Sectarian violence has degenerated into plain terrorism. No state or government can condone it, least of all when it undermines the rule of law in a democracy. It must be ruthlessly crushed whenever and wherever it raises its ugly head. If this is self-evident, why have successive governments failed so miserably to root it out?
Bad, opportunist politicians are partly responsible. Governments, especially weak or unstable ones, tend to stick to the status quo. Their philosophy on sectarianism is: “It’s a hornets’ nest, don’t touch it”. This emboldens the sectarian militants to run amuck and kill at will. Blackmail and threats have thus become ominous parts of their character and vocabulary. Judges, in particular, appear to be especially vulnerable to this pressure — they are sometimes loathe to hand down tough decisions against sectarian militants.
Another reason relates to the state’s absurd, even bizarre attitude towards anything which parades as “Islamic”. If you grow a flowing beard, don a prayer cap and tie your shalwar so that it falls above your ankles, you may be deemed to have acquired the halo of “Islamic” respectability. Add “Haji” to your name, if you are so fortunate, and you can often get away with blue murder.
There are other important reasons. The sectarian fanatics are armed to the teeth and they are ready to die for their misplaced “cause”. They are trained and funded by outside powers fighting a proxy war on Pakistani soil. Many are, or have been, patronised by certain agencies of the Pakistani state because of their readiness to fight for the “jehad” in Kashmir or Afghanistan. Almost all run “madrassas” which benefit from state largesse of one sort or another, despite the fact that many such “madrassas” are now breeding grounds for terrorist violence.
We have mollycoddled such anti-state, anti-democracy elements for too long. It’s time we put down this terrorism with an iron hand. It undermines peace and stability. It erodes the credibility of the organs of the state. And it makes a mockery of the law and the constitution we have sworn to uphold. How should the government go about it?
First, ban all weapons from society. Cancel all gun licenses. Order people to surrender their weapons. And put everyone into prison if he is guilty of disobeying this law. How can any state aspiring to 21st century modernity condone weapons in the hands of its citizenry? For how long must we allow the Darra Bazaars and Tribal Sardars of the NWFP and Balochistan to blackmail and dictate terms to the rest of the country? If the disorderly Taliban can disarm the tribals of Afghanistan during a bloody civil war, why can’t a better organised and stronger state apparatus do the same in Pakistan if the will is there?
Second, set some new, urgent standards of civil behaviour. Treat sectarianism as a “crime” instead of “appealing” to it or trying to appease it. Crack down on all dubious madrassas. Imprison all those maulvis and religious ideologues who preach violence or want to drive opposing sects into paradise at the point of a bayonet. Lock-up all printing presses churning out sectarian pamphlets and posters. Tell Iran and Saudi Arabia to stay clear. And charge all such sectarianists before special, anti-Sectarian benches of the High Courts empowered to dish out stiff sentences.
Third, don’t allow anyone to mix politics with base religiosity. Islam is, as everyone says, not just a beautiful religion of peace — it is a complete code of life which preaches, above all, the brotherhood of man, irrespective of caste or creed (as the Quaid i Azam never tired of emphasising).
Can the government of the day adopt this far-reaching but crucial agenda?
We believe it can, indeed it must. If the 13th amendment can be scrapped in the blinking of an eye despite strong, historically entrenched vested interests, if the high and mighty can be held accountable for their sins, if the economic philosophy of the powerful IMF can be stood on its head (rightly or wrongly), why can’t the government deliver us from the sectarian murderers and bigots who have laid civil society low?
The experience of putting down terrorism in Karachi might be instructive. First, the government must gird up its loins and demonstrate the will and nerves to tackle this menace once and for all. No more pussy-footing. No more compromises. No more backtracking. No more empty rhetoric. No more velvet gloves. No more “protective” custodies. Second, the power of the sectarianists must be met with the full power of the state. The police must be backed by para-military forces in strength. Third, the CID, Special Branch and IB must join hands to ensure the success of Operation-Clean-Up. Fourth, sectarian criminals must be promptly hauled up before special courts and given summary, exemplary sentences.
This is a moment of reckoning. Conditions are ripe for a sustained onslaught against sectarianism. Mr Nawaz Sharif has the public’s mandate. All opposition political parties are united behind him on this issue. Say Bismillah, Mian Sahib, and get on with it.