The Ulema of Pakistan are Equally Responsible for the Current Economic Crisis

They Have Promoted Violence In The Name Of Islam

Main Points:

1.    Ulema orchestrated the anti-Ahmadi riots in 1953.

2.    2000 people were killed during the riots.

3.    Ulema raised only communal and sectarian issues before the government.

4.    Pakistan did not abolish Zamindari system.

5.    Ulema of Pakistan have not condemned sexual assault on women by the police during the current crisis.

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By New Age Islam Staff Writer

22 June 2023

Pakistan is going through a severe economic crisis. It is on the verge of bankruptcy. Its foreign exchange reserves have been reduced to a mere $3 billion. Due to this, price rise and inflation have broken all records. People, including children are starving due to the shortage of essential commodities. Because of the economic recess, unemployment is at the peak and it has given rise to crime rate.

Apart from the economic crisis, the country is also going through a severe political crisis. The current government does not have democratic foundation as it was formed by toppling Imran Khan's government through a no-confidence motion by an opportunistic alliance called PDM. The assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stand dissolved but the government does not want to hold elections there due to the fear of defeat. In short, Pakistan's future seems to be bleak.

But the most unfortunate aspect of this crisis is that the Ulema of Pakistan have not played a positive role to bring Pakistan out of this crisis. On the contrary, they have remained either silent spectators or supported the wrong policies and actions of the government.

Since Pakistan was created on the basis of religion, the Ulema have always interfered with the government affairs and law making process in the country since its birth. It was the Ulema who thwarted Jinnah's plan to make Pakistan a secular democratic country. The increasing interference of Pakistani Ulema in the political process of the country caused more harm than good to Pakistan. Instead of paying attention to the educational, economic and scientific development, they concentrated on communal and sectarian issues and promoted the culture of violence in the name of religion. Unlike India, the newly formed government of Pakistan did not have good policy makers and experts to formulate policies for the economic and scientific development of Pakistan. Pakistan did not do much for agricultural and land reforms. On the other hand, the Ulema who migrated from India pressurised the government to formulate policies on sectarian and communal lines. Thanks to the sectarian mind-set of Ulema, the anti-Ahmadiya riots occurred in 1953. Prior to the riots, the Ulema of Pakistan had held an anti-Ahmadiya conference in Lahore from 16 to 18 January under Majlis Ehral Islam and had passed a resolution against the Ahmadis. After the conference, the Ulema put three demands before the government and threatened that if the demands were not met, they would embark on the path to direct action. The demands were:

1. Zafarullah Khan should be sacked as the Home Minister.

2. All the Ahmadis should be removed from government posts.

3. The Ahmadis should be declared non-Muslims.

The government rejected all the demands. After that the Ulema instigated the riots that lasted for six weeks. The riots started on 21 January from Lahore and spread to other parts of the country. About 2000 people died in the violence orchestrated directly by the Ulema. On 6 March, Martial Law was imposed in Pakistan.

The Ahmadi community in Pakistan was an educationally, economically and politically developed community. They were placed in important positions in the government. Zafarullah Khan, an Ahmadi, was the Home Minister of Pakistan. During the partition, he was instrumental in the inclusion of many areas into Pakistan. But the Ulema, instead of acknowledging their contributions to the economic and political progress of Pakistan, waged a violent campaign against them and pushed Pakistan into an inferno of hatred and violence.

The biggest fall out of this sectarian riots was that the Pakistan army got the first opportunity to interfere in the democratic process of Pakistan. Pakistan was created in 1947 and, within only six years, it embarked on the path of violence and religious militantism whereas during the same period, India made important decisions for the economic and industrial development. Dams were built, factories were set up and universities were established. The most important step that India took was the abolition of Zamindari system and land reforms. The abolition of Zamindari system automatically abolished bonded labour and paved the way for economic and social equality. In the other hand Pakistan did not abolish Zamindari system whereas it should have been the first step in an Islamic country. Since, Zamindari was not abolished, the Zamindars and Chaudharys enjoyed the same power and authority as they did before the independence. Bonded labourers were needed to manage and run large tracts of land and agriculture. To control binded labourers, they built private jails. Ironically, Pakistan is the only country in the world to permit private jails. Pakistani Ulema did not rise against such un-Islamic practices because they needed the support of the landlords for their communal and sectarian interests.

They formed their own religious organisations and madrasas that helped mobilise huge crowds with which they pressurised the government to accept their demands.

Since the 80s, many militant and sectarian outfits came into existence with the blessings of extremist Ulema. Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Sipah-e- Sahaba and Taliban were based on sectarian and Takfiri ideology of different sections of the Ulema. These organisations conducted terrorist attacks on schools, school vans, hospitals, rallies and market places and killed innocent people. Yet the Ulema did not protest against or condemned these violent acts because these organisation found justifications for their violent acts in the interpretations of Quran and Sunnah provided by these Ulema.

The insensitivity of the Ulema of Pakistan came to the fore during the current crisis. The police cracked down on protesters who allegedly committed violence and arson damaging army property after Imran Khan’s arrest. The police arrested thousands of leaders, supporters and workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. While entering the houses of the accused, the police molested and beat women, tore their clothes and misbehaved with elderly people. They dragged women on the road with their hair and even raped and molested women in jails. Still the Ulema did not condemn this behaviour or did not come out into the streets to protest the un-Islamic behaviour of the police.

Peer Afzal Qadri who issued a fatwa of death against another cleric Md Ali Mirza and declared a reward of Rs 5 lakh for anyone who killed him did not say a word of condemnation. In fact the Ulema openly supported the government and the police. A cleric associated with Pakistani Ulema, Council supported the trial of protesters under the Army Act saying trials under the Army Act were the right decision because under Army Act trials will be speedy and transparent though the lawyers and rights activists say that under the Army Act punishments will be given without evidences.

The diminishing moral values among a section of Ulema is another factor responsible for the ruin of Pakistani society. The Ulema are seen as the upholders of Islamic morality. They set an example before the common Muslims with their moral character. But in Pakistan a section of Ulema have been earning a bad name for the whole Ulema community. Recently, a call girl and model of Pakistan Hareem Shah has released videos featuring some prominent Ulema including Maulana, Fazlur Rahman in objectionable position. Hareem Shah also claimed that when Maulana Fazlur Rahman was staying in a hotel in Qatar, he had ordered for a 'she-male.' Last week he went to Thailand. Though it was a private tour, he used the government airplane. His close aides said he went to Thailand on a personal visit at a time his country was going through an existential crisis and people were starving. Some analysts said he went to enjoy Thai massage.

The moral degradation has taken a deep root in the Pakistani society and so any immoral behaviour is seen as normal there. Some maulanas do not feel shy to be in the company of call girls or models or do not hide their relations with them. Therefore, the Ulema of Pakistan cannot absolve themselves of the responsibility of the ruin of Pakistan. They failed to protect the Islamic values that they had been entrusted with.

 

URL:   https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/ulema-pakistan-economic-crisis/d/130048

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