For one, the Ahmadi issue in Pakistan is both a political and a religious one. Humza’s comments on whether the State should be allowed to decide who is (or not) a Muslim reflects his poor understanding of the subject at both levels.
Whether we like it or not, Pakistan is an Islamic Republic no matter if Jinnah wanted it to be otherwise. In such a country, religion is more than just an individual belief, and the State holds the authority to define the parameters of religion. The real question Hamza Ali Abbasi should be asking is if Pakistan ‘should’ be an Islamic republic or not because that will decide the question of whether the state should remain neutral towards different Islamic sects and religious groups including Ahmadis.
Humza stirring a debate on this complicated issue on live TV show backed with very little substance to defend or argue was dangerous because it has made the issue more controversial than it already is. Well-intentioned Humza, perhaps, does not realize that he might end up causing more danger than safety to a community that prefers to silently survive in Pakistan than resort to social or political activism. The fact that Ahmadi community depoliticized itself in 1970’s and opts to remain absent from the social and political life of Pakistan is a good enough evidence that the community wants to avoid attention.
Second, choosing the right forum to discuss the Ahmadi issue is even more important than the debate itself. The ratings-hungry mainstream media, especially talk shows does not provide the right environment to discuss important issues either. Hamza Ali Abbasi isn’t the first one to raise the Ahamadi question, our very own Mubashir Lucman launched his career by running back to back shows supporting Ahmadis and causing a massive stir. But if Ahmadis thought this would make a difference, they were disappointed when Lucman took a U-turn and ran an anti-Ahmadi episode later on.
To believe that any serious change in the circumstances of Ahmadis can be caused through discussions on the mainstream media has been tried, tested and proven wrong. If anything, mainstream media can only damage and marginalize the Ahmadi community further. Better platforms to argue the Ahmadi case might be at the policy and constituency level and most importantly at the educational level including universities. Given that anti Ahmadi sentiment runs deep among the illiterate and educated classes in Pakistan reflects the need to change the discourse around Ahmadis at the school and university level. It’s a slow process and will take decades, but eventually produce results, not just high ratings for a Ramzan show.
Also very important is the optics. Hamza Ali Abbasi with his privileged background in the entertainment industry and somewhat secular outlook can defend Ahmadis and it will have little or no impact. People who already agree with him will agree and share his videos, those on the other side of the religious aisle will be quick to discredit him for his lack of understanding on the issue, despite the fact that all he really is talking about is common sense protection of a certain community. Pakistan is deeply fractured when it comes to the Ahmadi issue with an overwhelming majority either against the community or oblivious to its persecution. What Ahmadis need is a support from more people like Ghamdi’s, Taseer’s or Sharif’s who are in a position to argue on religious or political bases and nudge through a change in policy.
This isn’t to say that Hamza Ali Abbasi shouldn’t have the freedom of speech to say what he likes, but despite all his good intentions, his lack of understanding on the subject, unfavorable professional background, and use of the wrong platform to discuss the issue may cause the opposite of what he wanted to achieve. He is a brave man who may not fear his life but what he says on the TV may have put the lives of innocent Ahmadis at a further risk.
Hussain Nadim is PhD Candidate and Coordinator South Asia Study Group at University of Sydney
KARACHI - Following are the foreign currency exchange rates for US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound Sterling, U.A.E. Dirham, European Euro, and other foreign currencies in Pakistan open market on January 27, 2023 (Friday).
Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 07:00 AM)
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
US Dollar | USD | 264 | 266 |
Euro | EUR | 274 | 276.7 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 311 | 314 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 68.7 | 69.3 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 66.4 | 67 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 176 | 178 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 615.68 | 620.18 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 186 | 188 |
China Yuan | CNY | 34.12 | 34.37 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 33.83 | 34.18 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 29.52 | 29.87 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 2.81 | 2.89 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 2.5 | 2.54 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 756.69 | 761.69 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 52.59 | 53.04 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 148.33 | 149.53 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 22.43 | 22.73 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 600.37 | 604.87 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 63.5 | 64 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 178 | 179.3 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 21.78 | 22.08 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 250.23 | 251.98 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 6.98 | 7.08 |
KARACHI – The price of a single tola of 24-karat gold in Pakistan is Rs203,900 on Friday. The price of 10 grams of 24k gold was recorded at Rs174,810.
Likewise, 10 grams of 22k gold were being traded for Rs160,241 while a single tola of 22-karat gold was being sold at Rs 186,907.
Note: The gold rate in Pakistan is fluctuating according to the international market so the price is never been fixed. The below rates are provided by local gold markets and Sarafa Markets of different cities.
City | Gold | Silver |
Lahore | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Karachi | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Islamabad | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Peshawar | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Quetta | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Sialkot | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Attock | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Gujranwala | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Jehlum | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Multan | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Bahawalpur | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Gujrat | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Nawabshah | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Chakwal | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Hyderabad | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Nowshehra | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Sargodha | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Faisalabad | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Mirpur | PKR 203,900 | PKR 2,100 |
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