Dark theocratic clouds over the Punjab

            It is a distressing situation.     

Dark theocratic clouds over the Punjab

Lahore; October 2022:   PML-Q along with PTI rules the Punjab. Mr. Parvez Elahi of PML-Q is the chief minister.

            Within three days of assuming power in the province, the chief minister issued orders through a ‘MOST URGENT’ ‘REMINDER’ with a ‘TIME LIMIT’ of one-day for implementation, “to ensure implementation of the amendment regarding the oath of Khatme Nabuwwat in the true letter and spirit in Nikah (marriage) formalities”. This order was issued in the days when the whole country was immersed in floods of Biblical dimensions and the province itself was stuck in the treacherous marsh of grave political instability.

            Now, a few weeks later, after the country closely escaped bankruptcy, one finds the government of Punjab spending huge sums on prime-time advertisements on numerous private TV channels on the issue of Khatme Nabuwwat at the occasion of solemnizing Nikahs. It is worth mentioning that in the past 14 centuries of Islamic society, no such certification of faith in End of Prophethood was ever required for the Nikah to be valid — in Sharia or in custom or law.

            This ad was diligently designed by professionals. It shows a Nikah being performed by a mulla in the grand Royal Mosque of Lahore. It shows a certificate of faith in the Khatme Nabuwwat, whose script can be easily read by viewers. It requires faith in the last, total and unconditional faith in Khatam un Nabiyyeen… . The groom and the bride is shown looking happy over the certification. The ad is being shown for days on end — now for weeks.

(Note: The anti-Ahmadi law provides three-year imprisonment to Ahmadis if they openly declare that they also believe 100 percent in the Holy Prophet as Khatam un Nabiyyeen. Also, vast majority of Muslims in Pakistan believe in the future advent of Prophet Isa among Muslims — so such certificates are a huge fraud played on Pakistani Muslims.)

            The ad declares that “We (the advertisers, Govt of Punjab) are grateful to Allah over this great blessing (Saadat Uzma).”

            The ad has been shown repeatedly on TV channels ARY, Bol, HUM, 92 News etc, day after day, every few minutes. To be specific, a display can be seen shown at 21:55 on October 14, 2022.

            This story would not be complete without following observations:

1. The aim is primarily to gain political mileage. The PML-Q hopes to get some more votes through this campaign.
2. This TV ad drive is likely to drive the wedge further between the simple-minded mainstream Muslim youth and Ahmadis — a deliberate policy with extreme right.
3. Part of the aim could be to oblige TV channels with plenty of ad money.
4. PML-Q stands for Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid-i-Azam; thus it claims special commitment to the ideals promoted by the Quaid. However, one the most important guidelines given by the Quaid was that Pakistan would not be a theocracy, and the state will have nothing to do with the religion of the citizen.