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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
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Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Support the Campaign for Amendment in Article 2 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973
Dear Citizens,
1. Let us SAY NO TO THE STATE RELIGION OF PAKISTAN. But, how to say such a No? The best, effective and meaningful way to say such a NO would be to introduce an amendment in the Article 2 of the Constitution of Pakistan Pakistan
“2. Islam to be State religion. Islam shall be the State religion of Pakistan
2. On considering the point as mentioned herein below paragraph - 3, the said Article 2 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 should be amended as under:
“2. No religion of State. Religion shall have nothing to do with the business of State; and that the Parliament shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
3. Point for consideration of amendment as proposed herein above Paragraph - 2 is as under:
Should the State have Religion? No. The reason is simple. You will agree that human beings have religion and that animal, bird, fish, and institutions including State and tools and etc., have no religion. Thus you will agree that Article 2 of the Constitution of Pakistan Pakistan
4. The Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 is not free from the poison of religious bigotry, extremism and fanaticism; and that it is rooted in the Article 2. The point of concern is that till today, no Member of the National Assembly belonging to any political party, have deemed it fit and proper to even point out such a poison. It can be said with sure, if we succeed to amend that Article - 2 as proposed herein above paragraph – 2 we would purge that poison out of the Constitution, which would help us to further flush it out of our society.
Naeem-uz-Zaman Khokhar
Chairman / Proposer of the Amendment
Cell : 0345-2873824
Email : cdu.pakistan@hotmail&yahoo.com
Mr. Jinnah's presidential address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan August 11, 1947
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen! I cordially thank you, with the utmost sincerity, for the honour you have conferred upon me - the greatest honour that is possible to confer - by electing me as your first President. I also thank those leaders who have spoken in appreciation of my services and their personal references to me. I sincerely hope that with your support and your co-operation we shall make this Constituent Assembly an example to the world. The Constituent Assembly has got two main functions to perform. The first is the very onerous and responsible task of framing the future constitution of Pakistan and the second of functioning as a full and complete sovereign body as the Federal Legislature of Pakistan. We have to do the best we can in adopting a provisional constitution for the Federal Legislature of Pakistan. You know really that not only we ourselves are wondering but, I think, the whole world is wondering at this unprecedented cyclonic revolution which has brought about the clan of creating and establishing two independent sovereign Dominions in this sub-continent. As it is, it has been unprecedented; there is no parallel in the history of the world. This mighty sub-continent with all kinds of inhabitants has been brought under a plan which is titanic, unknown, unparalleled. And what is very important with regards to it is that we have achieved it peacefully and by means of an evolution of the greatest possible character.
Dealing with our first function in this Assembly, I cannot make any well-considered pronouncement at this moment, but I shall say a few things as they occur to me. The first and the foremost thing that I would like to emphasize is this: remember that you are now a sovereign legislative body and you have got all the powers. It, therefore, places on you the gravest responsibility as to how you should take your decisions. The first observation that I would like to make is this: You will no doubt agree with me that the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order, so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected by the State.
The second thing that occurs to me is this: One of the biggest curses from which India is suffering - I do not say that other countries are free from it, but, I think our condition is much worse - is bribery and corruption. That really is a poison. We must put that down with an iron hand and I hope that you will take adequate measures as soon as it is possible for this Assembly to do so.
Black-marketing is another curse. Well, I know that blackmarketeers are frequently caught and punished. Judicial sentences are passed or sometimes fines only are imposed. Now you have to tackle this monster, which today is a colossal crime against society, in our distressed conditions, when we constantly face shortage of food and other essential commodities of life. A citizen who does black-marketing commits, I think, a greater crime than the biggest and most grievous of crimes. These blackmarketeers are really knowing, intelligent and ordinarily responsible people, and when they indulge in black-marketing, I think they ought to be very severely punished, because the entire system of control and regulation of foodstuffs and essential commodities, and cause wholesale starvation and want and even death.
The next thing that strikes me is this: Here again it is a legacy which has been passed on to us. Along with many other things, good and bad, has arrived this great evil, the evil of nepotism and jobbery. I want to make it quite clear that I shall never tolerate any kind of jobbery, nepotism or any any influence directly of indirectly brought to bear upon me. Whenever I will find that such a practice is in vogue or is continuing anywhere, low or high, I shall certainly not countenance it.
I know there are people who do not quite agree with the division of India and the partition of the Punjab and Bengal. Much has been said against it, but now that it has been accepted, it is the duty of everyone of us to loyally abide by it and honourably act according to the agreement which is now final and binding on all. But you must remember, as I have said, that this mighty revolution that has taken place is unprecedented. One can quite understand the feeling that exists between the two communities wherever one community is in majority and the other is in minority. But the question is, whether it was possible or practicable to act otherwise than what has been done, A division had to take place. On both sides, in Hindustan and Pakistan, there are sections of people who may not agree with it, who may not like it, but in my judgement there was no other solution and I am sure future history will record is verdict in favour of it. And what is more, it will be proved by actual experience as we go on that was the only solution of India's constitutional problem. Any idea of a united India could never have worked and in my judgement it would have led us to terrific disaster. Maybe that view is correct; maybe it is not; that remains to be seen. All the same, in this division it was impossible to avoid the question of minorities being in one Dominion or the other. Now that was unavoidable. There is no other solution. Now what shall we do? Now, if we want to make this great State of Pakistan happy and prosperous, we should wholly and solely concentrate on the well-being of the people, and especially of the masses and the poor. If you will work in co-operation, forgetting the past, burying the hatchet, you are bound to succeed. If you change your past and work together in a spirit that everyone of you, no matter to what community he belongs, no matter what relations he had with you in the past, no matter what is his colour, caste or creed, is first, second and last a citizen of this State with equal rights, privileges, and obligations, there will be on end to the progress you will make.
I cannot emphasize it too much. We should begin to work in that spirit and in course of time all these angularities of the majority and minority communities, the Hindu community and the Muslim community, because even as regards Muslims you have Pathans, Punjabis, Shias, Sunnis and so on, and among the Hindus you have Brahmins, Vashnavas, Khatris, also Bengalis, Madrasis and so on, will vanish. Indeed if you ask me, this has been the biggest hindrance in the way of India to attain the freedom and independence and but for this we would have been free people long long ago. No power can hold another nation, and specially a nation of 400 million souls in subjection; nobody could have conquered you, and even if it had happened, nobody could have continued its hold on you for any length of time, but for this. Therefore, we must learn a lesson from this. 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. As you know, history shows that in England, conditions, some time ago, were much worse than those prevailing in India today. The Roman Catholics and the Protestants persecuted each other. Even now there are some States in existence where there are discriminations made and bars imposed against a particular class. Thank God, we are not starting in those days. We are starting in the days where there is no discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no discrimination between one caste or creed and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State. The people of England in course of time had to face the realities of the situation and had to discharge the responsibilities and burdens placed upon them by the government of their country and they went through that fire step by step. Today, you might say with justice that Roman Catholics and Protestants do not exist; what exists now is that every man is a citizen, an equal citizen of Great Britain and they are all members of the Nation.
Now I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State.
Well, gentlemen, I do not wish to take up any more of your time and thank you again for the honour you have done to me. I shall always be guided by the principles of justice and fairplay without any, as is put in the political language, prejudice or ill-will, in other words, partiality or favouritism. My guiding principle will be justice and complete impartiality, and I am sure that with your support and co-operation, I can look forward to Pakistan becoming one of the greatest nations of the world. I have received a message from the United States of America addressed to me. It reads:
I have the honour to communicate to you, in Your Excellency's capacity as President of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, the following message which I have just received from the Secretary of State of the United States:
On the occasion of of the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly for Pakistan, I extend to you and to the members of the Assembly, the best wishes of the Government and the people of the United States for the successful conclusion of the great work you are about to undertake.
Pray for Iranian Pastor Sentenced to Death
February 23, 2012
Dear Friend,
Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani has been sentenced to death by an Iranian court for converting from Islam to Christianity. He is guilty of apostasy under Islamic law. Christians like this are being persecuted for their faith all over the world.
I will appear with Greta Van Susteren on the Fox News channel at 10 p.m. Eastern tonight to discuss Pastor Yousef. If you’d like to know more about the worldwide persecution of Christians, please read this recent article in Newsweek magazine.
Please alert your family and friends so they can join us in praying for Pastor Yousef.
Thank you, and may God bless you,
Franklin Graham
Monday, May 2, 2011
Pakistani police foil attempt to burn church
LAHORE: Police broke up a mob of people armed with sticks that was threatening to attack a church on Saturday after word spread that two copies of the holy Quran had been burned in eastern Pakistan, officials said. The crowds marching towards the church in the city of Gujranwala blamed Christians for desecration of the holy Quran. Police charged the crowd of 300 people marching towards the church, lightly injuring several protesters, said Saeed Wahla, the top administrator in the city. The protesters blocked a street with barricades of burning tyres. A burned copy of the holy Quran was found on Saturday, and two weeks earlier several burned pages from the holy book turned up, said Nabil Awan, another local official. The All-Pakistan Minorities Alliance condemned Saturday’s march and demanded the government hold an inquiry to find out who was responsible for organising it. The group said such
incidents are “just a conspiracy to destabilise the country”.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Say No to Blasphemy Laws.
Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code says that:
'Whoever, with the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person, utters any word or makes any sound in the hearing of that person or makes any gesture in the sight of that person or places any object in the sight of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.'
Th...is law has been misused since its incorporation into our Penal Code. Hundreds of innocent Pakistanis, mostly non-Muslims have been charged under this law and given long imprisonments.
Both Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti criticized and questioned the validity of this inhumane law and they paid with their life. Pakistanis, the time has come to revoke these inhumane laws.
In the memory of Salman Taseer, Shahbaz Bhatti and all others who died for this firm cause.
Invite your friends and comrades. This is our reply to the Mumtaz brigade.
“Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed thats the only thing that ever has”
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Sketch of one of the attackers who killed Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti.
DIG Islamabad Bin Yameen on Thursday said the police had arrested several suspects in the Shahbaz Bhatti assassination case.
Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Yameen said the suspects were in custody and the police had recovered valuable information from them. He said that witnesses from the crime scene were also cooperating with the police.
The DIG said the police was going through the evidence collected from the crime scene and the weapons recovered from the site. He also said the police had some indications of the vehicle used and the license plate number had also been found.
Earlier, the police released a sketch of one of the attackers, using statements from Former Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti’s driver and other witnesses.
The sketch shows the assassin to be a dark complexioned man, possibly of Punjabi origin. The police also announced a reward for anyone who provides information on the assailant.
Bhatti was assassinated yesterday (March 2, 2011) moments after he left his residence in the I-8/3 area of Islamabad at around 10:30 am. His car was blacked by the assailants who shot him several times and managed to fled the scene.
Meanwhile, a team of three doctors compiled Bhatti’s initial autopsy report, which showed 25 to 30 bullet wounds in the minster’s skull and chest.
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) executive director said a detailed autopsy report will be completed within 48 hours.
He said the forensic report will help investigators know the weapons used in the murder, as well as the number of attackers.
Shahbaz Bhatti’s funeral will be held in Samundari near Faisalabad tomorrow. Two of his brothers are due to arrive tonight.
Speaking to the media, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Amir Ali said the minister’s body will be handed over to his relatives tomorrow.
Minorities' affairs minister Shahbaz Bhatti assassinated Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Islamabad: Pakistan's Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian and vocal opponent of the controversial blasphemy law, was on Wednesday gunned down by Taliban militants as he drove out of his mother's house here, nearly two months after Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer was killed for demanding reform of the harsh statute.
Three to four gunmen ambushed the car of 42-year-old Bhatti, a Catholic, at about 11.20 am local time and indiscriminately fired at him while sparing his driver, police said, adding at least eight bullets hit the minister.
Bhatti was attacked shortly after he drove out of his mother's house close to his official residence. Reports said he visited his mother every morning.
According to BBC, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack on Bhatti, the only Christian member of the Pakistan Cabinet who had been receiving threats to his life for seeking changes in the blasphemy law which imposes the death penalty for insulting Islam.
"This man was a known blasphemer of the Prophet (Mohammad)," the group's deputy spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan told BBC Urdu service.
"We will continue to target all those who speak against the law which punishes those who insult the prophet. Their fate will be the same."
Bhatti is the second senior leader of the ruling PPP to be assassinated in nearly two months for opposing the blasphemy law. On January 4, Punjab Governor Taseer was gunned down by a police guard who was angered by his opposition to the controversial statute.
The gunmen who killed Bhatti threw several pamphlets in Urdu at the site of the attack that linked Bhatti's assassination to his opposition to the controversial blasphemy law.
The pamphlets, issued by 'Tanzim Al Qaida Tehrik Taliban Punjab', said any one who insulted Prophet Mohammed would be given the death sentence. They also said any sort of blasphemy or change in the blasphemy law would not be tolerated.
"There were three to four attackers who intercepted the minister's car a short distance from his home. The attackers targeted only the minister and not the driver," Islamabad police chief Wajid Durrani told reporters.
The driver ducked below the dashboard as the gunmen sprayed bullets at the minister.
The attackers, who were travelling in a white Suzuki Mehran car, were clad in shalwar-kameez and escaped after the brazen attack in broad daylight.
An autopsy performed at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences showed that Bhatti was hit by at least 20 bullets in the face, chest and stomach,
Shahbaz Bhatti has become the second prominent Pakistani politician this year to die for his opposition to the country's blasphemy laws.
Bhatti, the minister for minorities and the only Christian member of the cabinet, was shot dead outside his home in Islamabad by four gunmen proclaiming themselves to be the "Punjabi Taliban".
Like Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab who was shot on 4 January, Bhatti advocated reform of the controversial laws, which can carry the death sentence for anyone who criticises Islam or the Prophet Muhammad. Because they do not require much concrete evidence, they are frequently abused to persecute minorities and settle personal scores.
The political tension over the issue flared up in November when a Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, was sentenced to death for allegedly blaspheming against the Prophet Muhammad. Both men spoke out in her favour.
However, they were left politically isolated when the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) – of which both were members – distanced itself from those advocating reform.
Yousaf Raza Gilani told parliament at the beginning of February that his government would not touch the legislation. "We are all unanimous that nobody wants to change the law," he said.
The statement followed pressure from the religious right, which whipped up public sentiment with huge street rallies. However, giving such a major concession sets a dangerous precedent and indicates that the government is unwilling or unable to fight the extremists in the battle for public opinion.
It also suggests that the administration has learned little from the disastrous 2009 truce with the Taliban. Under that peace agreement, Islamabad agreed to let the Taliban implement Islamic law in parts of north-western Pakistan in the hope that it would decrease the violence in the region. Predictably, the Taliban became more audacious in its move inland, and the deal soon fell apart.
There are now fresh fears for Sherry Rehman, a former PPP information minister who has championed reform. Although the Taliban have declared her "fit to be killed", she has so far refused to leave the country. She has been in semi-hiding since January.
Poignantly, Bhatti was well aware of the danger to his life, and recorded a farewell statement four months ago in which he referred to threats from the Taliban and al-Qaeda. He vowed that he would continue to speak out for minorities:
I will die to defend their rights. These threats and these warnings cannot change my opinions and principles.
The government's decision to back down to religious clerics over this issue will be hugely fortifying to the country's extremists. It does not bode well for the future of Pakistan,
Monday, December 6, 2010
Protesters hold up placards while demanding the release of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who has been sentenced to death for blasphemy, at a rally in Lahore November 21, 2010.
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| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will not repeal its controversial blasphemy law but may amend it to prevent abuse because scrapping the legislation could fuel militancy, a government minister said |
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The law, which carries the death penalty for insulting Islam or its Prophet Mohammad, has come under the spotlight this month after a court sentenced a Christian mother of four, Asia Bibi, to death in a case stemming from a village dispute.
Widespread media attention on the case has led to renewed appeals by human rights groups for the repeal of the law but Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti said that would not happen.
“(Repeal) is not being considered though we are considering changing it so that misuse of the law should be stopped,” Bhatti told Reuters.
The law enjoys widespread support in Pakistan, which is more than 95 per cent Muslim, and politicians are loathe to be seen as soft on the defense of the religion.
Blasphemy convictions are common although the death sentence has never been carried out. Most convictions are thrown out on appeal, but angry mobs have killed many people accused of blasphemy.
Bhatti said consultations with Islamic clerics and representatives of religious minorities on amending the law would soon be held.
He said repealing it was not being considered because that could provoke religious parties and militants who want to topple the pro-US civilian government.
“We have to analyse what the reaction of those having intolerant attitudes will be,” Bibi said. “At this point our aim is to stop its misuse.”
Critics say the law can be misused by people making false accusations against rivals.
Liberal and secular groups say the law discriminates against religious minorities who make up roughly 4 per cent of Pakistan’s 170 million population. Most members of minorities are Christian.
Bhatti said an initial inquiry into the case of the Christian mother suggested she had not committed blasphemy but was falsely accused after a quarrel.
Bibi, the first woman sentenced to death for blasphemy, has appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari to pardon her.
“It will take few more days. We are looking into different things, not just pardon. She could get relief from the courts,” Bhatti said.
Authorities were providing Bibi with security in jail and her family had also moved for safety reasons, he said.
New York-based Human Right Watch has said the blasphemy law and government’s failure to address religious persecution by extremist groups effectively enable atrocities against minorities. – Reuters
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