A man’s religious beliefs are his private issue. On numerous occasions, through the span of history, we have seen the after effects of mediating in somebody’s personal beliefs; it has been only bloodshed and chaos. A history brimming with such cases must be enough to persuade individuals to refrain from labeling someone’s personal beliefs and calling them out for religious differences. A history full of such examples should be able to convince people that not to interfere in somebody’s beliefs. But perhaps we as a society have not learnt from our past mistakes.
An ongoing discussion surfaced when video and pictures of Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan was released online while he was visiting Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar’s shrine. As the video gone viral on social media, it initiated a debate talking about the personal beliefs of Imran Khan. This is an enormous infringement of the limits set to respect religious beliefs of people.
It was saddening to know that most of the people on social media who claim to be the liberals and respecting beliefs of others without discrimination were also questioning religious beliefs of Imran Khan. On the other side, opponent political parties and some prominent politicians also tried to use the issue to maximize their political agenda. General elections are around the corner and political parties are in search of finding anything that they can make a scandal against other parties. It is saddening to know that some senior politicians of PMLN including Khawaja Asif tried to mock Imran Khan over the issue and it is understood that his act was aimed at gaining some petty political advantages. It is pity that political parties are using religious issues just to gain some votes. We all must condemn the political parties that use religious card for political advantages.
We believe that matters of faith or displays of reverence for Sufis ought to remain a private matter; not for public consumption or scrutiny. Regardless of whether or not an individual is a political figure. In the recent past we have witnessed many cases questioning religious beliefs of each other, it is high time that we realize that the matter of religious beliefs is personal and others must not question beliefs of others.
Political parties that use religious card for political advantages must be condemned.
