'Islamic' Republic of Pakistan

[alirulesall123]

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Hi All, I just wanted to know what everybody thinks of the word "islamic" in the official name of pakistan. Do you think that this word should be removed or kept? Keep in mind that Jinnah himself did not want pakistan to be a theocratic state, he wanted it to be secular in nature. And also keep in mind that many other muslim countries do not have "islamic" names. For example, Saudi Arabia, It is "arabia" ruled by the saud royal family. It is NOT that "islamic" kingdom of saudi arabia. Do you think pakistanis would be angry if it was removed? Thanks to all, just want to know what people think about this.

[Salahadin]

there is islamic republic of iran

[acer]

Hi All, I just wanted to know what everybody thinks of the word "islamic" in the official name of pakistan. Do you think that this word should be removed or kept? Keep in mind that Jinnah himself did not want pakistan to be a theocratic state, he wanted it to be secular in nature. And also keep in mind that many other muslim countries do not have "islamic" names. For example, Saudi Arabia, It is "arabia" ruled by the saud royal family. It is NOT that "islamic" kingdom of saudi arabia. Do you think pakistanis would be angry if it was removed? Thanks to all, just want to know what people think about this.

Any way more than 98% of citizens are muslims then there is no need to remove the phrase. Jinnah view were relevent at 1947 ..I dont think now it will affect many..

[TruthSeeker]

When did the word "islamic" become part of the nation's official name?

[dk33]

When did the word "islamic" become part of the nation's official name?

The constitution of 1956.

As to the question posed by the thread starter, it is probably not a good idea to get mired in trivial issues like names, especially when they have a religious significance strongly linked to identity.

It is far more important to strive for equality and justice for all through our laws and actions. Attempting to change the name will just start a huge controversy.

Heck, I doubt whether even the US politicians could successfully get the phrase 'under God' taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance.

The name is here to stay for a while.

[TruthSeeker]

Heck, I doubt whether even the US politicians could successfully get the phrase 'under God' taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Not to mention the phrases on our US money "in god we trust" and all over buildings, etc. Interestingly, I think the phrase "under God" was added to the US Pledge of Allegiance" in 1956 also, during the Eisenhower administration and a Republican controlled Congress. Must have been a lot of "religious" inspiration in the air in 1956.

[Flintlock]

Not to mention the phrases on our US money "in god we trust" and all over buildings, etc. Interestingly, I think the phrase "under God" was added to the US Pledge of Allegiance" in 1956 also, during the Eisenhower administration and a Republican controlled Congress. Must have been a lot of "religious" inspiration in the air in 1956.

The rationale behind that was to check the spread of "Godless" communism. The addition of "God" everywhere is a relic of the cold war era.

[niaz]

The constitution of 1956.

As to the question posed by the thread starter, it is probably not a good idea to get mired in trivial issues like names, especially when they have a religious significance strongly linked to identity.

It is far more important to strive for equality and justice for all through our laws and actions. Attempting to change the name will just start a huge controversy.

Heck, I doubt whether even the US politicians could successfully get the phrase 'under God' taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance.

The name is here to stay for a while.

Agreed; what matters is how we would like to see Pakistan. Look at UAE, there is hardly a place where you dont hear the sound of Azaan 5 times a day. There is however no compulsion of any kind whatoever. Result is that it is one of safest places to live. Women can safely walk alone at 2 AM without the fear of of being molested or robbed. Can they do this in any part of Pakistan?

Changing the name doesnot make or unmake a bigot out of you. It is the society at large and the police to ensure that laws of the land are followed. Regret to say that neither is upto the mark in Pakistan? I know of a friend who told me that in Swabi, Madrassah students objected to his wife driving the car and asked him " how can you let your wife drive alone, she can go where ever she wants" The religious bigots have a dirty mind. Removing the word Islamic would send wrong signals to the retrogressive forces.

[Jihad]

Agreed; what matters is how we would like to see Pakistan. Look at UAE, there is hardly a place where you dont hear the sound of Azaan 5 times a day. There is however no compulsion of any kind whatoever. Result is that it is one of safest places to live. Women cake safely walk alone at 2 AM without the fear of of being molested or robbed. Can they do this in any part of Pakistan?

Changing the name doesnot make or unmake a bigot out of you. It is the society at large and the police to ensure that laws of the land are followed. Regret to say that neither is upto the mark in Pakistan? I know of a friend who told me that in Swabi, Madrassah students objected to his wife driving the car and asked him " how can you let your wife drive alone, she can go where ever she wants" The religious bigots have a dirty mind. Removing the word Islamic would send wrong signals to the retrogressive forces.

Excellent post, simply excellent, unfortunately it's true, but have faith, in due time, our society matures and modernizes, hopefully we'll see a change of mindsets and habits in Pakistan.

[pama]

adding Islamic to Pakistan you are making state as fundamental.
all fundamental states face treat from fundamentalists only.
Look as Israel.

[UnitedPak]

adding Islamic to Pakistan you are making state as fundamental.
all fundamental states face treat from fundamentalists only.
Look as Israel.

There are a million reasons why Israel faces threats. Islamic fundamentalism is way down the list of reasons. I would place the parents of the dead children a lot higher.

[jeypore]

The constitution of 1956.

As to the question posed by the thread starter, it is probably not a good idea to get mired in trivial issues like names, especially when they have a religious significance strongly linked to identity.

It is far more important to strive for equality and justice for all through our laws and actions. Attempting to change the name will just start a huge controversy.

Heck, I doubt whether even the US politicians could successfully get the phrase 'under God' taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance.

The name is here to stay for a while.

I completly disagree, why would you take out the word "under god". This word is not any religious specific and it is a generic term. What should be taken out though is all the 10 commandments on court house and gov't buildings. That impedes on the seperations of church and state ideology.

[omairhr]

What's in a name?
that which we call a rose
by any other name would smell as sweet

[Kansu]

Gentelmen i m sorry for being involved in to your topic.i know this is something should be discussed between you brothers from pakistan.but let me add my thoughts.
As a Turkish;my country is a republic.but till 1928,there was a hint on the religion of the goverment.but this hint was removed in 10 april 1928.so our country became a secular country.
if we ask why it was done;our country had a ''nation building phase''.Turkey was founded as a muslim country,but later it was named as a secular-nation state.the positive sides and negative sides of this matter can be discussed later.let me get back to our topic about Pakistan.
Pakistan was founded as an Islamic republic.An islamic republic because the referance point of the republic is Islam.
lets have a look at the ethic form of the pakistan;

% 60 Pencabi (i hope i write correct.please correct me if i m wrong brothers...)
% 11 Sind
% 10 Pestun
% 8 Urdu
% 8 Jat
% 2.5 Beluci
% 1 others

Brothers;all these ethic groups are Muslim.if we remove the Islam tag from the name of the country,what will be the main idea to hold all these groups together?How will these groups stick together?also it is too late for Pakistan to start building a nation state like Turkey and other European countries.
as a Turkish,i can say that we have some problems because of the misapplication of the secularism and nation state.(but i hope all these problems will be solved very soon.)
for this reason,the removal of Islam from the state tag ;may cause many problems.Our beloved founding father Muhammed Ikbal's way is the correct way.another option may cause a civil war in Pakistan.
so,lets keep saying: Pakistan, ke matlâb ya? Lâ ilâhe illAllah
My Greetings
Kansu

[ajpirzada]

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pakistan was the only country which was created in the name of religion. israel also but we dont recognise it. its islam which is holding us together. also there is nothign to be obsessed about islam. if followed correctly, there are more rights for minorities than we can actually think of. im proud of my country's name and would like to see it lik this. y is it that today we are talkin about taking islam out of our name??? may be for some worldly gains??? Quaid-e-Azam and other muslim leaders wanted a muslim state so y do u think they would have not liked to see it called 'Islamic Republic of Pakistan'.