Seminar on nation, state and democracy held

Islamabad:Muslim Institute in collaboration with Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia organized a seminar titled “Nation-State, Islam and Democracy: Perspectives from Pakistan and Indonesia.

Chairman Nahdatul Ulema, Indonesia, Ulil Abshar Abdalla was chief guest on the occasion. Amongst distinguished speakers were Former Federal Law Minister Ahmer Bilal Soofi, Acting Ambassador of Indonesia Rahmat K. Hindiarta, Amb (r) Tariq Osman Hyder, Adhoc Member Shariat Appellate Bench, Supreme Court Dr Qibla Ayaz Sahib, Senior Research Associate MUSLIM Institute Kashif Aslam and Public Relations Associate Muslim Institute Asif Tanveer Awan. Speakers emphasized that debates on nation-state and democracy are common in academia and should be discussed. Islamic teachings prioritize a welfare state over a specific governance form, with the rightly guided Caliphs selected through diverse methods suited to societal needs. Governance in Islam is based on clear objectives from Islamic Injunctions and laws. Islamic societies do not permit representatives to create policies against Islamic values, though concessions are allowed in exceptional circumstances.

Pakistan, founded on Islamic principles by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, unites diverse cultures and ethnicities. Jinnah advocated for democracy based on Islamic ideals and principles, emphasizing discussions and consultations in state affairs. Debates on nation-state and democracy also require examining post-colonial perspectives. Terms like "expats" vs. "immigrants" and "first world" vs. "third world" reflect biases rooted in Western supremacist philosophies by Kant and Hegel, who influenced liberalism and modern democracy. It is crucial to consider these epistemologies and recognize the rich history of Islam as the common denominator for addressing challenges in Muslim nation-states. Ambassador of Indonesia remarked that Pakistan and Indonesia are two largest Muslim countries having one of largest democracy. There were deep relations between our founding fathers.