Workshop on ‘Islam, Democracy and Constitution’ concludes

PESHAWAR: Speakers and participants at a workshop held here said the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan fulfilled the requirements of a democratic and Islamic state.

The three-day workshop titled “Islam, Democracy and the Constitution of Pakistan” was organised by the International Research Council for Religious Affairs (IRCRA) in collaboration with the Peace and Education Foundation (PEF), Islamabad at the Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre, University of Peshawar.

The speakers discussed democratic aspects of the Constitution and also highlighted the national and international law and agreements in light of Islamic teachings.

Some of the speakers appreciated the democratic narrative shaped in the book “Islam, Democracy and the Constitution of Pakistan” authored by IRCRA President Muhammad Israr Madani.

The book comprises 10 chapters answering all the objections against the 1973 Constitution, democracy and Takfeer, election in Islamic perspective and democratic values in the light of Islam, democratic system in Pakistan and around the globe, merits of democracy and demerits of dictatorship, concept of Caliphate and Islamic principle of democracy.

Religious leaders, including, Jamia Haqqania Akora Khattak head Maulana Samiul Haq, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman,Senator Sajid Mir and a number of intellectuals reviewed and recommended the book.

They praised the efforts of the IRCRA for resolving and addressing the issues about the political system of Pakistan.

The speakers at the workshop expressed the determination to counter the extremist assaults on the Constitution of Pakistan and deplored the counter-democratic narratives of violent groups.

The participants expressed the will to guard the Islamic democratic aspects of the Constitution at every platform. They agreed that the counter-narrative needed to be narrated and publicised by school, college and madrassa teachers, academia and peshimams of mosques.

Highlighting the issues and challenges in the promotion of democratic norms and culture, the speakers urged the authorities to assist the IRCRA president Muhammad Israr Madani and PEF to continue efforts at the national level.

Known scholars, intellectuals and media professionals including the Council of Islamic Ideology Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz, senior journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai and Allama Tehmeed Jan Al Azharri, executive director IRCRA, also addressed the seminar.