A functional SAARC is a viable option for regional cooperation and progress for the South Asian belt. And will provide a stronger “bargaining power” for the member countries against non-member states while forging new relations. These were some of the views shared by Dr. Yuburaj Sangroula, a Nepalese scholar on international law visiting Pakistan, at … Read more
PIPS workshop with teachers and educationists-III One of the central challenges to teachers of Islamic studies is how to engage with the diversity around them. Curriculum with questionable content, for sure, is one thing, but equally important is for teachers to learn and practice the ways to engage and sensitively reach out to students from … Read more
PIPS workshop with teachers and educationists-II Teachers need to adopt tools of critical inquiry in their own research as well as in teaching others. This will help them keep their teaching content and approaches uninfluenced by political and religious ideologies. While our textbooks and syllabus promote differences among students adhering to different faiths, teachers can … Read more
PIPS workshop with teachers and educationists-I Renowned educationists and scholars argued that followers of the majority faith do not have the right to impose their ideologies on minorities. Instead, they say, protecting minorities and their rights is the way to go, which will also help build a better, softer image of Pakistan. “The day we … Read more
A visiting delegate from Egypt’s prestigious Al-Azhar University said that the extremist elements have nothing to do with Islam. The delegate’s head, Dr. Yusuf Amen, a professor at Al-Azhar University, underscored the need for peace, as advocated by Islam, saying that the world cannot progress without peace. “Those on the wrong path should come back”, … Read more
Scholars, experts and representatives of civil society and human rights organizations watched and reviewed some short films, documentaries and songs produced by Pak Institute for Peace Studies in collaboration with Narratives Pvt. (Ltd.) as part of its ongoing program “Creating an environment that supports interfaith harmony, peace and democratic discourse in Pakistan.” Screened in Islamabad … Read more
Pakistan’s Constitution is a national-level social contract and in the light of Islamic teachings every Pakistani is bound to abide by it. National-level disputes and conflicts, which are shared by all and not linked to certain religious sect or community, should be settled through the majority opinion. A minority cannot be granted the right to … Read more
Muslim jurists’ support for monarchy in times of discord, as an alternative system to Islamic caliphate, was based on their understanding that Islam does not provide a specific framework to run the state affairs. It has been left to Muslims to decide about their system of government with mutual consultation and consensus. Once a social … Read more
Islam has laid down some guiding principles on justice, rights and responsibilities, equality and rule of law, which should become the basis of any political system that undertakes to govern an Islamic state. In that regard democracy appears very close to Islam. These thoughts were expressed by leading religious scholars in a seminar on “Democracy … Read more
Religious scholars and religious-political parties will have to work for improvement in the current political system of Pakistan while staying within the country’s constitutional framework and system of government. Any system of government that is not based on social justice and fairness is opposed to one espoused in Islam. Islam does not support a single … Read more