The Concept of an Islamic State in Pakistan
What does it truly mean for Pakistan to be an ‘Islamic state’?
Since 1947, this question has stood at the heart of the country’s political and ideological struggles – shaping constitutions, defining power structures and fueling endless debate between faith and reason, divine sovereignty and popular will.
In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed – political scientist, academic, author and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Stockholm University – joins Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, physicist, educator, columnist and author, to discuss the arguments explored in Dr. Ahmed’s seminal book, The Concept of an Islamic State in Pakistan: An Analysis of the Ideological Controversies.
Drawing upon nine distinct ideological positions, Dr. Ahmed investigates the roots of Pakistan’s enduring debate, examining how religious, political and philosophical ideas have collided and converged in defining the state’s identity. The discussion will explore whether the ideals of an Islamic polity can coexist with modern democracy and what these foundational controversies mean for Pakistan’s present and future.
This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.
The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
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