REFERENCE Owen Bennett-Jones`s article (Nov 9). Of course, Pakistan is a religious state but not a theocracy (A.K.

Brohi`s Fundamental Law of Pakistan).

Our constitution has a long list of Islamic rights. But, they are circumscribed with the proviso that they are not enforceable through courts. Our law of evidence lays down conditions to qualif y as a competent witness.

But, a proviso makes any witness acceptable if a competent one is not available.

Islam protects rights of people from all walks of life, weak and strong, including parents, children, relatives of the poor, spouses, minorities, and prisoners. For instance, Islam gives: right to protect life (Quran 17:33), to protect own and others` properties (2:188), to protect female modesty (4:24), privacy, own and others` (24:27), one`s faith, even if it be other than Islam (2:256, 6:109), right of expression (29:46, 4:148), of holding function (3:104), to oppose corruption (5:33), receive education (2:129), justice (2:129), and equality (49:13).

Likewise Islam outlines duties of its followers like the duty to follow the instruction (4:59), abide by the law (7:85, 2:229), maintain peace (25:63), protect life (15:32), to follow persons (2:83), obey parents (17:23-24 31:14), duty to be fair in dealings (55:9, 4:10), duty to the f air sex (30:21, 17:32, 4:3, 4:16) and duty to do good to all (5:17, 4:36).

The wily politicians hide disabling provisions about Islamic rights and duties in our constitution. So they pander to their sentiments through cheap religious slogans.

Who would tell the truth to the people and garner enough votes in parliament to resuscitate mute provisions in the constitution? Amjed]aaved Rawalpindi