Voice of Alleey

I take full responsibility for the authenticity of claims because from Dec 2006 to-date I know for a fact that Tanzeem-e-Islami uses pirated software for it’s overall operations. I know for a fact that this issue has been in notice of some of her high-ranking officials since then. It has been discussed and excuses have been made up but even after one devout member (Rafeeq is TI’s jargon) resigned as a reaction to their unwillingness to amend and failure to justify – to-date the situation prevails.

This is a big let down for some considering the stature and high moral character of the founder of TI Dr Israr who failed not to inspire many towards becoming responsible Muslims and citizens of a modern exemplary Islamic state. They want everyone to exhibit high standards of Taqwa but fall short of it in at least this respect! Why such a compromise, given that this shouldn’t even have been an issue in the first place? I for example, have personally recommended – again in presence of high-ranking officials – to adopt free of cost solutions based upon open-source software that would serve all their needs. Oh and it’s beyond question that they are fully capable of purchasing required licenses.

To lead by example should have been their motto, but as far as I know TI rests among the rest – other religious/political parties and movements. I don’t have evidence to support (read again), but my personal conviction is that all other religious parties like Jamaat-e-Islami, Minhaaj-ul-Quran and even Wafaq-ul-Madaris are accustomed to pirated software. I find extreme confidence in holding default skepticism that ** ALL ** religious, governmental and political in Pakistan are guilty of software piracy – and I would love to be proven wrong.

But i’m the most bothered by TI – what could have been their leading edge is their bleeding edge!