Hisba Bill, implementing Islam like a Punishment on Pakistanis

[Awesome]

It's a miracle what people will do with Islam. Now its against the law to not observe your prayers or even sell food to somebody during a prayer.

The Quran I read stated in Surah Baqarah "There is no compulsion in religion". Why compel Pakistanis to these religious things then? What next? Forcible head-shaving of guys with stylish long hair? No congregation of men and women in Public? Women should wear headscarf? Women can't drive, women can't vote? Women can't work?

Let's remember Quaid's words here:

You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State

For the love of God, respect the wisdom of the founder of the nation if you don't want to respect the freedoms originally granted to Muslims within the Quran. I bow my Pakistani head in shame today, for we are allowing criminals to hijack our faith and abuse the freedoms of our fellow Pakistanis of NWFP.

 

[Sid]

Exactly! The Mullahs are reigning wild and free in the Frontier. They think they have some God given right to 'enforce' religion and religious morality but they forget that they themselves will be judged too!

I say Pakistan has got bigger issues to deal with than moral policing!

 

[Awesome]

Let's make sure, this bill never sees the light of the day. Musharraf owes this to Pakistan. This law is unconstitutional, we cannot have a parallel laws within Pakistan we cannot go against the idea of Pakistan, the idea of freedom.

Pakistan is under attack, Mr. President. From an enemy within; after defeating them on the battle grounds we cannot lose it on the floor of the assemblies or the courts. We should strongly demand a veto either by the Supreme Court or by a Presidential order.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Display...ontinent_November485.xml&section=subcontinent

ISLAMABAD - Islamists ruling a Pakistani province passed a controversial bill on Monday to introduce what critics say would be Taleban-style religious police.

The Supreme Court had blocked attempts by the government of North West Frontier Province last year to set up a Hisba, or accountability, department by ruling several clauses of the bill unconstitutional.

The Islamist-led provincial government said it had drafted the Hisba Bill anew in light of recommendations made by the Supreme Court before presenting it to the provincial assembly.

‘This bill has been prepared according to the provisions of the constitution and the directives of the Supreme Court,’ NWFP Law Minister Malik Zafar Azam told Reuters after the provincial assembly passed the bill despite opposition from liberal groups.

Controversy over the bill reflects a drawn-out tug-of-war over the direction of society in the predominantly Muslim country between religious conservatives and liberals.

Liberal and secular critics say the proposed accountability body is modelled on the Taleban’s Department of Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue in Afghanistan, which ran the religious police before the group’s 2001 ouster.

The religious police roamed Afghan streets, forcing people to pray, ensuring women did not leave home without a head-to-toe burqa and confronting men who did not have long beards.

Dismissing criticism about the ‘Talebanisation’ of the western province bordering Afghanistan, Azam said the proposed Accountability Department was aimed at eradicating social evils such as gambling and obscenity through persuasion.

‘Virtues will be promoted and vices will be discouraged through persuasion and preaching,’ he said.
‘Unfortunate stunt’

Federal Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said the passage of the bill was unfortunate.

‘There is no need to set up a new department when there are several others which are already working. It is nothing more than a political stunt which is unfortunate,’ he said.

An alliance of conservative religious parties won power in the province in 2002 elections. Elections will be held again next year.

The passage of the Hisba Bill came as the central government led by President Pervez Musharraf is trying to reform Islamic laws on rape and adultery that require a rape victim to produce four male witnesses or risk prosecution for adultery.

Islamists are fiercely opposed to the reforms and the government delayed presenting them to parliament in September.

Officials say a reform bill is expected to be submitted to the parliament this week.

Musharraf, who promotes a philosophy of ‘enlightened moderation’, has voiced support for the law reform and has repeatedly urged the country to shun ‘Talebanisation’.

But analysts say Musharraf has at times had to mollify the conservatives for political reasons.

 

[Cheetah786]

people get the governments they deserve

 

[Awesome]

You think these issues would mean a different vote in 2007?

 

[Bull]

People needed to be given some other work to do.They mass has to be kept busy.

How strong are the NGOs in Pakistan?

If they are strong and present,then thats the best bet,fund them and let them in. They will do the trick.

 

[Awesome]

What trick?

 

[niaz]

This is a foretaste of things to come. A Wahabi/Saudi style regime with a religious police. There are many people in Pakistan who are welcoming it.

No where in history non observance of Islamic rituals was punishable except in the Wahabi control areas of Arabia in the 18th century. Thanks to the policies of Islamization of Zia ul Haq and Pakitan's support of Taliban, a dark age tribal Afghan culture is being imposed on Pakistanis in the name of Islam.

This is done by elected assembly?. No I am not surprized, there is a precedent, thats how Nazi party came to power in Germany in the early thirties. Hitler imposed his idea of German culture and MMA is trying to impose Pushtoon traditions of the worst kind. Who says history doesnt repeat itself. Next they will be burning books which mention different ideas such as Darwin's theory of evolution.

Great Pushtun leaders of the earlier years such as Bacha Khan and Abul Samad Achakzai must be turning in their graves at this travesty of democracy. As somene said in the earlier post ' you get what you deserve'. Yes in Democracy you have a right to jump into the well if you want to. You are welcome, people of the NWFP.

Hope rest of Pakistan dosen't get seduced by MMA in the next election.

 

[Awesome]

The bill is not passed yet. The governor of NWFP is yet to pass/reject this bill, within 30 days. We should mount Pressure on him as he's a Pro-Musharraf guy. He would have pressure from the other side as well since he can't reject it twice.

I'm waiting to hear Musharraf's views on this.

 

[Mansoor A Qureshi]

MMA is doing nothing for a common man but i dont know what they are doing or trying to do? Govt of punjab must be a role model the way they are doing diffreent things for the prosperity of the province, MMA is busy tearing off billboards that have female models, Moulvees are making money before coming into power they were travelling on bicycles and now they are enjoying in 2 to 3 cars, our chief minister never had beard he kept it for the sake of MMA and to be in power, MMA and pastoons are busy renaming province with PASHTONISTAN, PAKHTOONKHVAA and AFGHANIA, against all the major dams like KALA BAGH DAM and others, give me a break yaar they dont have anything else to do? What is wrong with our political leaders? Why they are doing this to our country? Why we see the same faces again and again? When Pakistani nation will come out of this slumber?

 

[Mansoor A Qureshi]

MMA is trying to impose Pushtoon traditions of the worst kind

I agree with you niaz

This wasnt expected by the poeple of NWFP, We woted them to bring a change, next election they will be viped out like ANP

 

[sigatoka]

I disagree that Pakistan doesnt need parrallel laws or that giving more autonomy is bad for the nation. The country is a diverse mix of cultures, ethnicites and religous beliefs, trying to enforce a Punjabi view of religion, culture and values on the entire country uniformly will lead to intense friction and might even tear the country apart. Let every province have autonomy to decide democratically their religous rules, their laws and their maintainign their cultural beliefs. This will ensure that all Pakistani's will feel their values and beliefs are protected and will feel they have more of a stake in Pakistan.

The last time Pakistan was ripped apart was becasue of one section of society trying to impose values on another, the time is for true liberalism. Liberalism in beign able to choose government, liberalism is beign able to implement their laws and seeing their beliefs respected. Liberalism includes allowing sections of society in implementing illiberal laws.

 

[Awesome]

As long as one's freedom does not affect the freedom of the other, its all good.

What we are talking about here are human rights violation. Taking away religious freedom to worship or not worship. Taking away you freedom to dress up stylishly in public, taking away freedom to wear a particular hairstyle.

IMO the Hasba bill needs to be revised again and only focus on issues like dowry, wedding expenses, honor killings, rapes, etc. which are ACTUAL issues of that area.

 

[Lahori paa jee]

Maulvi Military Alliance have done it again. This bill is nothing but to show West how much pressure Mushy is under internally

 

[Cheetah786]

fuuniest thing is no one here not one here wonders one thing.
WHO IS FINANNACING THE MULLAHS.