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Pakistan goes Islamic with a vengeance

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief on Friday announced a package of steps, through an amendment of the Constitution, to make the Quran and Sunnah the supreme law of Pakistan.

In an address to the national assembly, which was carried on national television, Sharief said the move will be called as the fifteenth amendment in the Constitution, making the injunctions of the holy scriptures the supreme law, in the light of which the affairs of the country would be conducted.

This new amendment would help in establishing five time prayers, distribution of zakat and in undertaking good work which would help in eliminating the prevalent evil in the society and in establishing a ''true Islamic welfare state,'' the premier said.

He said he wanted all laws to be based exclusively on the teachings of the holy scriptures which provide a complete interpretation of the Islamic laws.

Sharif hoped that the proposed amendment of the Constitution would help in removing corruption, punishing the culprits, providing protection to the ladies and safeguarding their rights and developing the society as a whole.

He said this amendment would ensure justice to the people and would provide for dealing with terrorists according to Islamic laws.

The constitutional amendment was quickly condemned by human rights activists, Opposition politicians and constitutional experts.

The country's Opposition, led by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, said the new Islamic order will worsen sectarian strife in a country wracked by religiously motivated violence that has already killed hundreds of people.

Human rights activists accused and embattled Sharief of using Islam to strengthen his authority.

''In the name of Islam, Nawaz Sharief is trying to perpetuate a fascist rule . . . It repeals the entire Constitution,'' said Asma Jehangir, a prominent human rights activist and lawyer.

Laws like this embolden militant Muslims who will use the new law to impose their brand of Islam, warned Jehangir.

''It is unleashing terror in the streets . . . It gives all the madrassa (religious school students) the go-ahead to become vigilantes,'' she said.

Meanwhile, Sharief sought to assure minorities -- which make up barely five per cent of the country's 140 million people -- and women that the new Islamic laws would not infringe on their rights.

His emphasis on education for women appeared to be an attempt to make it clear that Pakistan's version of Islamic law is not the same as neighbouring Afghanistan where the Taliban rule.

Despite Sharief's promises, Jehangir said, ''This amendment does not say anything about the protection of women's rights."

Because Sharief controls a two-thirds majority in Parliament it seems likely the constitutional amendment will pass with little difficulty.

UNI

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