This past Thursday, the National Assembly in Pakistan officially approved a resolution to change the name of the physics department at Quaid-i-Azam University, from ‘The Professor Abdus Salam Centre for Physics, to the ‘Al-Khazini’ Department.
Following a heated session on the National Assembly floor last year, Captain Muhammad Safdar, a lawmaker for PML-N (and husband of Maryam Nawaz) fired off an anti-Ahmadi sentiment.
His rant led him to suggest the changing of the name of the QAU Physics center, currently named after Professor Abdus Salam, an Ahmadi, to be called the ‘Al Khazini department’ after the Byzantine-originated astronomer.
Dr. Abdus Salam, a renowned Pakistani physicist, and recipient of the Nobel Prize has long been noted as one of the most significant individuals in the Physics world in Pakistan
Making major strides, the university honored his efforts by naming their Physics department after him in 2016.
It is interesting to see that especially considering the latest events in India, regarding a portrait of Jinnah in Aligarh Muslim University causing bloodshed, that something so superficial is causing such unrest in the political makeup of this country.
The Ahmadi community in Pakistan is a minority and is known to be very oppressed when it comes to recognition, safety, and basic civilian rights.
The fact that the National Assembly pushed to change the name of the department, based solely on the religious background of the professor fired off major conversation on social media.
Following the passing of the resolution, many Pakistanis were quite offended:
Shame on the National Assembly for encouraging a religious bigot like Safdar – this will only further encourage sectarianism & empower small-minded people like him. Absolutely disgusted. Shame on PML-N.https://t.co/RYa0EMXb0s
— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) May 3, 2018
This is how Pakistan honors its heroes. Shame. National assembly passes resolution to drop the name of #Pakistan's first Nobel laureate #AbdusSalam from Quaid-e-Azam University's Physics Dept because he hailed from #Ahmadiyya community. pic.twitter.com/Pk5xQ3Tata
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) May 3, 2018
An utterly disgraceful act. Pakistan's parliament votes to remove Abdus Salam's name (Pakistan's only Nobel scientist) out of religious bigotry. Science has no future in Pakistan with jokers like these calling the shots. https://t.co/6OinQ56RQd
— Atif Mian (@AtifRMian) May 3, 2018
While some recognized the bigger picture
??? pic.twitter.com/A2SxOTVQ3I
— Hemant Jain (@KothariProduct) May 3, 2018
V have not Dishonored him we have degraded ourselves
— Sirajulmunir Mohamad (@sirajulmunirmo1) May 3, 2018
But most of all, everyone knew that Professor Abdus Salam deserved nothing but recognition for his efforts.
Abdul Salaam,A Pakistani scientist-Nobel prize https://t.co/eIj8HP2jcU khazini -Seljuk from Persia Iran.Has Arabs & Iranians given Tributes 2 our Heroes?.ASHAMED of U..NA passes resolution to rename QAU's Abdus Salam Centre to al-Khazini Department
https://t.co/9gyd8p9LWt— shaheen salahuddin (@shaheenindus) May 4, 2018
Dr. Abdul Salaam was the first Pakistani who had won the Nobel Award in Physics. We all Pakistani are proud of him.
— Ch. M. Aslam (@integtel) May 3, 2018
Naming or not naming a university department after Dr Abdus Salam wont have any impact on his legacy. As long as physics exists, his name will forever exist. pic.twitter.com/LAJPAT2Jui
— SIR .. (@SirJohnRoe) May 3, 2018
What do you think of the situation? Do you think it’s fair? Let us know in the comments below.
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Cover photo source: dailytimes.com.pk/tribune.com.pk