KILLER ARRESTED FROM KHWAJA AJMER NAGRI AREA: POLICE 12:12 PST
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How many more assassinations?
The writer is a lawyer and political commentator based in London ayesha.khan@tribune.com.pk
How many more assassinations will it take for Pakistanis to unite, not just against the violence of a gruesome murder, but against the ideology that promotes such heinous acts? One cannot expect the JI or the JUI to condemn this ideology because their political success depends on it, but to see Shahbaz Sharif and Rehman Malik sparring at each other instead of collectively fighting the menace in our midst is terribly upsetting. It should be known to all parties that if they continue to blame each other, if they focus more on political point-scoring than on the intolerance that is being bred in our society, one day they too will pay the price. Banners inciting violence against Tehmina Durrani, for a book she wrote years ago have already been spotted in Karachi. Two PPP politicians have been assassinated this year and more are supposedly on the hit list. Several ANP politicians and their loved ones have lost their lives to extremism and military and police families have also paid a terrible price for combating terrorism carried out in the name of religion.
And yet, there is no collective stand against this disease that is destroying the fabric of our society. There is continual appeasement. Two steps forward, one step back. The PML-N, the PML-Q and the PTI, while acknowledging on television that the blasphemy law is misused, are not averse to promoting the law in rallies shared with banned outfits that fan sectarianism. The MQM, notwithstanding its claims against religious extremism, refused to participate in a fateha for the late Salmaan Taseer. Imran Khan cannot condemn the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti without bringing in unconnected issues like drones, which have nothing to do with the violence and discrimination that minority religious communities within Pakistan have faced since well before the drones hit our territory.
And then there are the supposedly liberal parties, the ANP and the PPP. Here we see a division and a troubling willingness on the part of the parties to distance themselves from members more willing to take a stand. When the video of a young girl flogged in Swat was released, there was a clear division in the denial that Mian Iftikhar exhibited and the reasonable wise reaction of Afzal Khan-Lala. And yet Mian Iftikhar later tragically lost his son to the same forces that flogged the young girl. This should be a lesson to the PPP as well. By distancing themselves from the stands of the bolder members of their party, the likes of Prime Minister Gilani or Babar Awan will neither ensure their own security, nor enhance their popularity.
Unless the powers that be, including, very importantly, the military, take a firm stand against appeasement of forces that breed violent extremism, we are doomed. The PPP government must act and exercise authority in order to be taken seriously. Unless the civilian and military leadership collaborates, speaks with one voice, refrains from a blame game and takes joint urgent action, we will have destroyed our very ethos.
Even if the civilian and military leadership fears speaking out or attending funerals, why can’t they take basic steps to reverse this fascist tide? For example, why can’t PTV continually air educational programmes promoting tolerant interpretations of religion and portraying the negatives of violence? Why can’t we put an end to banners and graffiti (wall chalking), especially as they encourage violence? Why shouldn’t proposed rallies require prior permission from a central authority which would ensure that their message is not one of hate? Why can’t Friday sermons be monitored? This happens in most Muslim countries. A Malaysian recently told me that all mosques in his country are ordered to give the same sermon every Friday. Why can’t we do the same? Why shouldn’t a unified sermon be drafted with government oversight and sent to every mosque? Why shouldn’t the state file FIRs and prosecute those clerics, media personalities and others who incite people to violence?
Serious steps must be taken to marginalise the forces that promote hatred. If the civilian and military leadership continues to backtrack and appease them, the state apparatus will soon become irrelevant and our country will descend into anarchy.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2011.
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The hatred is because your population has nothing to focus on due to lack of economic activities. The elite feudal lords have all the money while the poor toil away. They look at the small elite and are struck by the extravagance of their ways. It’s simple economics – lack of economic opportunities = violence in society. Treat the causes. Build a genuinely inclusionary economy (like what India is trying to do and to an extent succeeding.) Instead all I see is some 20-30 families monopolizing business and politics and living in ivory towers while the rest of the country is going to the dogs.
The tipping point seems just around the corner. Shabaz Sharif and Rahman Malik are peas from the same pod.
“Why can’t Friday sermons be monitored?”
Why have we tolerated sermons inciting extreme violence for decades …. calling a section of law abiding citizens wajab-ul-qatal?
@ Arun from Bombay….
You are leaving comments without even thinking what actually was ” two nation theory”….
Why India and Pakistan became two seperate nations.
The only reason was political and religious ideologies…
Pakistan does not have serious economical problems as in India….think again…
We do not have Brahmans, Khutris, Shudras or UNTOUCHABLES in Pakistan….
WE ARE ALL PAKISTANIS…. We Are One Nation… that India is trying hard to divide using handful of corrupt people in the government….
People in HINDUSTAN get opportunities on the basis of caste and social status…
Go back to school one more time and you will realize shining INDIA is so shining as it brags.
And please stay in school…and no running away this time…otherwise will have to deal with you ignorant comments agin…..
Pakistan declared itself an Islamic country. But did nothing to follow through. What form of Islam do we want? How do we implement that? How do we ensure all adheres to the Islamic Vision of the country? It fell silent….
This vacant space was filled by the Mullahs – who saw that more vitriol they poured, more extreme they became, more popular and hence powerful they got. Ultimately it led to a competition called: “my version of Islam” is more extreme than “your version of Islam”. Finally Pakistan has reached the extreme end of the scale of this ridiculous competion- a situation where people say “my version can kill and maim more than your version!!”
The Pakistani governent ( and the military since the military call the shots) simply needs to reclaim this religious space – take over the current narrative and replace by it’s secular verion.
Unless of course it believes in and supports the current extremist narrative!!!
Madam people are too afraid to speak out lest they be murdered next. I think it is a simple, albeit deplorable, case of self-preservation.
You can speak out Madam. You live in London. You may be a very brave writer but I do wonder how brave and forthright you would be — in writing or speech — if you lived in Pakistan.
No disrespect intended. Just wondering.
@waqar:
Man, it seems Arun’s comment really touched a raw nerve in you. He was was just wishing you ways (well, may be gloated a bit) to improve things in the society and did not ask you to defend the two nation theory. You know what I feel, that all Pakistanis have this guilt that the sole cause of this intolerance in their society is cuz the basic existence of its society was based upon the intolerance towards other religion. Ever since you guys have named your country you are trying just too hard to defend the rational behind its formation in the name of islam and in the process you have forgotten to live some thing called “Life”.
What even surprises me more is that that the generation next of Pakistan has not yet been able to get over the partition hangover. Why do you have to remind the world at every step that you do exists and that too for a real reason. I believe in India if not few, most of us have come to a terms that Pakistan does exists and that it is our neighbor and may peace prevail between us.
Well, the million dollar question is , Do Pakistanis realize this…???
@Meekal Ahmed:
NFP does write quite a lot for Dawn.com. Hmm, Where does he live?
No disrespect intended. Just wondering.
@ Waqar…You , my friend are oblivious of the ticking time bomb you are sitting on. Wake up and smell the coffee, if u come out of ur deep sleep you will realize how divided pakistanis are. We are one nation in theory only. The scourge of Seperatism is threatening our existence are busy in self-eulogising and living in fools paradise. Extremists are running riot across Pakistan without check and you , my dear, are happy living in a state of denial. If you think that you are in position of dealing with “ignorant comments”, one can only pity your own ignorance !!!!
@ Waqar…You , my friend are oblivious of the ticking time bomb you are sitting on. Wake up and smell the coffee, if u come out of ur deep sleep you will realize how divided pakistanis are. We are one nation in theory only. The scourge of Seperatism is threatening our existence and people like you are busy in self-eulogising and living in fools paradise. Extremists are running riot across Pakistan without check and you , my dear, are happy living in a state of denial. If you think that you are in position of dealing with “ignorant comments”, one can only pity your own ignorance !!!!
@ Mr. Meekal Ahmed—no disrespect taken but I am a bit surprised by your comment. I understand that people in Pakistan are afraid to speak out and that is why it is important to first work towards creating an environment that minimizes that fear, hence the suggestions regarding PTV’s role in achieving this, monitoring of Friday sermons, rallies, banners, etc and state prosecution of those inciting hate. At no point do I ask civil society to simply speak out (though I do know of some who are doing this) because it is a risk for them but it is the civilian and military leadership that must act to take such measures or else abdicate completely. Would you disagree with this?
ayesha:
the if in the concluding sentence is somewhat irrelevant as is the will
sadly tho’
@Waqar and Arun (Mumbai). While I do not entirely agree with Arun’s view that economic disadvantage is the root of all of Pakistan’s ills, Waqar’s flag-waving, Hindu-hating patriotic reply to Arun is a good indicator of your malaise. Your educational system has succeeded in brainwashing an entire generation. The fact is that caste divisions are slowly breaking down in India. (You can go to jail here if you call anyone an “untouchable”, the term finds more currency in textbooks of Pakistan Studies). Due to reservation quotas the so-called higher castes have only their own enterprise and hard work to fall upon. And not to forget the Sikhs, Parsis, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians and Jains: they are very much part of the Indian economic resurgence, not just the Hindus. Sure, there are loonies everywhere, but our loonies command small followings at the fringes. The loonies on your side have successfully silenced any discussion on the Blasphemy laws. If you modernise (not just expand) your educational system your country will be an economic powerhouse.
What ethos? has there been one? It is each for himself.It is a folly to call ignorant mullahs ‘religious people’. They have no position or power like pope or a rabbi or hindu priests have. Every muslim must know the message of Islam so they cannot be misled by any idiot.
Waqar: What an unconnected reply to Arun’s posting. All that poor chap was trying to tell is one way to wean the youngsters from going into the mullah’s clutch is to create employment opportunities. I cant connect this and 2 nation theories, India shining etc. Kasab was a typical example of how an unemployed youth goes into the terror organisations. We have similar situation in eastern India which again is not well develoed as the rest of the country in terms of employment opportunities (esp in IT and Mfg sectors) and hence the maoists flourish there.
You said: “For example, why can’t PTV continually air educational programmes promoting tolerant interpretations of religion and portraying the negatives of violence?”
Guess you havent been watching PTV recently. They have programmes that talk about Islam as a religion of peace. They have discussions on the need for tolerance etc.
But every day (i think), they have a programme called Kashmir Diaries. Here they show grainy videos (same images all the time) of women being beaten etc and the commentator talks about how the occupying (jalimana) Indian force is attacking Muslim women, children and men.
You cant have one without the other. If you talk off tolerance and the willingness to live with the other, you must be willing to eschew violence of all kinds. You must be prepared to talk about the terrorist camps on your side of the border, you must be prepared to denounce the campaign against the Kashmiri Pundits etc etc. I dont think you are prepared for such a step in far away london, let alone PTV and the moderators on the private channels. The assassination of Taseer has its roots in the demonisation of the other that began with the demonisation of India, Hindus, Ahmediyas, Shias etc etc. The question to you is : Are you prepared to go all the way and in the spirit of Gita, dont expect anything in return?
@waqar:
Your comments itself suggest Arun (mumbai)’s point. The lack of guts to accept reality.
Let us see
Abraham Lincoln
John F Kennedy
John Lennon
Almost covers most of it
“the state apparatus will soon become irrelevant and our country will descend into anarchy.”
Ayesha Sahiba, what makes you believe we have not already descended into the pit of anarchy? State or Executive elected to parlimant by majority concessions to the religious extremists is nothing new to this country. We have a rich history when it comes to acknowledging, accepting and promoting those who use religion to further their political gains, Fazlulla in Swat, his father in law before him, militants in Wazirastan, Musharraf shaking hands with maulana Azam Tariq, list is endless and goes all the way back to 1971 when Army generals chose to use JI and their goons to intimidate and eliminate bengali nationalists.
Waqar, It seems you are ideal candidate for your media’s illustration of pakistan as one nation and one people, need i remind you a little matter of minority communities and especially ahmedies, who i understand are not even issued a passports! lets forget the christians and sikhs and hindus too in pakistan. Rest assure we do not discriminate against schedualed caste population in that fashion !! In fact there are ministers at state and central level from these communities!!
so what one pakistan are you refering to?///
@Ayesha Ijaz Khan:
These are known things right… but no body does any thing towards it. How do you get people who are at the helm to take up these things… for they themselves live in fear?
Waqar
Pakistan is one Nation and one people? Are you on drugs? Sunnis and Shias killing each other, blowing up each others mosques, madrassas, mosques, printed and eectronic media spewing venom at Pakistanis unlike their religious persuasions, whole section of Moslems declared non-Moslems and ‘wajib-ul-quatal’ ( dirty apostate desrving to be killed without consequence) and to top it all, living on Wetern largess?
One Nation, think again!
Unfortunately we have crossed the rubicon towards an Islamist state sometime last year when the state dithered in battling the forces of extremism. Today, there is yet more evidence of state functionaries collusion in murder: a Christian inmate sentenced for blasphemy has died in mysterious circumstances in a Karachi jail. There was an immediate denial by the highest jail authorities that there was any evidence of foul play.
Gradually but surely all minorities including liberals will be forced to adjust their expectations, leave or die. I sincerely hope that attitudes can be turned but there is no part of the leadership in the country that is prepared to take on the genie of extremist thinking in society. A partition or cleansing of sorts is well underway.
Religion, even with its many different interpretations, defines this nation because the powers that be chose to define it as such right from 1948. It was one of the reasons why we lost East Pakistan. It did not have to be religion that was the big idea about this nation but that was to be the consensus of the leaders. We could have chosen a vision of democratic ideals to forge unity but we chose the opium of the masses, religion as the glue. An extremist version of religion, promoted by foreigners, has now gained currency amongst the masses. It’s not the Pakistan or the understanding of Islam that I knew any longer.
It’s good to talk about these things. Perhaps greater awareness will make future leaders realise what is required to make a successful prosperous nation. Our elders and current leadership certainly don’t know it.
@waqar:
dude, you have lost the subject, there was noting wrong what Arun has said, we do have certain section of people under single umbrella but, look at yourself, Minorities, Ahmadis, Shia, Sunni, Wahabi, Bervali etc., etc., are not supporting your cause of being a nation what ever you call it is two nation theory, look at baluch, sindh which are heat under ash. apart from the education system is pathetic 50% of the population living on thumb impression, it is a sorry state, and with comparing your economy with limited population against Indian economy against 1.2 billion no where comparision. when your govt, military struggling to handle just 170 million population few with radical views. how can you finger point towards india! and even a poor man on footpath in India leave dignified life even he eat a single bread per day. he has no fear for anything but look at your self you eat more than 3 times but still you live in paradise of taliban. so ask your govt. to spread education among poor / rich , abolish feudalism, abolish fanatism your country really will come on the track of success
@Waqar
You are leaving comments without even thinking what actually was ” two nation theory”….
Pakistan does not have serious economical problems as in India….think again…
We do not have ….UNTOUCHABLES in Pakistan….
WE ARE ALL PAKISTANIS….We Are One Nation
Brother in case you did not notice,
a. The two nations became three nations back in 1971.
b. Aasia Bibi case started with some women refusing to drink the water touched by her. Still you claim not to have ‘UNTOUCHABLES’.
c.. According to the AG of Balochistan’s statement in Pakistan Supreme Court, FC is responsible for the kidnapping, torture and murder of hundreds of youth in Balochistan.
d. Zaalim on Line declares a section of Pakistan society ‘wajibul qatal’ and this section is asked to declare that they do not believe in ‘false prophets’ before they get a passport.
e. Shias are told not to take out Ashura processions and observe Eid-Miladul Nabi’ indoors for fear of being bombed.
f. Sufi shrines are bombed every other day.
Yet somehow you claim to be one nation.
As the bard said,
Humko maloom hai jannat ki haquiqat,
Lekin, dil ko bahlaane ko Ghalib khayaal achcha hai.
@Everyone
Can not resist recommending this. Read and weep your hearts out
http://tribune.com.pk/story/130606/among-the-blasphemers/
Great article Ayesha…..all of us need to continuously urge and remind the leaders about the vision of the Quaid. I agree that we need to change the focus of PTV so that we can discuss all issues without fear. I would further say that it doesn’t make a difference if you are in or out of Pakistan – the goal of all of us should be to continue exerting pressure on the government.
I think the liberals should stop hiding behind the silly excuse that the Majority in Pakistan are tolerant and liberal. Pakistan’s slide Southwards cannot be stopped unless the Military complex is destroyed and it moves away from the divisive 2 nation theory.
MQM, notwithstanding its claims against religious extremism, refused to participate in a fateha for the late Salmaan Taseer. Imran Khan cannot condemn the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti without bringing in unconnected issues like drones, which have nothing to do with the violence and discrimination that minority religious communities within Pakistan have faced since well before the drones hit our territory
Even if the civilian and military leadership fears speaking out or attending funerals, why can’t they take basic steps to reverse this fascist tide? For example, why can’t PTV continually air educational programmes promoting tolerant interpretations of religion and portraying the negatives of violence? Why can’t we put an end to banners and graffiti (wall chalking), especially as they encourage violence? Why shouldn’t proposed rallies require prior permission from a central authority which would ensure that their message is not one of hate? Why can’t Friday sermons be monitored? This happens in most Muslim countries. A Malaysian recently told me that all mosques in his country are ordered to give the same sermon every Friday. Why can’t we do the same? Why shouldn’t a unified sermon be drafted with government oversight and sent to every mosque? Why shouldn’t the state file FIRs and prosecute those clerics, media personalities and others who incite people to violence?
Five more.