Degree

BS (Social Sciences & Liberal Arts)

Faculty / School

School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS)

Department

Department of Social Sciences & Liberal Arts

Date of Award

Fall 2024

Date of Submission

2024-09-13

Advisor

Dr. Sajjad Ahmad, Lecturer, Department of Social Sciences

Project Type

SSLA Culminating Experience

Access Type

Restricted Access

Keywords

Religion, Politics, Society

Abstract

Religion permeates the political contours of Pakistan, a country that emerged as a homeland for South Asian Muslims in 1947. Conceived as a secular polity that would protect the rights of its non-Muslim minorities by its founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, both the identity and system of government in Pakistan soon buckled under an Islamic paradigm promoted by the myriad Muslim groups. It was to be constitutionally consolidated in the objectives resolution of 1949, proclaiming that the buck stopped with Allah and that legislation should be conceived within the dictates of the Quran, thus setting up the tortured relationship between religion and state. The political leadership has resorted increasingly over the decades to using religious identity as a means to retain power and influence. The turning point came when the country was declared an Islamic Republic by the 1956 Constitution. It established Islam as the basis for the state, and all later regimes have continued this tendency, adding that most of them had to use Islamic provisions to validate their rule. A perfect example could be the issuance of the Hudood Ordinances during the 1980s by the regime of Zia-ul-Haq, where he incorporated Islamic injunctions into the legal code of the land, reflecting the commitment the then regime had toward Islamic morality. This period saw a strong shift in the integration of Islamic principles within public life, education, and legislation that continues to impact Pakistan socially and politically. In contemporary politics, religious rhetoric and symbolism have gained heightened importance in party politics and electoral strategies. In other words, political parties are founded on the basis of exploiting Islamic values and symbols to rally mass support and legitimize party positions. Taking the example of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, for instance, the party cores its discourse on issues related to the blasphemy laws and resorts to using religiously charged rhetoric in order to establish it as a protector of Islamic values. Consequently, these parties mobilize religious sentiments so as to galvanize electoral support toward the realization of political ends. Religion also forms one of the biggest bonding elements amongst people in Pakistan. Political issues that are made to appeal to Islamic sentiments and values gain great momentum and popularity. Most of the political parties and movements design their programs of action with words like religious obligation and righteousness, emphasizing a common religious appeal. Public protests, rallies, and social media campaigns use religious themes repeatedly; this it reflects that religion lies at the heart of public discourses. Religion and politics, however, have several dimensions in the context of Pakistan. It is feared that the instrumentalization of religion would increase sectarian tension, damage the secular credentials of the state, and increase political polarization. It impacts the functioning of democratic institutions and protection of the rights of minorities as well. This thesis, through an analysis, examines these dynamics and explores how the politicization of religion is impacting the political setup and processes of Pakistan and the societal cohesion.

Pages

45

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