It's the same as forcing us here in the US to swear on the Bible or announce allegiance to Jesus even if we are not Christian. The separation of church and state is a fundamental tenet of Democracy. We have those with similar views here in the US. This type of backward thinking is not restricted to Islam. What prevents American Taliban like Roy Moore and Jerry Falwell and other right wing religious types is our political system (so far).
The Pakistani government has been lax in confronting the
protests that have disrupted Pakistani society and have led to at least 6
deaths. Here is a statement on the situation from comrades in the Alami Workers
Party. We applaud their courage.
Awami Workers Party (AWP)
Ph: 0300 8411945
PRESS STATEMENT
Lahore, 26th November 2017 -
The Awami Workers Party (AWP) has unequivocally
demanded the restoration of all mainstream and social media networks, an
opening of all thoroughfares in major cities and vowed to defend the democratic
system against any unconstitutional steps to derail it.
The AWP has also warned that only an end to the use of
religion to achieve political ends by right-wing organisations will prevent the
country from being plunged into an unending civil conflict.
AWP President Fanoos Gujjar, general secretary Akhtar
Hussain, deputy secretary Asmat Shahjehan, Yousaf Masti Khan senior vice
president and spokesperson Farooq Tariq have slammed the ongoing dharna and
protests across the country saying that this is not a question of democratic
liberties but a cynical attempt by the religious right to play with the
sentiments of ordinary Pakistanis and bring the country to a complete
standstill on completely illegitimate grounds.
They said that it is clear that the entire protest
movement is part of a long-term extra-constitutional strategy to undermine the
democratic system by mobilizing religio-political organisations that have
already taken the country and region to the brink of disaster.
It is therefore imperative for all democratic forces
to close ranks and respond to such conspiracies, and the AWP stands at the
forefront of this effort.
The AWP also demanded that the Election Commission of
Pakistan answer for its registration of the Lubaik group as a registered
political party despite the fact that it is completely defying all democratic
norms by deliberately disrupting the normal functioning of the capital city and
provoking violence.
The AWP has also demanded that the elected PML-N
government restore the writ of the civil administration and stop giving up
space to unelected state institutions. Additionally the PML-N must match its
rhetoric about democracy by restoring media freedom at all levels and recognize
that its suspending TV and social media access is fueling rumours that are
further strengthening undemocratic forces.
The AWP also believes that the biggest losers in this
whole episode are ordinary people who are completely voiceless politically and
in whose name both retrograde entities like the LYR group and state
institutions including the ISPR claim to be speaking. In fact, the working
masses of Pakistan are completely alienated from the mainstream political
process, as well as the actions of right-wing groups.
The AWP reiterates its commitment to a genuine
politics of the masses and, as a first step, to exposing the realities of the
current stand-off in the federal capital.
Farman Ali
Secretary Information
0340 1616699
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