Today in our society, this atmosphere has become common that breaking the law is considered a skill. The law is broken openly, and it is regarded as great cleverness and smartness. This mindset actually developed because when we lived in undivided India and there was British rule, the British were usurpers; they had occupied India forcefully. The Muslims fought a war of independence against them. On the occasion of 1857 and even afterwards, the series of battles against them continued, and Muslims never accepted the British government from the core of their hearts. Therefore, against the British government in India, the scholars (Ulama) also gave this fatwa (decree) to break the law, because the British government was not a legitimate government—although some scholars opposed this fatwa. In any case, at that time, there was a justification for breaking the law. Now, breaking the law is not permissible. But after the departure of the British, when Pakistan was created, it came into existence under an agreement. It has a constitution and a law, and the same ruling applies to the law of Pakistan: as long as that law does not compel us to commit a sin, obeying it remains obligatory (Wajib). This is because we have pledged that we are citizens of this country, and therefore, we will abide by its laws.
