Speakers condemned the role of religious clerics and held them responsible for the rise in religious extremism in the country. They were addressing a seminar on 'Rise of Religious Extremism: Implications and Challenges', organised by Human Rights Network here on Monday.
Farooq Tariq of Labour Party demanded "separation of religion from the matters of state as both are different things". He said "a religious state gives birth to fanaticism".
While discussing the root cause, he blamed economic and political factors breed dogmatism. He said, whenever army had grabbed power it supported various religious factions in order to exploit the situation. He slammed the MMA as it facilitated government in promulgating LFO and passed Hasba bill during Balochistan crisis.
Dr Parvez Hoodbhoy said: "Whenever man stops thinking and utilising mental capabilities he converts himself into a creature, which lacks patience absolutely". He said "a secular state is the only way out to get rid of 'religious fanaticism."
Dr Mubarak Ali traced the roots of 'religious fanaticism' in Pakistan. He said Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah himself laid the foundation of fanaticism while saying, Pakistan was established on the day when first Muslim landed in Sub-continent. After that Objective Resolution 1949, the 1973 constitution substantiated religious discrimination, which has ultimately taken the shape of 'religious fanaticism'.
Dr Umer Ayub, president-elect of the Saarc Medical Association, condemned clerics' role in NWFP and Balochistan for their criticism on female education and ban on male doctors to treat women. He said ratio of home deliveries in Pakistan was 80 percent, which was the main cause of infant and maternal mortality.
"This is a litmus test of our backwardness and religious scholars have played a major role in this regard." Sherry Rehman of PPP said: "This state has to be reinvented", and change is not possible in the absence of political will.