Pakistan’s Political Use of Islam: A Historical Discourse

Abstract

Religious Card or Islamic Touch was an important toll in the hands of Muslim leaders during separatist movement in colonial period. The creation of Pakistan was the outcome of many contributory factors in which the most attractive and equally important factor was the use of popular and catchy Religious touch in the speeches of Muslim Leaders which had rejuvenating effects in mass mobilization. Islam was the only pillar of Two Nation Theory which becomes the sole base for partition of Indo-Pakistan Sub-Continent. After independence this Islamic Touch was used in big processions and crowded meetings to have the attention of the people who want Islam and Nizam-A-Mustafa not only in their lives but also in the state craft. But this dream still not come true as the Religion and Islamic Touch is just a political slogan for the political elite of Pakistan. Political parties took benefit of religious touch but not materialize it in shaping the statehood. This article analyse the role of Islamic Touch or Religious Card in the politics of Pakistan and how Islamic touch affect the emotions of general public while casting vote in electoral politics of Pakistan. Either any concrete effort was made to implement the Islamic Touch or this was remained mere catchy words to gain the vote of the people.