APROPOS the article `Secularism anyone?` (Jan 30). The writer`s presumption that capitalism `reinforces existing lawlessness in developing countries` is debatable. In the heyday of capitalism, the Al Capone phenomenon flourished in the USA, a developed country. Capone `legally` hoodwinlced the US revenue-collecting and anti-narcotics agencies (as do businessmen, politicians and others in Pakistan, an underdeveloped country).
In the real world, `legal lawlessness` can co-exist with socialism or any other system.
It was quelled in the US through better law enforcement and the will to do so which is lacking in Pakistan.
Socialism evolved to end the capitalists` exploitation through the imposition of a dictatorship of the proletariat.
Unfortunately, trade unionists scuttled the class-struggle process by striking a compromise with the capitalists. There is no pure laissez-faire or socialist country in the world. All are hybrid republicans accusing even Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders ofbeingsocialists.
Not only secularism, all religions, including Islam, advocate peace, tolerance and protection of the minorities. However `political` Islam, like political Christianity and political Hinduism (beef ban), are intolerant.
