Pakistan Studies

Rooham Jamali
Ushna Azeem
20/2/2018

CONSEQUENCES OF ISLAMISATION IN PAKISTAN

Islamisation is a term used throughout the world where people are under the influence of

Islamic rule. The Process can be seen throughout the world even in Pakistan. Even though

Pakistan was made not for Islam but a secular state by Jinnah, focusing on Nationality rather

than religion, there were many rulers who used religion as a tool to maintain power and control

in the country.1

General Ayub Khan was a Modernist. During his time, Pakistan’s official name was

changed to Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He tried to change the radical thinking of the Ullema

i.e., the Jamat-e-Islami, a fundamentalist party. Women became more empowered since he

issued Family Law Ordnances in 1967. Marriage had to be recorded at the arbitrary council.

Hence Islamisation under Ayub Khan’s time led to critical thinking and open mindsets. His

government was based on Islam but had a positive influence despite the fact that his democratic

decisions were criticized too. 2

Islamisation during Zulifikar Ali Bhutto’s time had an adverse Aftermath. Although he

was more contemporary than religious, promising Roti, Kapra, Makan to the people of Pakistan,

he was capitulated to the religious organizations. He formed a federal Religious Affairs Ministry

to supervise the teaching and research of the country. 3He also organized Second Islamic Summit

Conference in February 1974, which helped renew cultural and political and religious ties with

1
Islamization | Definition Of Islamization ,Oxford Dictionaries | English.
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/islamization.
2
Ali, Asghar. 1996. "Pakistan: Religion, Politics And Society". Economic And Political Weekly, 2802.
3
Ali, Asghar. 1996. "Pakistan: Religion, Politics And Society". Economic And Political Weekly, 2803.
 Pakistan Studies
Rooham Jamali
Ushna Azeem
20/2/2018

the Middle East. By adding Islamic Reforms to the 1973 constitution and declaring Ahmadi’s

Non-Muslim. 4He added to the Islamisation process in Pakistan, having a negative impact, just

so that the Religious Campaigning against him would stop. He gave in whereas Ayub khan stood

firmly against it. This eventually allowed others after Bhutto to use Islam to sustain supremacy

more fiercely.

Zia-ul-Haq, the president and chief martial-law administrator in the 1980s, there are mixed views

about the impact of Zia’s time on Islamisation. He combined Islamic education and Government

studies creating a balance. His Hudood Ordinances allowed cases to be solved faster than the

civil law, with stricter punishments according to Islam, such as cutting of hands in case of theft,

but it had a marginal impact on the crimes5. Sectarian conflicts rose up as a consequence of the

Laws. Zia’s Nasim-i-Mustapha, is not gender biased according to research by Charles H

Kennedy, where more women have been accused of adultery than men. However, women were

treated as Half Witnesses, logically creating a controversy. The social Impact resulted in

Harassment files again daughters and wives, nonetheless, this led to patriarchy in the society. 6

The Kalashnikov culture established in Zia’s time resulted in terrorism now with shootings and

killings happening on an everyday basis.7

In Conclusion, I’ve felt that the Islamisation in Pakistan has been used as a propaganda

tool. Even though there are positive impacts of the contribution, in the contemporary era, it has

4
Hussain, Rizwan . "Pakistan." In The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford Islamic Studies Online,
http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t236/e0616
5
Kanwal, Lubna. 2018. "Zia Islam Politics Of Legitimacy". Al Adwa 43:30: 44.
6
Kennedy, Charles H. 1988. "Islamization In Pakistan: Implementation Of The Hudood Ordinances". Asian Survey
28 (3): 307-316.
7
Kanwal, Lubna. 2018. "Zia Islam Politics Of Legitimacy". Al Adwa 43:30: 45.
 Pakistan Studies
Rooham Jamali
Ushna Azeem
20/2/2018

created a society that is very insensitive with no freedom of speech such as false blasphemy

accusation of Mashal Khan. Or the Kasoor Rape Cases. If Zia’s Gender Laws were not biased,

there would be no cases such as Zainab Ansari’s Rape and Murder. Islamisation and Zia’s period

has been controversial on nationwide and globally.

Words: 547
 Pakistan Studies
Rooham Jamali
Ushna Azeem
20/2/2018

BIBLOGRAPHY

 Ali, Asghar. 1996. "Pakistan: Religion, Politics And Society". Economic And

Political Weekly, 2802

 Ali, Asghar. 1996. "Pakistan: Religion, Politics And Society". Economic And

Political Weekly, 2803.

 Hussain, Rizwan . "Pakistan." In The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World.

Oxford Islamic Studies Online,

http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t236/e0616

 Islamization | Definition Of Islamization ,Oxford Dictionaries | English.

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/islamization

 Kanwal, Lubna. 2018. "Zia Islam Politics Of Legitimacy". Al Adwa 43:30: 44.

 Kanwal, Lubna. 2018. "Zia Islam Politics Of Legitimacy". Al Adwa 43:30: 45.

 Kennedy, Charles H. 1988. "Islamization In Pakistan: Implementation Of The

Hudood Ordinances". Asian Survey 28 (3): 307-316.