You have proposed a 15-point agenda to counter religious intolerance. What made you do that?
There is so much sectarian violence and religious intolerance in Pakistan. The only way is to bind all religious denominations to follow a code of conduct. And if any such code is not followed, it will result in increased religious hatred and violence.
How can it be implemented?
See, this is why we are in contact with Islamic Ideological Council, politicians and all other concerned authorities. Jamaat-e-Islami extended its favors while I also met Mushahid Hussain Syed. So this is how we are contacting everybody for its implementation. If the government makes these points a part of law, it will be greatly helpful in bettering the adverse situation. Hopefully, these points will become a part of law.
What are the three most important points of your agenda?
First, no Islamic sect or person should call another an infidel. Secondly, there should be complete ban on religiously prejudiced literature and misuse of loudspeakers. Thirdly, nobody should be allowed to desecrate the sanctity of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), his holy wives, his companions, and Imam Mehdi. Moreover, seminars and public conferences should be held in order to promote tolerance, Friday sermons should be held on consensus topics that are acceptable to everybody, whether a Sunni or a Shia. This is the main objective of my agenda. Such stern law should be designed that no sermonizer could insult the other denomination.
What do you expect from the Council of Islamic Ideology?
The CII is required to respond to the events taking place at national level. It is a constitutional institution. I am hopeful that my friends will support this cause. A meeting will be held in this regard.
How can laws against hate speech be implemented?
It is not a difficult task for the government. When I was an advisor in Punjab, I used to personally monitor these laws. Actually, when one knows there is punishment for speaking against somebody, there will be less likelihood of occurrence of hate speech.
There are some religious factions that call Shias infidels. How would you deal with them?
This is the first point, actually. No religious denomination shall be allowed to call the other infidel. As a matter of fact, this agenda has been approved by the Milli Yakjehti Council, which means, religious scholars from all sects have agreed to this law.
In Malaysia, every Friday sermon is approved by the government. The sermonizers are government employees and thus answerable for whatever they say. Can we have such a system here?
No, it is not possible here. Our system will not accept it nor does the government have enough capacity to adopt such a system. A government that cannot tackle with a situation where 10 to 15 people are killed, and is forced to talked to the organizations that it officially banned, how can such a government monitor Friday sermons in about half a million mosques?
“It is extremely difficult to appreciate why our Sunni friends fail to understand the real nature of Shia and Sunni. They are not religions in the strict sense of the word, but are, in fact, different and distinct social orders, and it is a dream that the Shia and Sunni can ever evolve a common nationality, and this misconception of one Pakistan nation has troubles and will lead Pakistan to destruction if we fail to revise our notions in time. The shias and Sunnis belong to two different religious philosophies, social customs, and litterateurs. They neither intermarry nor interdine together and, indeed, they belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their aspect on life and of life are different. It is quite clear that Sunnis and Shias derive their inspiration from different sources of history. They have different epics, different heroes, and different episodes. Very often the hero of one is a foe of the other and, likewise, their victories and defeats overlap. To yoke together two such nations under a single state, one as a numerical minority and the other as a majority, must lead to growing discontent and final destruction of any fabric that may be so built for the government of such a state.”
Shia and Sunni two nationss? Two civilazations even? So, what do you think might be the solution to all this senseless violation and killing? Same procedure as 1947 and another partition of the country?