What Is Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri Up-to?
05 September 2016
By Saeed Qureshi
Allama Tahirul Qadri has been coming to Pakistan with a mandate of eradication
of corruption and removing the incumbent PMNL government and its stalwarts out
of power. He is joined in his latest adventure by Imran Khan, Sheikh Rashid (Awami
Muslim League) and Chaudhry Pervez Ilahi(PMLQ), besides a sizeable number of
his religious followers.
In his recent fiery sermons both at Lahore and Rawalpindi Allama Sahib
demanded Qisas (monetary compensation) for those people who were killed in
front of his Model Town residence more than two years ago. He announced to
unfurl his future plans in the near future. He reminded General Raheel Sharif
to fulfil his promise to provide justice for the victims of the Model Town
incident and their families.
It would be rather pertinent to ponder as to why a Pakistani citizen who opted
for Canadian citizenship dashes each time to Pakistan to create an upheaval.
The current odyssey of Allama Qadri is the fifth one during the past three
years to Pakistan for heralding a revolution. A demagogue in his right and
excelling in rhetorical outbursts, Allama Sahib has sizable backing mainly
from the sections believing in the Sufi or ascetic branch of Islam.
The veneration of saints, tombs and direct communication with God through
contemplation are some of the features of this cult of Islam. As long as the
Sufism remains confined to communion with God and introversion for seeking
truth, it is the best. But when it overlaps to the political realm it comes to
a naught, loses its glare as it doesn't offer any workable format for state
running or governance.
Allama Qadri has focused his attention and directed his assault on corruption
and corrupt rulers of Pakistan. Three year or so back, he was focused on
removing the PPP government while being lodged in containers. A farcical
accord was signed between him and the PPP delegation. The matter ended on a
written compromise. Now he is braced against PMNL government which is the
successor of PPP.
He is embarked upon the same track and harping the same tunes. He has already
failed and is bound to fail again. His movement is aided and abetted by those
political figures whose own credibility is tarnished and who are pushing
Allama Sahib to lash out at PMN and the prime minister Nawaz Sharif not for
the sake of country and people but for their removal through undemocratic and
loud sloganeering and street riots. Along with Imran Khan all these shadowy
political outfits accuse Nawaz Sharif and his family members for money
laundering and stashing money abroad.
I am not an advocate of the existing political set-up in Pakistan. However, I
am of the opinion that democratic order no matter how faulty, should be
allowed to proceed on its track. The change of the government should be
brought about via elections and based upon people's mandate. The change
through street agitation and undercutting a sitting democratically elected
government is invariably counterproductive and damaging to peace and
stability. We have seen that in the past such upheavals led to more chaos and
intervention by the non-political forces to the detriment of Pakistan.
The movement launched by opposition partners including Allama Qadri, for a
corruption- free Pakistan, revival of the state of Madina and removal of the
incumbent governing are hollow and myopic recipes for Pakistan. Pakistan has
to function as a modern nation state with openness, civil and equal rights and
opportunities for all sections of the society irrespective of their social
status. Pakistan should be a state with freedom of religion, life, liberty and
pursuit of happiness (American constitution). It should be an abode of modern
civic order, fundamental rights, equality of socio-economic blessings for all
the citizens.
During the past four 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 third rally was held on June 17 2014 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 had turned immensely instrumental, though by
default, in advancing Dr. Qadri's mission against the incumbent PMNL federal
government and Punjab province government. The Punjab government of PMNL had
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.
After that bloody incident, Dr. Qadri had 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
been whole-hearted supporters of 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 too has 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 some years ago, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain
and Ch. Pervez Ilahi had a special meeting and even holding 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.
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 had rebuffed military's 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, impart effective and sound education, advance 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'' lays 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. 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(decree) 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 teachings 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 current respective societies and system are welfare
oriented, mostly democratic and responsive to the people's needs and
aspirations. The political systems, by and large, are 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. People are no more slaves of the kings, and elite classes to the
extent as was prevalent 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 and 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 Egyptian
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 its constitutional mandate. It
would be up to the people to re-elect 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
forceful articulation. He has a huge and growing bulk of followers and also
unlimited financial resources and a safe haven of Canada.
He 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 a rational way to implement his envisaged programs and plans.
©
EsinIslam.Com
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