Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that Pakistan's survival lies in converting it into a real Islamic welfare state. He expressed these views while addressing All Pakistan Conference for Ulema and Mushaik, which was organised by PTI here on Thursday.
He said the Pakistanis couldn't emulate a true Islamic state until we get rid of the current corrupt, unjust and fraudulent leaders. "People view me as having bi polar views on religion. However, I claim to bring justice to society and that is what Islam promises to give to its society," he added.
He also condemned suicidal attacks and claimed them to be un-Islamic. However, he did argue that these suicidal attacks are an after effect of an unjust and unfair society not due to Islamic principles. He observed that hypocrisy and western values are the biggest hurdles in the progress of Islam; political hypocrisy is common in Pakistan where it is practised in the name of Islam. "To save Pakistan, we have to revisit the ideology of Pakistan, which laid the foundation for our independence. Till now, political parties only used 'ideology of Pakistan' to gain votes," he added.
According to him, Pakistan can only be revived if we bring back the same ideology that created Pakistan. It is not an ideology of secularism because if secularism is what was desired than there was no need to make Pakistan. It is the ideology of the Pakistan movement that will guide us. They will make Pakistan into a model Islamic state like the one established by the Prophet (PBUH) in Madina. It will be a state based on justice and rule of law. Everyone will be equal before the law. There will be compassion, humanity, concern for the poor and no injustice in the new Pakistan we want to create.
Imran strongly urged the Ulema to unite under one umbrella and shun sectarian politics, which is only damaging the image of Islam in the West. He was of the view that it is imperative to fight hypocrisy, which is distancing the Pakistani youth from Islam.
He condemned the use of religion by Malik Riaz and denied all allegations of taking financial benefits from him. He also shed light on some core issues. He said Pakistan is plagued with people who use religion to gain political clout. "One such person is Maulana Fazlur Rehman who has used religion to such an extent that the youth of Pakistan get chills in their spine on the thought of an Islamic regime in Pakistan," he added.