Politicisation of religion and its implication in Pakistan.

Byline: Quratulain Rashid

Political philosophy and religion are inextricably linked and play a pivotal role in Pakistani political discussions. A country's political culture is well defined by the sets of attitudes, sentiments, and beliefs of people that collectively venture on the order of the political process. In the case of Pakistan, I believe, a country that was liberated based on religion, the foundation of political culture is firmly built on Islamic values and principles. The guiding principles and concepts of Islam have been integrated into the social and political fabric of Pakistan and simultaneously shape the constitutional procedure and system of the government. As a constitutionally democratic country in which eligible members of the state deliberate and decide legislation, the public must be gathered on an ideology that entertains the political gains of leaders running for autonomous positions, so to accomplish their political quest for power and legitimacy for their rule, those leaders use the roots of religion in political track, which in turn annihilates social harmony. In a country like Pakistan, where people practice pluralistic forms of Islam through various spiritual and temporal means, I've realised that incorporating religion into politics has detrimental consequences. Political leaders attempt to engage in methods and spiritual activities that they believe will attract a larger audience and, as a result, benefit their political campaign by attracting votes. In a country that has never experienced a full-term prime minister and has a gazillion cases of violence and terrorism hidden under the guise of religion, the social consequences of religious politicisation are lethal. In the case of Pakistan, the consequences range from partisanship on religious beliefs leading to sectarian strife, the persecution or disempowerment of certain underprivileged organisations working on the cause of preaching the true essence of Islam, to political polarisation and the strengthening of the role of religious parties in the country's political and social arena. There are growing instances in the country that shows how politics influences religious beliefs. Instead of religion coming first, politics comes first, flipping the conventional wisdom about how religion and politics interact. This leads to social divisions and the deterioration of peace. A leader's partisan and condescending approach to religious communication not only...