General ziaul haq was pakistans first ruler to use

General Ziaul Haq was Pakistan's first ruler to use Islam to perpetuate himself. He
categorized citizens into sects. A ruler who divides his people into sects is a mufsidun,
that is one who commits great sins and crimes, an oppressor, a tyrant. "Verily, Firaun
(Pharaoh) exalted himself in the land and made its people sects ... Verily, he was of
the Mufsidun" (28:4).
The Shia and the Sunni came to have different legal obligations. The Hudood and
other "Islam"-labelled laws in respect of the crimes of murder, rape and theft were
applied on the basis of sectarian interpretation.
General Zia also granted madressahs the power to award BA and MA degrees in
Islamic Studies. Each sect and sub-sect (maslak) was permitted to teach its own
curriculum. Degrees were obtained without acquiring knowledge of all aspects of
the discipline. The Shias demanded and got exemption from the compulsory
deduction of Zakat. Unity with the sect and not the faith, became important.

Study Notes by Aamir Mahar 50
The question of sect (shiah), division (firqa), dissension (fitnah) and groups (hizb)
has been considered in the Holy Quran. "...Do not be divided (tafarraqu) in religion"
(42:13). "...And be not of al-mushrikun (hypocrites, dividers, polytheists).
Of those who split up (farqawa) their religion and become sects, each sect rejoicing in
that which is with it" (30:31 and 32). "And be not as those who divided (tafraqu) and
differed (ikhtalafu) among themselves..." (3:105).
"And verily, this is My Straight Path (serate mustaqeema), so follow it, and follow not
other paths (fatafaraqa), for they will separate you away from His path. This He has
ordained for you that you may become the pious (al-muttaqun)" (6:153).
The path is clear and the pitfalls identified. As to the consequences of disobedience,
"Say: 'He has power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or
to cover you with confusion in sects (shiaan), and make you to taste the violence of
one another'. "See how variously We explain the Ayat [signs] so that they may
understand" (6:65)
The gunshot wound, the devastating bomb and the exploding grenade in our
sectarian midst, has made us taste blood, as we trudge the sectarian divide. Most men
and women blindly following their parents schismatic proclivities. A child in his
innocence wants to know, "What a Sunni or a Shia is?"
The difference in fiqh may be unknown to the parents but the prejudice is passed on.
Teachings of the faith lie beneath the murky waters of sectarian practices, adherence
to which is vigorous and abiding.
The Quran continuously confirms the timeless quality of the Message. "But they (men)
have broken their religion among them into sects, each group rejoicing in what is
with it" (23:53). The words "what is with it" excludes the sacred whole.
The invader in Iraq knows about the 'Sunni Triangle' and about the Shiah in the south
before he has learnt anything about Islam, or maybe he perceives these divisions as
Islamic. The Shiah Northern Alliance fought the Sunni Taliban in Afghanistan, and
their neighbours resolutely stood by their favoured sect. Sect precedes faith in these
divisive times.