I've been thinking about the mail I keep getting from Naveed Butt, spokesman of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Pakistan. There is really very little direct exposure to the political programs of political parties in Central Asia in the US press, and some are as different from Trans-Atlantic political discourse as Indian (feathers, not dots) Sovereignty. So here is some of the August 4th statement: In order to continue state oppression on Hizb ut-Tahrir, President Karimov blames Hizb for bomb blasts, which subsequent investigation has validated, followed by all of the August 21st statement: Shaukat Azizs victory proves that in a democratic ruling system the actual representation of the people is not possible.
So, for the benefit of Trans-Atlantic political discourse is a statement of the political program, and its rationale, of a political party that seeks to re-establish the Caliphate -- a subject of Juan Cole's post of today.
The August 4th note:
In order to continue state oppression on Hizb ut-Tahrir, President Karimov blames Hizb for bomb blasts...
Currently Hizb's activists constitute the largest number of prisoners in the Central Asian jails. Moreover, everyone knows that Hizb is a political party and considers participating in armed struggle to achieve her goals, a violation of Shari'ah. Furthermore, getting rid of the Capitalist system and establishing Khilafah is a political change, requiring political and intellectual struggle, not military preparation. Hizb ut-Tahrir aims at mobilising the masses by producing political and intellectual awareness in them, so that they may achieve their rights by implementing Islam.Today, people have reached the conclusion that if they were to gain liberation form the current slavery, it is absolutely imperative for the Ummah to unify and live under Islam. Khilafah is the only ruling system capable of unifying Muslims under a single leadership and implementing Islam, whilst the democratic ruling system is incapable of achieving either of the goals.
Posted by EBW at September 11, 2004 04:04 PM | TrackBack
Shaukat Aziz's victory proves that in a democratic ruling system the actual representation of the people is not possibleShaukat Aziz's recent victory has shown that the actual representation of the masses is not possible through democracy. In democracy, the law-making is left to a specific group of people, namely the legislative assemblies, therefore people with vested interests are well aware that it is absolutely imperative for them or their representatives to be a part of this assembly in order to protect their interests and cover up for their crimes. It is for this very reason that the representatives of these powerful lobbies and agents of imperialist forces never shy away from investing millions of rupees or even sacrificing their loyal activists to achieve this. In this political atmosphere the real leadership and representation of the people is completely sidelined as they do not have the sheer amount of money nor the brute force required to run for election. Today 70% of the total population of Pakistan living in villages have no choice but to vote for the very group of people who are oppressing them the most and accept them as their representatives. This issue of representation is not specific to Pakistani democracy but is intrinsic to the democratic system itself. For example the politicians in America also depend on capitalist multinational companies and powerful lobbies to provide them with funds, political support and security. After securing the rule, the top priority of these politicians is to safeguard the very interests of these forces rather than the interests of the people who elected them. The war in Iraq is a clear proof of this fact, which was fought in the interest of the Oil lobby by deceiving the masses at large. Hence even in a democracy like America, the members of the legislative assemblies are actually the representatives of the powerful lobbies rather than that of the masses. Similarly the democratic governments of Australia, Spain, South Korea etc. sent their troops on the dictates of the American imperialist, casually brushing aside the majority opinion of their peoples.
Khilafah is the only ruling system where actual representation of the people is possible. In Khilafah people elect their representatives to the Majlis-e-Ummah to highlight their problems as well as account the Khaleefah and state officials. Since the Majlis does not have the powers to legislate laws, as legislation only belongs to Allah (swt), nor do the elected representative receives any special benefits, the corrupt elements do not find it worthwhile to run for its membership. As a result those people are pushed for nomination that are the real representatives of the Ummah. And they take on this responsibility only to serve the people for the pleasure of Allah (swt) without looking to gain any worldly benefits.