Secularism in Pakistan

The Concept of Two-Nation Theory, in itself, was founded largely upon strong beliefs in state secularism and values. The Secularism in Pakistan went from being a matter of practice in law by the Government of Pakistan to a political movement opposing the Islamization policies of the Pakistan's military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq in the 1980s. Supporters of secular policies argue that the founder of the Pakistani state, Muhammad Ali Jinnah had described his desire to see Pakistan as a secular state in his address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on 11 August 1947. Supporters of Islamisation argue that Pakistan was founded as a Muslim state and must thereby implement Islamic religious laws, known as Shariat.

History

Although Pakistan was founded as a separate state for Muslims in the Indian subcontinent in 1947, it remained a Dominion in the British Commonwealth and did not immediately become an Islamic state. Although the 1949 Objectives Resolution envisaged an official role for Islam as the state religion, the state retained the most of the laws that were inherited from the secular British legal code that had been enforced by the British Raj since the 19th century. The ruling Muslim League party supported the pro-secular policies of the country's founding rulers Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan, giving rise to the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami, which sought to create a pure Islamic state. In 1957, the state adopted the name of the "Islamic Republic of Pakistan" and decreed Islam as the official religion, but did not take any further measures to adopt Islamic laws. The country's military rulers Gen. Ayub Khan and Gen. Yahya Khan continued the secular tradition and repressed Islamic political parties.

Islamization

As a reaction to the bifurcation of Pakistan in 1971, hardline Islamic political parties began to see an increase in popular support. In the 1970s, Pakistani ruler Zulfikar Ali Bhutto caved in to a major demand of the Islamic parties by declaring the Ahmadiyya community to be non-Muslims. He also implemented bans on alcohol consumption, gambling and night-clubs. Bhutto was overthrown in 1977 by military general Zia-ul-Haq, who went considerably further with the Hudood and Zina ordinances, Blasphemy laws and the formal introduction of Shariat law.

Modern politics

Political organizations of the minority Hindu and Christian communities continue to demand a more secular system of government, decrying the rampant oppression and victimization caused by the blasphemy laws and rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Pakistani society. While Pakistan elected its first female prime minister in Benazir Bhutto in 1988, she did not repeal most of the Zia-era Islamic laws. Bhutto publicly condemned the Islamic extremists, but her assassination in 2007 and the murders of Pakistani politicians calling for the repeal of the blasphemy laws have stifled pro-secular leaders in Pakistani politics. The regime of military ruler Pervez Musharraff (1999–2008) was seen as more accommodative of Pakistan's Hindu, Christian and Sikh minorities.