Use or misuse of public money by the PTI-led government?

The use of religion for political and economic objectives has been a common phenomenon in Pakistan. The religious elites in Pakistan find more space and a privileged status during the reigns of military dictators as compared with the civvies led governments. But it has been Imran khan form amongst the cadres politicians who has been hell bent on securing support from the religious quarters for his political objectives. He had even cast his vote in favor of Maulana Fazul REham when the latter was contesting election for the prime ministerial slot in 2002, but later, however, Fazul Reham became his arch enemy when their political interest came into conflict. Iman khan has even been one of the known sympathizers of Taliban and extends tacit support to their cause which had earned for him the title of “Taliban Khan”, and Taliban too had reposed their confidence in him in on many occasions. The recent act of earmarking a huge sum of public money by the PTI led government for the Jamia Haqania (a seminary headed by Maulana Samiul haq) has raised many sensible eyebrows.

Maulana Samiulhaq,the head of the seminary, is a man better known for his advocacy of Taiban’s cause and extending justification for their operational tactics. He openly supports Taliban on the soil of Pakistan and has actively been supporting the Afghan Taliban both in men and money. In the former case Samiulhaq, by supporting an armed group which challenges the writ of the Pakistani government and launches clandestine operations against it, manifestly violates the constitution of Pakistan. Whereas in the latter case he, being a citizen of Pakistan supports a militant group in his neighbor country, violates international law in all its canons.

The seminary has been known worldwide for serving as an ideological hub and a rich repository for supplying man power to the afghan war in 80s. Majority of fighters in the afghan war had been students of the said seminary. Ideological origin of the key figures in the Taliban’s cabinet could easily be traced back to the Jamia Haqania as their alma mater. The chief executive or the so called amirul momineen of the Talibans goevermnt mullah omer himself and his successors are students of the said seminary..

Maualna samiuhlq ‘s fatherhood of Talibanization and his subsequent influence on them is widely acknowledged, and it was therefore that the government of Pakistan had tasked him to hold negotiation with the Taliban, whereas interestingly Taliban had nominated Imran Khan for negotiation on their behalf as well. During the whole process of negotiation Samiulhaq had been a staunch advocate of the Taliban’s cause and spoke on their behalf. His interview with Geo News by Saleem Safi is a cross-section of his militant and extremist mindset. Major points he raised in his interview are:

· “Taliban are our spiritual children. We treat them like our own kids.”

· “I am the spokesman of Taliban.”

· “The entire world knows my services for Afghan war.”

· “Taliban’s actions and operations are justified as they are in a state of war with the government.”

· “Majority of the Talibans are my students.”

· “Murders and kidnappings( Haider Gilani) are part of the war.”

· “Being our students and children Taliban obey our commands, they are not disobedient students like of college and university.”

(For full interview please click on the link below.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwbiAvvMVls

Some of the PTI’s sympathizers justify the act of PTI-led government ‘patronage to the seminary as an effort of bringing seminaries into the national mainstream. Well, it would indeed be a good action if it were reformation oriented. Taken in this sense, public needs answer the following questions. Why the choice fell only on the seminary led by Samiulhaq throughout the whole province? Is there any reformation package attached to the grant? What kind of changes will be brought into the curriculum of the seminary? To what extent the seminary will detach itself the propagation and support of militant ideology? Why Pakistani public money be spent on bringing up Afghan’s nationals in the seminary?

Bereft of answers for any of the above questions, if the The PTI led government justifies its act as a donation with charitable and religious motives, they must inculcate that the kitty consists of money from all the citizens which include the non-mulism citizens as well. Which a violation of the Article 21 of the constitution of Pakistan which reads.

“A 21. Safeguard against taxation for purposes of any particular religion.- No person shall be compelled to pay any special tax the proceeds of which are to be spent on the propagation or maintenance of any religion other than his own.”

They money spent on religious services under the ministry of religious affairs in Pakistan are collected from the bank accounts ,zakat and usher of Muslims only, and therefore the same cannot be cited in justification for the said act.

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