I largely agree with you on the above comments. Still, the point that Hoodbhoy was making is that the version of Islam that is becoming more popular is historically very foreign to the much more tolerant version of Islam that was the product of the sub-continent. And I still don't think that the little rant on the pervasiveness of religion had anything to do with him being an expert in Islamic law! He was just stating how things are, not making any particular theological pronouncements...