In Pakistan we have a great abundance of 'Shaheeds'. Everyday the list is expanding, now we have even 'shaheed-e-jamhooriat'. That has created a great confusion in my mind; so far as I understand, in the light of Quran and Sunna, a 'shaheed' is a Muslim who embraces death fighting or striving in the way of God Almighty, to establish the writ of Islam. Striving for jamhooriat, in pursuance of a desire to seize power does not fall in this category. To me such labels are distorting and amounts to playing with the commandments of Islam.
DR ZAHEER ASGHAR KHAN,
Lahore, December 28.