Supreme Court (SC) judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Friday stressed the need to put an end to discrimination against minorities, adding that both Islam and the Constitution have protected the rights of minorities.
“The Constitution prohibits various aspects of discrimination and provides protection. Islam has also taught Muslims collectivism,” the top court judge said while addressing a conference on the ‘Fundamental Rights and Constitution’, which was organised by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association.
On the occasion, Justice Isa underscored that any violation of the Constitution would be categorised as treason.
Justice Isa said that that the Constitution – which had been enacted almost 50 years ago on the basis of democratic principles and Islamic laws – provided protection to every citizen regardless of their religion.
He added that the Constitution was written while keeping in mind that the ultimate authority is Allah, and that it was the duty of a Muslim to provide justice to minorities.
“Quaid-e-Azam said that all are equal in Islam and justice should prevail,” he said.
While stating that the Constitution and Islamic principles go “hand-in-hand”, Justice Isa informed that there were many verses of the Holy Quran and Hadith of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) regarding the privacy of the home.
“Suspicion should be avoided and you should not engage in jealousy and hatred with one another,” he said.
“Protecting the Constitution is obligatory upon every Pakistani, so protect it,” he said, warning that any betrayal of the Constitution would be punished not only in this life, but in the hereafter as well.
The apex court judge underscored that the basis of the state Pakistan lies within the Constitution, stating that without it, the foundation of the federation would break apart.
“The Islamic system has arrived, we just need to act on it. The first command of God for Muslims is to acquire knowledge,” said Justice Isa, questioning why the literacy rate in Pakistan was not 100 per cent
Justice Isa did not cite any Western examples and instead compared the nation to Sri Lanka, which has a 100 per cent literacy rate.
“Learning [is achieved] by only the one who always considers themselves a student,” he said, noting that people had neither bothered to learn about the Constitution nor even read its translation.
At this point, he did bring up the West and lamented the fact that the Constitution was not taught in schools, whereas it was taught from a young age in America so that the citizens could know how it came into being.
