Saleem Tariq Lone
- General. Making Pakistan in the image of the Riasat e Madina the way forward, In Shaa Allah.
- In order to transform Pakistan into the image of Riasat e Madina ; the first and foremost condition is bound to be the political will and commitment of all the political parties, and the state institutions. Indeed, it would be an uphill and gigantic project, requiring an Action Plan with all requisite resources including ideological, human, management, financial, and technological.
- The following brief but fundamental suggestions, covering all aspects and facets of our national life, are submitted for consideration and implementation by the Prime Minister and his team :-
a. The Council of Islamic Ideology, Pakistan, must be immediately tasked to prepare a comprehensive action plan, with immediate, short term, medium term, and long-term measures, to implement the Islamic Code of Life in letter and spirit in the light of its reports already prepared in this regard since its inception.
b. The federal/provincial governments and local bodies with active support and participation of the public should focus on the following issues of national importance and evolve an effective strategy to achieve prompt and satisfactory results for comprehensive implementation of Islamic code of life in letter and spirit as envisaged in the Constitution of Pakistan.
c. Despite very specific and pertinent constitutional provisions namely articles 2/A, 25/A, 31, 37(a,b) calling for establishment of an Islamic Order based on the Quranic Injunctions and Sunnah, we as a nation and a polity are very far from those Objectives and our destination.
d. An amendment made by an Ordinance in article 227(D), giving sanctity to the sectarian bias in the constitution of Pakistan, must be repealed to re-emphasize unity among the Muslims of Pakistan.
e. Most importantly a universal system of Salaat and Zakaat will be established in the country. These two are the fundamental pillars of an Islamic order which must be established by the State.
i. All markets will be closed for Salaat timings, and Salaat system will be established in schools, colleges, universities and offices.
ii. Azaan system for the five prayers will be established on all TV channels and radio stations as well.
iii. The whole system of Zakaat in Pakistan must be reviewed in light of the recommendations prepared by the Council of Islamic Ideology of Pakistan and implemented in letter and spirit. The citizens of Pakistan must be educated and motivated to pay Zakaat. This would become feasible only if the government of Pakistan establishes a transparent and reliable system of Zakaat collection and distribution to the deserving/needy persons.
f. Revision and introduction of a uniform educational curriculum for the students of schools, colleges and madaris to imbibe/introduce in the new generation true Islamic values free from the Sectarian bias, history and culture, besides proper exposure to the new advancements in contemporary knowledge of physical and social sciences.
(1) A well thought out strategy and action plan must be prepared and implemented to inculcate the Islamic values in the new generation by Practice and Example.
(2) The newly enacted law at the federal level ( Act of 2017) and the Punjab province ( Act of 2021) Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran in schools and colleges with proper translation must be implemented in letter and spirit, by taking all requisite measures.
(3) The translation of the Quran e Hakeem published by the ILM foundation, Karachi, is acceptable to all Muslim sects. Alhamdulillah.
i. This federal law needs to be extended to all private schools and colleges in Islamabad, to whom the CDA has given land at very low rates to encourage quality education, but these schools have almost abolished Islamic values and education and subjects from their curriculum. Besides, the law introduced in the Punjab must also be made applicable to all private schools and colleges in the Punjab.
ii. Furthermore, the other three provinces including FATA, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir must also legislate in this regard.
g. Obscenity and Vulgarity in the electronic and print media, including educational campuses and offices, and introduction of effective measures to curb them, taking all stakeholders on board.
h. Effectively terminating Riba in all its facets and institutions in the light of the recommendations of Council of Islamic Ideology, Pakistan.
i. A detailed report on the implementation of a Riba free banking system and other economic institutions at the macro and micro levels is available on record. The need is to have these measures and recommendations implemented by the Federal Government.
i. Effectively improving the civil and criminal justice system, which is presently very inefficient and expensive, to make it really efficient and public friendly.
j. Various measures being introduced by the SCP to reduce the pendency of cases in the criminal and civil courts are producing good results.
k. However, more amendments in the relevant laws and procedures are required to be made to achieve the desired results.
l. Improving the system of elections and mushawarat (consultation) at the federal, provincial, and local levels, to ensure that persons of character, integrity and competence are elected to the parliament and other institutions vide articles 62 and 63 of the constitution of Pakistan.
m. The role of Pakistan Election Commission must be made more effective to achieve the above-mentioned goals.
n. Establishing an effective and efficient system of accountability for all institutions at all levels, including Civil and Military bureaucracy, the Judiciary, and the Parliamentarians.
o. In order to make the proceedings of the Parliament and the superior courts including SCP and HCS throughout Pakistan amenable to the general public and the media, dedicated channels must be set up which should give live coverage to such proceedings throughout their sessions. This would be an effective measure to oversee and improve the working of both the Parliament and the Superior Courts.
MAY ALLAH SWT BLESS, GUIDE AND PROTECT US ALL. - Conclusion.
THE ABOVE SUGGESTIONS ARE SUBMITTED FOR THE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION AND FAITHFUL IMPLEMENTATION BY THE HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN, HIS CABINET AND ALL CONCERNED MINISTRIES ON TOP PRIORITY.
Indeed it would be my great pleasure and honour to assist the government in implementing the above noted recommendations in letter and spirit. In Sha Allah
