Secularism in Pakistan

In Pakistan, secularism is relatively obscure due to popularity of Islamism in the society. Pakistan was founded on the concept of the two-nation theory, which was largely based on Muslim nationalism.{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1524311|title=Jinnah: the man, the myth and the vision|website=Dawn.com|author=Dr. Muhammad Reza Kazimi|date=25 December 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/508287/return-to-jinnahaes-pakistan-3|title=Return to Jinnah's Pakistan|website=Dawn.com|date=13 December 2009}} Secularism went from being a matter of practice in law by the Government of Pakistan to a political movement opposing the Islamization policies of General Zia-ul-Haq in the 1980s. The supporters of Islamisation on the other hand assert that Pakistan was founded as a Muslim state and that in its status as an Islamic republic, it must thereby implement Islamic laws, known as Sharia. Secularists believe Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted a state where religious oligarchy will be absent and all Muslims will be liberal, he envisioned for a progressive and liberal Muslim state of Pakistan.{{cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/736976/jinnah-secularism-and-islamic-modernism/|title=Jinnah, secularism and Islamic modernism|website=Daily Times (Pakistan)|author=Yasser Latif Hamdani|date=22 March 2021}}

One of Pakistan's most popular media outlets, Dawn, was originally founded by Jinnah and still identifies as secular.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1398695|title=SMOKERS' CORNER: SECULAR VS MODERNIST|first=Nadeem F.|last=Paracha|date=1 April 2018|website=Dawn.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1334995|title=The secular myth|first=Afiya S.|last=Zia|date=24 May 2017|website=Dawn.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://aurora.dawn.com/news/1140996|title="Mr Jinnah's actions were secular"|first=Mamun M.|last=Adil|date=12 August 2017|website=Dawn.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/659634/secular-or-islamist|title=Secular or Islamist?|date=17 September 2011|website=Dawn.com}} Other popular media outlets like Express Tribune, Daily Times, and Pakistan Today also identify on a liberal and progressive platform.

History

The 1949 Objectives Resolution envisaged an official role for Islam as the state religion. The state retained most of the laws that were inherited from the secular British legal code that had been enforced by the British Raj since the 19th century.

In 1956, the state adopted the name of the "Islamic Republic of Pakistan", declaring Islam as the official religion.

Objectives resolution

Early in the history of the state of Pakistan (12 March 1949), a parliamentary resolution (the Objectives Resolution) was adopted :

{{Blockquote|Sovereignty belongs to Allah alone but He has delegated it to the State of Pakistan through its people for being exercised within the limits prescribed by Him as a sacred trust.

The State shall exercise its powers and authority through the elected representatives of the people.
The principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice, as enunciated by Islam, shall be fully observed.
Muslims shall be enabled to order their lives in the individual and collective spheres in accordance with the teachings of Islam as set out in the Quran and Sunnah.
Provision shall be made for the religious minorities to freely profess and practice their religions and develop their cultures.}}

This resolution later became key source of inspiration for writers of Constitution of Pakistan and is included in constitution as preamble.

Islamization

As a reaction to the bifurcation of Pakistan (due to the rise of secularist forces in East Pakistan) in 1971, Islamic political parties began to see an increase in popular support. In the 1970s, the populist and elected Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto caved in to a major demand of the Islamic parties by declaring the Ahmadiyya Community to be non-Muslims. Under the constitution of 1973, Bhutto also banned alcohol, gambling and night clubs.

Bhutto was overthrown in 1977 by Chief of Army Staff General Zia-ul-Haq, who went considerably further with the formal campaign of Islamization of Pakistan (1977–1988).

Secularization

Pakistan elected Muslim world's first female prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 1988 (and again in 1993). She did not repeal most of the Islamic laws of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (her father) and General Zia-ul-Haq, but promoted secularism through media, cultural policies, general policy making and style of governance, etc.

Military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf promoted secularism under the banner of Enlightened Moderation during his nine years long military rule (1999–2008).{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Benazir Bhutto's assassination in 2007 and the murder of Salman Taseer, a Pakistani politician calling for the removal of the blasphemy laws, have provoked secularists in Pakistani politics, media and civil society. Government led by Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party has followed the legacy of Benazir Bhutto's secular style of governance during five years long democratic period (2008–2013).

Secularism in Pakistan

History

Objectives resolution

Islamization

Secularization

References

Further reading