RECORDER REPORT
LAHORE: Former President Asif Ali Zardari, in a message on the Iqbal Day, has asked the people to resist those who are challenging the country by exploiting religion to foist their political agenda on the people.
He said Allama Muhammad Iqbal will always be remembered not only as a sage, poet and philosopher but also for dreaming of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Sub Continent and for his contributions to understanding the true message of our religion.
"The 136th birthday of our poet sage is an occasion to rejoice and celebrate his life and teachings. It is also an occasion to bear in mind that Pakistan has been challenged and the message of Islam is ruthlessly distorted by extremists and militants to foist their narrow political agendas on the people in the name of religion, he added.
He said Iqbal Day is an occasion to reiterate our pledge that we will not permit the foisting of any ideology on the people in the name of religion. It is an occasion to reiterate that we will protect our homeland Pakistan from the challenge mounted by the extremists. Indeed this will be a befitting tribute to the memory of Allama Iqbal on his birthday.
"When some misguided people take up arms for what they call holy war against anyone who disagrees with them they do a lasting disservice to the religion and its teachings," he said, adding: "Let us on this day reaffirm our resolve that we will not allow them to tarnish the image of our religion."
He said Allama Iqbal also believed that religion was a living and dynamic force that needed to be continuously interpreted as modern thought advanced and that as knowledge advances other views are not only possible but may indeed be sounder. Let us imbibe the teachings of Allama Iqbal and not be afraid of critically re-examining our views in the light of alternate views. This indeed is the best tribute we can pay to Allama Iqbal today.
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