By:Yasmeen Ali
Many so-called liberals claim that the Two Nation Theory that created Pakistan, promotes hatred. Their claim is, it is a theory that is irrelevant in today's world and we must promote peace in the world, irrespective of race and religion and do away with the Two Nation Theory like a redundant piece of furniture.
Unlike any geographical state, Pakistan was created as an Islamic Ideological State. The Two Nation Theory outlines the basic identity of the Muslims in the Sub-Continent. It states that it is the religion which establishes their identity, not ethnicity or race. Is the Two Nation Theory irrelevant today? Can the reason for creation of a State ever be irrelevant at any time? If yes, what is the reason for the Baluchs, the Punjabis, the Sindhis, the Pashtuns, the Urdu Speaking to share one common entity-being Pakistanis? If this identity that marks us, is irrelevant in today's world, do we then not stand stripped of the umbrella, each ONLY with his ethnic identity? If this common platform is taken away from all ethnicities currently forming Pakistan, we become only Pashtuns, Urdu Speaking, Baluchs, or Sindhis without a common entity. Does this not hit at the very base of the creation of Pakistan, even today questioning it's very existence-and promoting disintegration?
Allama Iqbal, the great poet and philosopher, was a great advocate of Two-Nation Theory. His presidential address to the Muslim League on December 29, 1930, paved the way for the creation of Pakistan. He made the philosophical explanation of the Two-Nation Theory. He condemned the idols of color and race as he believed in a unified Muslim society in the subcontinent.
Another favorite argument of our so-called liberals is that religion has promoted killings with Muslims killing Muslims. What crap! It is not religion that promotes killing. No religion in the world promotes it. It is vested interest groups that use others for killings. They can and will use any weapon to brain wash available to them , this may or may not include religion.
Addressing the second question, that the Two Nation Theory creates hatred & we should instead promote peace in the world; is establishing one's identity equivalent to promoting hatred?
I challenge those who make this statement to prove that establishing your entity is akin to promoting hatred. How does it conclude that Pakistan created on the basis of ideology is at war with non-Muslims? Pakistan was created on basis of ideology which believes in it's unique identity, and being a pro-active member of the comity of nations in the world. Has any other religious entity given up their religious identity to "promote peace"? What stops Pakistan as a nation to promote peace while maintaining their identity? India too, was created on basis of Two Nation Theory,yet one does not hear the so-called liberal there calling upon their religious groups to give up religion for "peace". They would be laughed out of the country.
Unfortunately, in Pakistan they are considered to be promoting "liberal school of thought", many following for being gullible.
A friend wrote to me," Some are questioning the validity of Two Nation Theory, whereas, some are trying their level best to manipulate its true spirit. Which is slow poison in my opinion".
(The writer is a Lawyer & teaches in a University based in Lahore).
