrat Muhammad and all of the significant
tribes and families of Yathrib or Medina including
Muslims, Jews, Christians and pagans. This
constitution formed the basis of the first Islamic
state.
Its main objective was to end the bitter inter-tribal
fighting between the prominent clans of the Aus and
Khazraj within Medina. The historic "Medina Accord"
brought Muslim, Jewish, Christian and pagan
communities in Medina under the fold of one fraternity
named Ummah for the first time.
Allama Sahib asserts that while the "Constitution of
Medina" laid down the foundations of an "indivisible
composition of the Muslim Ummah or nation, it also
guaranteed fundamental human rights to the entire
community irrespective of their religious or racial
orientations.
Dr. Qadri envisions an "Islamic state as a
Muslim-majority country which respects freedom, the
rule of law, global human rights (including religious
freedom), social welfare, women's rights and the
rights of minorities"
The redeeming feature of Maulana's mission is his
resolute stand against terrorism which in regards to
Pakistan is the religious terrorism of Taliban. It
connotes that Maulana is a liberal and progressive
reformer that shuns religious fanaticism propelled by
the perpetrators through brutal means and terrorizing
the people and by killing them.
In March 2010, Dr. Qadri issued a 600-page Fatwa on
Terrorism, in which he scholarly dismantled and
categorically condemned terrorism without any ifs and
buts. He argued that terrorism and violence has no
place in Islamic teaching and therefore no
justification can be provided for it. Dr. Qadri can be
portrayed as a religious moderate and a steadfast
follower of gentle Sufi tradition. This aspect of
Allama Qadir's mission therefore, can be acceptable
for the proponents of a modern liberal state and
society.
Dr. Qadri aspires and struggles also for a Democratic
revolution through electoral reforms in order to
elects people of integrity who will be subjected to a
"pre-clearance" process to qualify for contesting
elections to ensure that the candidates had paid their
taxes and they had not defaulted on loans or got the
loans written off.
However Allama Sahib should understand that the modern
day societies are not like that of Medina when the
society was in the process of making. The complexion
of the respective societies and system are welfare
oriented, mostly democratic and responsive to the
people's needs and aspirations. The political systems
by and large stable and accountable and the
governments come into being with popular franchise.
The world community as a whole is prosperous and
fraternal.
The international community is connected through fast
and all encompassing internet technology. People are
not drastically divided along religious lines barring
a few Islamic countries. The people enjoy countless
privileges and rights that are enshrined in the
constitutions of the respective countries even of the
authoritarian regimes.
The power tussle is rife in several societies but
people socially and economically are more liberated
and contented. The countries in the present time are
huge and vast than the city of Medina 14 centuries
ago. Even the present day Medina is a modern city,
hugely populated and bustling with a galore of modern
comforts and amenities. The Medina Accord offers an
explicit and shining moral and human guidelines and
its theme is literally prevalent in better part of the
world.
For example the Bill of Rights in the American
constitution offers inalienable rights to all the
citizens such as right of life, liberty, pursuit of
happiness, freedom of speech, religion, assembly and
petitioning the government. The man is no more slaves
of the kings, and elite classes as was in the past.
The rulers in many countries are elected by the
people.
In majority of the societies social morality prevails,
the judicial systems dispense justice and media is
strident and powerful to spread information of what
was happening every moment. Because of an integrated
world every society and leader is under an unremitting
accountability and watch. The world despite
deficiencies acts jointly in case of crisis, calamity,
war or disaster. The Medina Pact was solemnized in a
primitive limited society under very peculiar
circumstances. Its revival is not needed as it is
already being practiced on a much wider scale.
Allama Qadri Sahib would look more credible and rather
acceptable if he pursues his moral and political
ambitions within the framework of the constitution and
law. To bank upon aggression and mobilizing people
with powerful rhetorical speeches and show of
self-righteousness is meaningless. Such a strategy
would backfire because it leads to chaos and
commotion. If Maulana doesn't revise his reformatory
mission and reconstruction approach, his dream of
turning Pakistan into an ideal Islamic state would
never come true.
Directing and monitoring an aimless movement while
living a comfortable life in a distant secular and
Unislamic land of Canada, looks hypocritical and
contentious. Let him live in the slums of Pakistan and
spearhead the movement and thus transform the destiny
of the people of Pakistan. Example is better than
fiery orations or hollow precepts. Occasionally he
talks of Tehrir Square that uprooted a might dictator.
But Pakistan is not Egypt .Pakistan is now a
democratic country.
My hunch is that Dr. Qadri in somehow being used by
the forces that are inimical to the incumbent
government for one reason or the other. Dr. Qadri
seems to be playing in the hands of some political
figures who want to have short cut to power corridors.
Mercifully the democratically PPP elected government
completed its 5 years in power. Let the present
government stay at the helm for the same
constitutional period. It would be up to the people to
reelect or reject it in the next elections. That is
how the democratic tradition would be firmly rooted
and flourish and that is what Pakistan is in need of.
Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri is blessed with enormous gift of
public speaking and articulation. He has a huge and
growing bulk of followers and also unlimited financial
resources and a safe haven of Canada. H can utilize
all these precious assets by entering the political
arena of Pakistan like other leaders, contest
elections and attain power to transform Pakistan into
an abode of his liking and lookout. That would be the
best and decidedly rational way to establish his
program and plans.
The writer is a senior journalist, editor of
Diplomatic Times and a former diplomat. You can read
this and other articles of the writer at his blog
www.uprightopinion.com
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EsinIslam.Com
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