The Fundamentalist Quandary
Columnist TAHIR MASHHADI goes in-depth into issues of fundamentalism.
Diplomacy, strategy, political compulsions, economic base and military power are inseparable. The existence and well being of any nation depends upon its concept of the national interests and the means by which this national interests can be protected and indeed promoted. Vital national interests are broadly speaking those, which the people of the nation agree that they must defend even at the risk of their lives. In the safeguarding of these interests all is fair. The absence of a well established political culture caused a gradual but dangerous erosion of national cohesion. In the absence of a cohesive, progressive, just and viable political culture in the country, sectarian and ethnic parties jumped into the existing moral, political and intellectual vacuum. All governments have eroded and even destroyed whatever democratic institutions existed. Even in the present military regime there are ambiguities and confusion in all aspects of our political, social and cultural life. The selective implementation of the ban on political activity is hard for the people to understand and greatly erodes the regimes credibility While the ban on mainstream political parties is strictly enforced, the religious parties and groups mobilizing substantial number of people mostly alien Afghan refugees and students from the madrassas are permitted to hold their meetings, processions and demonstrations all over the country. This sadly deprives the voices of reason, moderation and modernism of all the national and smaller but influential regional political parties of putting across their point of view to the masses and be part of the crucial decision making process. Strikes, public meetings and processions create violence by the defiant and muzzle the unity, greatly retard economic activity and create fear and financial hardship to the masses. Such meetings and demonstrations disrupt civic and business lives and overall have a great disruptive and polarizing effect. All such activity should be banned by law and violators sprayed by water hoses with water coloured by non-removable fast colours, booked and punished in accordance with law without exception. On the other hand healthy political activity is an indispensable requirement for any progressive nation and needs to be encouraged, It creates unity, cohesiveness and national integration. Ample opportunity must be provided to the political parties so that they can participate in free and healthy public activity. The voices of rationality, sanity and reason must be allowed to play their part in moulding, projecting and building up a tolerant and progressive public opinion. Sufficient space should be designated on each town and city on lines of “Hyde Park corner” where political meetings and agitations can be held without disrupting traffic or civic life in general as matter of basic fundamental right without official interference of any kind. Such public meetings and gatherings will provide an opportunity to all parties to propagate their policies, aims and agendas and also a chance to give vent to their views openly and provide release to the built up frustrations, tensions and emotions. Maintenance of peace and order will devolve on the party of group holding the rally.
President Pervez Musharraf’s bold and farsighted decision to support the international coalition against terrorism amply serves the national priorities of economic revival, protection of strategic nuclear installations, economic revival and greatly furthers the Kashmir cause, while at the same time serving other national interests. The unprecedented support shown to President Prevez Musharraf and the military regime for its bold and dynamic stand has left no room for any ambiguity. Politicians and the religious leaders must realize as do the vast majority of Pakistanis that the present defining crises has to be combated with wisdom rather than passion. Choosing emotion over reason at this critical stage would have proven disastrous for the security and future well being of the nation. Gen Musharraf’s main focus was of safeguarding the integrity of the country and its strategic assets. Popular and emotional decisions are the easiest to take. It is at difficult times of crises that true mantle of leadership emerges, which distinguishes mere politicians from austere statesman. The decisions taken at defining moments set the course of the nation for generations to come. At this particular point of historically defining moment when Pakistan was placed at the most critical crossroad, Gen. Musharraf took a courageous and timely decision. In addition to the moral righteousness of the cause and all other benefits it accrues for the nation, the bold decision thwarted India’s dreams and opportunity of becoming the most important strategic partner of the US in the region. He has now earned a place on the global diplomatic stage and is regarded by top world leaders as a “sharp and perceptive” leader. He with uncanny vision of the situation carried out diplomatic coup over India. While discussing international affairs it must always be remembered that only individuals have principles. Nations have interests.
In our country mythology is often accepted as history. Exalted concepts, ideals, values and principals advocated and laid down by Quaid-e-Azam have been systematically blurred and distorted under a facade of bland cliches and interpretations favouring officially sanctioned truths of each successive government — civil or military. The misguided, bigoted and fanatical fundamentalist leaders and their illiterate followers (mostly Afghan refugees and students from the Madarassas) almost daily resort to violent demonstrations, obscene gyrations and dancing in the streets, exchanging fire with law enforcing agencies, setting ablaze private and public property, looting shops and banks, disruption, destruction. Shouting of abuses on the nations head of state, the seditious speeches by the leaders in support of terrorists against whom we are engaged as partners in the global coalition against terrorism sanctioned by the UNO, supported by the international community and the Muslim world are most objectionable and abhorrent to the general public. No opportunity has been lost by the hard line leaders of these particular party’s to embarrass Pakistan in the eyes of the watching world. Very little patriotic or Islamic is manifested or has been witnessed in their wild and highly provocative activity Not a single Pakistani flag has been displayed in any of the demonstrations, meetings or processions held so far.
There are all over the country criminal gangs masquerading openly as religious or sectarian champions. They are violent youths armed to the teeth representing students and youth wings of different sects, sub-sects and religious parties and organizations. There are seminaries (Madaris) turning out religious zealots, terrorists and militants. The forces of disintegration are extremely active. The mysteriously well-funded fundamentalists representing newly founded sub-sects, religious groups and organizations are operating at their destructive best. This virulent but militant minority continues to hold the country as hostage. Sectarian hits, murders, never-ending strikes and violent demonstrations in the country are not isolated acts. They are well planned, heavily financed, extremely well coordinated and master minded by shadowy figures who remain out of the reach of the law. It is these ring leaders masquerading as ulema, religious leaders, administrators and teachers of religious seminaries that need to be investigated, tackled and if found involved taken to task by the long arm of the law.
Long standing demand of the vast majority of Pakistanis that the politico-religious extremists and fundamentalists should be reined in has in the past met only with inaction or lip service rather than any tangible and sustained effort directed at eradicating it. All governments have displayed varying degrees of ambivalence in this regard. Even the present military regime has been very high on sound and extremely low on action. Successive Governments’ inability to rein in the gun tooting religious zealots is the main reason for the unchecked rise of fundamentalism, subversion, intolerance, sectarianism and terrorism being witnessed in the country. Past governments of Gen Zia Ul Haq later followed by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif continued to promote obscurantist ideas and practices. Most of all the decade of Zia’s ill-conceived and crippling Islamization of our society continues to haunt us. The successive governments for their narrow selfish vested interests and sometimes even for an incogitable and redundant external policy considerations patronized these religious elements, at times deliberately encouraging the ethnic, sectarian and regional divide. This policy perpetuated divisive tendencies of hate and contempt amongst different segments of the populace. All governments and their leaders have contributed in confusing and demoralizing the people and damaging the unity, integrity and prosperity of the country. They all must, therefore, share the responsibility and blame for the decadent state of our society where barbaric terrorist acts are committed in the name of religion. This is certainly a bitter reflection of the state of decline of our moral, ethical and religious values. It is to our eternal shame that such harmful and anti-state activities were tolerated and even encouraged by government agencies and policies
The two religious parties leading the present agitation against the government had opposed the creation of Pakistan and had even labelled the Quaid-e-Azam as Kafir-e-Azam and have been repeatedly rejected by 98% of Pakistanis in every election held. Even on the present Afghan issue in spite of their best efforts and pouncing on highly emotional issues they have completely failed to mobilize or win over even one percent more of the populace. As a matter of fact the loyal, patriotic and hard working majority of the citizenry of Pakistan have out rightly rejected them. The minute yet vocal religious and ultraconservative sections of our society have always viewed a tolerant, progressive and peaceful state enjoying modem concepts of human freedom and fundamental rights contrary to their traditions of bigotry, narrow mindedness and intolerance. Some of these fundamentalist have always opposed Pakistan’s founding principles and spirit of justice, political pluralism, constitutionalism, egalitarianism and tolerance That some of these bigoted and ignorant obscurantist elements might be in collusion with their parent organizations in India i.e. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and Jamaat-e-Ulema Islam Hind cannot be completely ruled out as they are quite apparently, wittingly or unwittingly dancing to anti-Pakistan propaganda tune being orchestrated by a reborn militant India. Their continued agitation is causing irreparable harm to Pakistan’s international image and internal security concerns especially when Hindu India has adopted a most threatening posture towards Pakistan and for some unfathomable reason these fanatics remain oblivious to this aspect.
Demonstrations and agitations obviously work in Indian interests as they seek to exploit this regional crisis by creating anarchy, disruption and disunity in the country. This type of uncontrolled frenzied activity carries multi-dimensional risks. The religio-political parties, groups and organizations as do all others owe their loyalty and allegiance to Pakistan and only Pakistan. Loyalty to anyone or anything else, which goes against the national interest, cannot even be contemplated or tolerated. Under no circumstances can Pakistan’s national interests and internal security be permitted to be compromised or imperiled just because some misguided and frenzied fundamentalists want their distorted minority opinions enforced by force and violence. A malignant minute minority, however militant and vocal it may be, cannot be permitted to impose on the ninety nine percent of the population their narrow minded and distorted concepts and beliefs, especially since some of them are in direct variance with all concepts of Islam, morality and justice. It is all the most reverent to note that while the Indian interests and sinister designs are being served by these religious zealots, their parent parties in India also are taking out well synchronized processions (peaceful as they are state sponsored) calling for Jihad Strange that the so-called contractors of Islam who are so quick to call for jihad, support for terrorists, rapists, drug smugglers and the most oppressive regime in the world have never demonstrated any love or support for the Muslims of Pakistan and taken to the streets and called for Jihad when Hindu India attacked Pakistan. Nor have they ever done so support of the suffering Muslims of Kashmir who are being denied their inalienable right of self-determination and being slaughtered, brutalized and ravaged by the Hindu armed forces. The presence of large number of Afghans in our cities provides the extremist with manpower to inject instability, terrorism and violence to our polity. The government has done well to strongly remind the Afghan refugees that they as aliens and refugees cannot be permitted to flout the hospitality of the host nation and indulge in political activity on Pakistani soil. They simply cannot violate our laws, display hate and anger towards our nation demonstrate on our streets, and take part in conspiracies against the government. No country in the world allows or tolerates such activity. Any refugee doing so must be repatriated back to Afghanistan immediately.
Many of the fundamentalist organizations operating or existing in the sub-continent share a common easily identifiable linkage with the religious movements of Saudi Arabia, which provides them with ample funds as they propagate their peculiar brand of fundamentalist Islam. Under the cloak of religion some of these elements have agendas, which are sometimes far removed from any concepts of service to Islam or of providing any benefit to Muslims Their disruptive activities have been institutionalized. This financial pipeline of terror has to be dried up and effectively plugged. The Fundamentalist educational (if it can be called that) infrastructure of network of madrassas will have to be reformed. Most of the seminaries openly preach and breed hatred, sectarianism and militancy.
It is a matter of concern that majority of the participants in the protest rallies that have been witnessed in the latest agitation comprise of students drawn from the intricate network of madrassas that have mushroomed all over the country during past two decades. These fanatical militants are further strengthened by a huge number of Afghan refugees that boost up their militant fundamentalist manpower requirements. These fanatics function with impunity at the beck and call of their parent political parties, they thrive on violence, coercion and political blackmail to exert pressure for attainment of their mysterious and incogitable aims through their obscurantist policies. Their violent demonstrations and attempt to dislodge the government has caused grave harm to Pakistan interests. It is a matter of gravest concern that these misguided elements have even attempted to create such a divide as to lead to god forbid a civil war. If the present inflammatory activity (highly dubious and suspicious at the least) of the fundamentalists and the Afghan refugees is allowed to continue it can only result in irresolvable harm to the very foundation of Pakistani nationhood.
The most dangerous single threat that the nation faces today is that of sectarian terrorism. Our self-esteem as a nation is at the lowest with fanatics running amok killing people at will. The diabolical fangs of religious terrorism strike at our very existence, unity, harmony and well being. Sectarian violence and terrorist murders has torn the religious, social and political fabric of the country into shreds and is eating into the very vitals of our nationhood. Apart from its inherent dangers to national unity, cohesiveness and integration, it is responsible for the unnecessary, inhuman and senseless loss of precious human lives. The religious fanatical terrorists have unleashed an unchecked and almost unchallenged reign of terror and created a sense of fear and uncertainty in all segments of the population. Like all previous governments, this regime has repeatedly pledged to eradicate the menace of sectarian violence from our society. Like its predecessors it has also miserably failed to do so. Continued lack of government concern and action has led to the frequent disruption of our metronomic life, widening of the existing divisive tendencies, raising of tensions and increased sense of insecurity to bed-evil our daily life.
Only a rationalistic assessment and approach can steer Pakistan safely. The emotional, jingoistic and ultra religious fundamentalism that is eating away at the very vitals of all spheres of our national life. A nation moves forward by the grace of human bridges that are able to grasp and transmit across years the dreams, aspirations and achievements that a nation has to reach. A conscious comprehensive view of the national interest within the integration of our values and belief has to be considered so that the right goal is chosen. The unity, coherence and security of the nation become the prime concern and take precedence over all-else. It now falls on the strong shoulders of President Pervez Musharraf to take Pakistan into the 21st century. He must now initiate measures to extricate the nation from the abyss of bigotry and eliminate the curse of sectarian terrorism, while at the same time ensuring complete and unhindered freedom of worship for all its citizens. There must be no religious, sectarian or even political considerations involved while deciding on about the measures to be adopted or action contemplated. It has to be long overdue administrative and law and order operation conducted under the auspices of the Armed Forces as a national duty aimed at cleaning our society of this curse once and for all. This requires strong nerves and a mailed fist. No one can nor will oppose such a move as no true Pakistani can possibly support the religious fanatics in their indulgence of such illegal, anti-Islamic, anti-social and amoral activity.
Special Task Forces have to be set up to combat this evil. All intelligence agencies have to be geared up and their effort coordinated. Modern intelligence techniques have to be adopted to infiltrate, identify, locate and destroy the religious, urban, rural, and ethnic and all other terrorist cells in existence. All religious militants, terrorists and troublemakers must be identified, taken into custody and taken to task strictly in accordance with law. Comprehensive legal ban and severe punishments have to be enacted to punish anyone who calls another’s beliefs or practice of religious rites and obligations as un- Islamic or declares another an infidel or non-believer. All mosques, schools, seminaries and organizations must be governed by Board of Trustees and registered with Ministry of Religious Affairs, Provincial Home Departments and respective district administrations. Board of Trustees and the notified ulema, administrators etc to be held responsible for any act of omission or commission. No religious or sectarian education to be permitted to be imparted in any religious mosque, school, seminary or institution unless it is in conformity with a pre-approved syllabi and curriculum. In order to avoid any controversy or disagreement on this score the syllabi and curriculum be approved and recommended by Al-Azhar Islamic University Egypt for all Sunni sects, Islamic University of Qum Iran for Shias and approved by Council of Islamic ideology and Ministry of Auqaf and Religious Affairs. In addition to religious education all courses of normal conventional education as approved by respective Boards of Education must be imparted. Investigations, searches and monitoring of all religious institutions, mosques, schools and seminaries including their funding be carried out to ensure that no violation of set syllabi or any other anti-sectarian, anti-social or unauthorized religious training or activity is being carried out. Military monitoring teams and specially constituted Scrutiny Committees at district and sub-divisional levels should carry out periodic inspections. All religious or sectarian political parties, organizations, schools, seminaries and associations created or organized after January 1, 1977 are banned. If the schools of thoughts, sects, sub-sects or Islamic organizations did not exist anywhere in the world before 1977 they cannot under any realistic religious reality claim to be recognized Islamic schools of thought, sects or sub-sects/movements. In order to safeguard and ensure the sanctity of Friday in Islam, no political activity, strikes, processions or demonstrations should be permitted to be held on this religious day. It will have to be enshrined in laws of Islamic Republic of Pakistan that mosques, seminaries, imambaras and other religious buildings are exclusively dedicated, appropriated and sacrosanct for religious purpose only. Any form of political, agitational or sacrilegious activity, which may defile, pollute or desecrate the sanctity of the mosque or area around it must not be permitted under any circumstance.
The time has come for the government to promulgate laws and initiate strong and stagnant measures to eradicate the curse of terrorism and at the same time ensure safety, security, law and order and protection to its citizenry while ensuring religious protection and freedom of worship to all Pakistanis irrespective of their religious and sectarian beliefs. This is neither difficult controversial, undemocratic or irreligious. In fact laws, rules, regulations and limitations banning, regulating and monitoring such illegal practices as fanning of religious sentiments, preaching sectarian hatred and violence against other religious beliefs, sects and practices exist in all Islamic states and almost all civilized countries of the world. Ours is about the only country in the world where no legal, moral, cultural, social or even spiritual checks and balances exist and free for all permitted. What is required now is action not rhetoric. The fundamentalism of the bigots and merchants of hate, death and destruction is a very potent poison. It is generating such an environment of hatred that brother is killing brother. All shades of public opinion agree that these undesirable tendencies have reached alarming proportions. The choice before the Pakistani nation is simple. Either continue to bear consequences of violence in the streets, unchecked spreading of intolerance, hate, radicalism and terrorism and remain hostages to the forces of extremism, fanaticism and terror or rid of them once and for all. This is the last chance. It goes to the credit of the government that it showed maximum restraint and remarkable patience while the protests remained peaceful. The government has now wisely and correctly declared its intention of clamping down the protestors who have crossed all bounds of civilized and acceptable behaviour. The people will fully support the Government’s crackdown as it is in the national interest. The military regime has belatedly realized that the risks of inaction are always far greater than those of action. The regime simply cannot fail to free Pakistan from the extremist organizations. The fanatical minority can no longer be permitted to hold the vast majority of the loyal Pakistanis hostage and force them to change the concept of a moderate, tolerant, progressive and modern Islamic state that was conceived by the Quaid-e-Azam. This liberation of Pakistani society form the milestone of fanatic militants who seem to have no concept of nationhood, patrioticism, tolerance, modernity and progress can only be carried out by a military regime. The military government has to break the schisms that exist in our society in order to form a closer and more meaningful understanding amongst the various sections of the populace. The nation fully behind their President is looking towards his regime to rid Pakistan of this curse. Now that the time for decisive action has come the people are looking with great hope towards the military regime to start to act like one.
