...and a breath of fresh air for non-Muslims. "The Supreme Court annuls Islamic law," from AsiaNews, with thanks to Nicolei:
Lahore (AsiaNews) – “We heartily welcome the Supreme Court’s decision to annul the Hasba Bill, a law against the freedom of the people,” said Archbishop Lawrence John Saldanha of Lahore archdiocese. Such was his reaction to a recent decision taken by Pakistan’s highest judicial body. He added that “this type of law goes against human nature and should always be condemned”.On 4 August, the nine members of the court issued a judgement which nullified the law (a verdict elaborated later in a 106-page statement). The law had been approved on 14 July by the government of the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP, on the border with Afghanistan), establishing the figure of the mohtasib, a sort of religious ombudsman to monitor citizens’ adherence to Islamic values. The prelate said: “In the detailed judgement, it is clearly written that no law can be allowed to interfere with the private life, personal thoughts and the individual beliefs of citizens.
“Islamic jurists are unanimous on the point that except for salat (prayer) and zakat (alms) no other religious obligation stipulated by Islam can be enforced by the state.”
The jurists defined the law as “discriminatory” and “unconstitutional” given that it allowed for the institution of an ombudsman “who interferes in the life of citizens” and that it foresaw “the setting up of judicial and executive offices on a par with those of the government”.
Just a reminder to all those ready to write off Pakistan as an enemy in the war against Islamism.
No question the Pakistani record is a checkered one up until now; Musharraf has captured and/or killed over 400 Al Qaeda at the very time that Taliban training camps continue to operate under local auspices in the NWFP. Many of those captured have been turned over to the USA including Khalis Sheikh Muhammad, the mastermind of the 9-11 attacks.
A future US-Indian condominium has a logic and volition all its own; the long-term, strategic impetus for such an alliance is the rise of China, not any temporary state of affairs existing inside Pakistan. As Robert wrote recently, the USA and India share a confluence of interests and should pursue this budding alliance, but Pakistan should be handled deftly in the process...for things could be worse.
The Pakistanis could resume the destructive proliferation policies of Khan, dramatically expand support for Islamic insurgencies in Afghanistan and Kashmir, and institute even more regressive policies at home. For all his faults, Musharraf provides a break on such militancy.
That's a promising sign. I just hope the Islamists don't try to annul the judges.
“Islamic jurists are unanimous on the point that except for salat (prayer) and zakat (alms) no other religious obligation stipulated by Islam can be enforced by the state.”
The "jurists" have decided that there indeed is glory in enforced virtue of compulsory salat and zakat.
“Islamic jurists are unanimous on the point that except for salat (prayer) and zakat (alms) no other religious obligation stipulated by Islam can be enforced by the state.”
The "jurists" have decided that there indeed is glory in enforced virtue of compulsory salat and zakat.