SOME 30pc of our population is under the age of 12, and is not obligated to fast. At any given point in time, one in four women cannot fast because of their monthly cycle.

The ill, the old and travellers are not obligated to fast. There are also 4.5pc of people who are over the age of 65. And let’s add one per cent for the ill, and one per cent for travellers. The minorities make up another 3.6pc of our population.

So, on any given day of Ramazan, there are approximately 50pc people in Pakistan who cannot or are not obligated to fast. These are mainly people for whom fasting will be a hardship, that is why they are not obligated or in some cases even forbidden to fast.

How can a law be passed that makes it illegal for almost 50pc of the population to eat in public, a right given to them by Islam? Even the Quran and Hadith do not forbid them from eating in public.

They are not obligated to fast and hence they have not been forbidden by Islam to eat in public or private. Anyone who is too ill to fast is obligated by Islam to break their fast before they do their body and life harm. That moment can be in public or private, based on how God willed it. Who are we as humans to take away the rights that God has given?

We Pakistanis have made a law that is contrary to the HolyQuran and the Hadith and tarnishes the name of Islam.

Nida. R. Farid

Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2018