Headlines:
- Abolish Democracy and Establish the Khilafah on the Method of the Prophethood for Accountability of Rulers
- Paradise Papers Reveal More Corruption in Pakistan’s Political Elite
- A Khaleefah Rashid Would Avenge Martyrs of Kashmir, not Merely Count and Bury Them
Abolish Democracy and Establish the Khilafah on the Method of the Prophethood for Accountability of Rulers
On 9th November 2017, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Farhatullah Babar tendered his resignation from the parliamentary committee on the National Accountability Commission (NAC) Bill, 2017 after his party backed off from the proposal of bringing judges and generals under the purview of the new law. It is noteworthy that differences have emerged within the ranks of the major political parties, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Jamaat-e-Islami over the proposal whether or not to bring generals and judges under the ambit of new accountability laws.
The real reason for these attempts of selective accountability is Democracy because legislative authority is in the hands of the public representatives. Such permission for legislation is the principal reason itself which provides the legal protection to the corrupt people. The powerful always remain outside the ambit of the law, as is evident when the disqualified Nawaz Sharif became eligible for his party’s leadership through earlier legislation. Now, powerful generals and judges are being kept outside of the arena of accountability.
Today, if unbiased accountability is ever to be seen in Pakistan, Democracy must be abolished and the Khilafah (Caliphate) on the Method of the Prophethood must be established in its place. In Islam, the concept of taqwa (god-consciousness) and enjoining the maroof (good) and forbidding the munkar (evil) is the basis of society. Islam’s values will be instilled in the people from childhood through Islamic education, due to which individuals will have strong Islamic personalities. They will follow the commands of Allah (swt) and publicly encourage one another to do what Allah has said is good and abstain from evil, reminding them that they must account for their deeds in the next life before Allah (swt). This is in stark contrast to Democracy, where self-interest or benefit is the basis of all actions.
In the Khilafah State law making is exclusively the right of Allah (swt), the Creator of the universe. Allah (swt) says, in the Qur’an اِنِ الْحُکْمُ اِلاَّ للّه “The Command belongs to none but Allah” [Surah Al-Yousef: 40]. In the Islam, even the Khaleefah cannot change a forbidden to an allowed or an allowed to a forbidden. He is prohibited to make laws according to his whims and wishes. Islam mandates that the Khaleefah must apply the Islamic laws on all citizens regardless of their status. Hence, the idea that the rulers enjoy ‘immunity from prosecution’ is something that Islam does not recognize. Allah (swt) said,إِنَّ اللّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤدُّواْ الأَمَانَاتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُواْ بِالْعَدْلِ “Verily! Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due; and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice.” [An-Nisaa’ 4:58]
Paradise Papers Reveal More Corruption in Pakistan’s Political Elite
After the Panama Papers leaks shook the world elites, by revealing the offshore holdings of some of the most powerful political players, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) released another treasure trove of data late on 5 November 2017. Dubbed the Paradise Papers, the leaks consist of 13.4 million files from “a combination of offshore service providers and the company registries of some of the world’s most secretive countries”. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has formally started investigations against Pakistanis mentioned in Paradise Papers. The most prominent Pakistani name that emerged from the fresh leaks was that of Shaukat Aziz, the Musharraf-era Finance Minister, who also remained Prime Minister from 2004 to 2007, and was the first con to leave the sinking ship of Musharraf.
It is not a surprise that under Democracy, powerful personalities hide their wealth in offshore accounts in order to avoid taxes. It is a retirement plan to maintain their extravagant luxurious lives at public expense, if for some reason they get ousted from political setup. Yet, these corrupt rulers give long lectures to the masses about the civic duty of paying taxes, imposing hefty taxation, whilst they themselves dodge taxes through loop holes such as offshore companies. Pakistan is no exception, as throughout the world, Democracies encourage citizens to pay taxes for state privileges, choking the middle classes in particular. Yet, politicians sitting in parliament make laws to legalize so big fishes avoid taxes through tax havens.
In stark contrast to Democracy, in Islam there are no heavy taxes on each and every individual, preventing them from fulfilling their needs. Hizb ut Tahrir stipulated in its Introduction to the Constitution Article 146: “Muslims pay the taxes that the Shari’ah has permitted to be levied upon them in order to cover the expenditure of the Bayt al-Mal, on the condition that it is levied on that which is surplus to the individual’s needs according to what is normal, and has to be sufficient to cover the needs of the State…” Islam’s unique systems of revenues, derived from the Quran and Sunnah, allows the release of plentiful funds without breaking the backs of the people, preventing the concentration of wealth amongst a select band alone. In the Islamic era, Jews from all over Europe migrated to the Khilafah in Spain and Turkey to invest, flourish and settle. In India, with a predominantly Hindu population, Islamic rule attracted businessmen, traders and merchants from all over the world. Allah (swt) revealed, كَيْ لاَ يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ الأَغْنِيَاءِ مِنْكُمْ “Lest the wealth circulates solely among the wealthy from amongst you.” [Surah Al-Hashr 59:7]
A Khaleefah Rashid Would Avenge Martyrs of Kashmir, not Merely Count and Bury Them
An elderly woman was martyred in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on 14 November after being hit by a bullet fired by an Indian soldier from across the Line of Control (LoC), officials said. She was martyred in Polas Kakuta, located in the proximity of the heavily militarised LoC that has been witnessing frequent ceasefire violations for more than a year now. Mr Arslan said that since the AJK government had lately decided that all civilians martyred in Indian shelling would be laid to rest with full official honours, Ms Bibi would be buried in her village on 15 November amid a guard of honour by police. On 12 November, a 10-year-old boy, playing in the courtyard of his house in Battal sector of tehsil Hajira, was critically wounded in Indian troops’ firing. Before that, two women were martyred and six others wounded in Indian shelling in Leepa Valley of Muzaffarabad division on Oct 24.
Without Islamic rule, the Muslims have become accustomed to the enemies taking our lives without fear of retribution. Instead the current rulers compile statistics and bury the departed with official honours, as if that were there only duty. However, under Islamic rule, once the Jews of Banu Qaynuqa tied the hem of the garment of a Muslim woman who was in their market-place, in such a way that when she stood up, she was uncovered and she screamed. One of the Muslims came and killed the Jew who had violated her honour. Then the Jews attacked the Muslim and martyred him. The Muslim’s family called on the rest of the Muslims to help them against the Jews. It led to the expulsion of Banu Qaynuqa. Their refusal to enter Islam was not the reason for their expulsion; the true reason was their breach of security and open hostility, which convinced the Messenger that it was impossible to live with them in peace.
As long as the Muslims have rulers that exercise restraint, in line with US directives regarding India, the Muslims will see that India will increase in hostility and arrogance. It is upon the Muslims of Pakistan’s armed forces to turn asides from the misguided rulers and act upon that which Allah (swt) revealed about the Battle of Badr, where the Muslims, although outnumbered, prevailed. Allah (swt) said,قُلْ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ سَتُغْلَبُونَ وَتُحْشَرُونَ إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ – قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ ءَايَةٌ فِي فِئَتَيْنِ الْتَقَتَا فِئَةٌ تُقَـتِلُ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَأُخْرَى كَافِرَةٌ يَرَوْنَهُمْ مِّثْلَيْهِمْ رَأْىَ الْعَيْنِ وَاللَّهُ يُؤَيِّدُ بِنَصْرِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لاوْلِى الاٌّبْصَـرِ “Say to those who disbelieve: “You will be defeated and gathered together to Hell, and worst indeed is that place of rest.” – There has already been a sign for you in the two armies that met. One was fighting in the cause of Allah, and as for the other, in disbelief. They saw them with their own eyes twice their number. And Allah supports with His aid whom He wills. Verily, in this is a lesson for those who understand.” [Surah Aal Imran 3:12-13]