Mosques and temples

Published in The Hindu on October 9, 2010

To most Muslims, a mosque is a sacred place. One of the tactics used by land-grabbers in Pakistan is to build a mosque on empty plots, knowing full well that no Muslim would ever think of demolishing it. While there have been a few instances in Saudi Arabia of mosques being pulled down and rebuilt, they are very rare in other Muslim countries. Secondly, if we accept that any property built on the ruins of a temple is illegal, almost all mosques, churches and gurdwaras are at a risk of destruction. Anyone can plant idols in the vicinity of any property owned by a non-Hindu and claim that it was built over a ruined temple.

The first judgement in March 1886 (by an Englishman), “It is most unfortunate that a Masjid should have been built on land specially held sacred by the Hindus. But as the event occurred 358 years ago, it is too late now to remedy the grievance,” was the correct one, although it is not known how the judge concluded that the mosque was built on sacred land.

Shakir Lakhani,

Karachi

"Historic" verdict

Law and faith

Published in the Hindu on October 02, 2010

I congratulate the judges of the Allahabad High Court on delivering a historic verdict. Those who demolished the Babri Masjid will now have a greater incentive to destroy the existing mosques in India. In fact, Indians don't need to go to court for settlement of property disputes. Just divide all disputed properties equally among the claimants. A lot of time will be saved, not to speak of the huge fees charged by lawyers.

Shakir Lakhani,

Karachi

9/11 side effect on Muslims

Published in The Hindu on May 11, 2009

An important side-effect of 9/11 has been the increasing tendency among Muslims to openly display their religious identity. Girls suddenly took to covering themselves in burqas while clean-shaven men started sporting beards. Everywhere Muslims meet they talk about how they are being discriminated against in countries where they are not in a majority. The fight against terrorism is seen as a war on Islam and the invasion of Iraq is cited as proof that the non-Muslim world wants to grab the resources of Muslims.

Shakir Lakhani,

Karachi

Hatred for Muslims in India

Published in The Hindu on March 23, 2009

When I asked my father why he left India and migrated to Pakistan, he said Muslims did not feel safe after Partition in India. It seems even in those days there were politicians like Narendra Modi and Varun Gandhi who spread hatred against Muslims.

Shakir Lakhani,

Karachi

Hindu Taliban

Shocking

Published in The Hindu on January 29, 2009

Mangalore-type incidents are becoming more frequent. One hopes the government will take strict action against the vandals before they start attacking people on occasions like New Year-eve too. Fearing Islamist extremists, clubs and hotels in Pakistan have not been holding parties on New Year-eve for many years now. It seems, like their Muslim counterparts in Pakistan, groups like the Sri Ram Sene also believe that it is a sin to enjoy life.

Shakir Lakhani,

Karachi

Shocking, simply shocking

Published in The Hindu on January 14, 2009

It is shocking to read media reports that Israel is using deadly weapons against the people of Gaza. I wonder how the inheritors of the oldest civilisation on earth can cause such agony to innocent civilians. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Shakir Lakhani,

Karachi

Baloch Unrest

Published in The Hindu

Although Bugti's death is regrettable, he cannot be called a leader who fought for the rights of the people of Balochistan. He ruled over his people with an iron hand.

Like all warlords, he thought he was invincible. Some people have compared his killing to the execution of Bhutto, whose death, surprisingly, did not result in rioting by his supporters, as has happened in the case of Bugti.

Shakir Lakhani

Bangladesh

Published in The Hindu on April 19, 2007

I don't understand why there is such a furore over Rahul's remark. We in Pakistan have long suspected that the Bangladesh operation was planned meticulously by the Indian Government after it failed to defeat Pakistan in 1965 and its army was halted outside Lahore. Indira Gandhi took advantage of the blunders committed by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Yahya Khan to divide Pakistan.

Shakir Lakhani