Like other parts of the country, sectarian violence has been thriving in Balochistan for the last few years. However, the last six months were deadlier than ever for the Shia-Hazara community of Balochistan, which had been vulnerable to such types of violence. Balochistan, the restive province of the country, seems to be the most favourable ground for fanatics. Despite the heavy deployment of security forces, here religious bigots more conveniently and brazenly carry out their deadly designs than any other part of the country.
There are manifold factors turning the liberal and peace loving society of Balochistan into an intolerant and radicalised one. The state’s failure in providing its poor citizenship with quality-cum-free education is the prime reason behind the menace of thriving fanaticism in Pakistan in general and in Balochistan in particular. The people of Balochistan lag behind in many disciplines, ranging from clean drinking water to access to quality education. A vast majority of people in the province lives below the poverty line. In spite of its richness in mineral resources, the province is home to the largest number of impoverished people of the country. Likewise, the province has worse education statistics than any of the three provinces. The literacy rate in Balochistan is the lowest of the three provinces. Poverty coupled with illiteracy and unemployment push the youth of Balochistan to the fold of various terrorist outfits including religious zealots. In Balochistan, the government’s claims of free education could not go beyond rhetoric. A major portion of the population of the province has no access to basic education. While those who are enrolled face a host of problems like teacher absenteeism, shortage of classrooms and lack of electricity, etc. The increasing primary dropout rate in rural areas is also reflective of the state’s failure in adopting an effective policy towards education. More important, just providing free textbooks stuffed with shoddy content does not serve the cause of free education. The concept of free education may include well equipped building infrastructure, textbooks, stationery, uniforms, transportation facilities, playgrounds and sport goods, to mention a few. Sadly, in Balochistan the concept of free education could not go beyond free textbooks.
On the other hand, madrassas, widely considered as the breeding ground for religious extremism and radicalisation, somewhat offer most of the above-mentioned facilities. In return, the minds of young students are poisoned, instilled with a particular brand of Islam and pernicious doctrine of socio-religious intolerance.
Although Balochistan has the largest land territory, it exhibits the lowest demographic statistics in Pakistan. People are scattered in far-flung areas and badly interconnected due to non-availability of road and communication networks. However, surprisingly, the religious fanatics have successfully stretched out the nexus of their religious schools even in these far-scattered areas. One may fail to find a primary school or a basic health unit in certain parts of Balochistan but one never fails to spot a madrassa in the same area. Finding that there are no other alternatives, poor parents happily send their children to these madrassas, which besides religious education offer food and lodging to students.
Prior to the advent of colonial role in the Muslim world, madrassas were the sole source of intellectual learning. They did not focus on religious education alone but also offered education in various disciplines including science, philosophy and history, to mention a few. These religious schools of ancient times produced great philosophers, historians, intellectuals and theologians like Ibn-i-Rushd, Ibn-i- Khaldun, Imam Ghazali, Ibn-i-Arabi, Roomi and Sa’adi; the list goes on. Nevertheless, today the curriculum of madrassas in our part of the world has shrunk to a certain type of rigid, non-flexible and non-vibrant one, focusing on religious education. Resultantly, narrow minded and radicalised youth is pouring into our society, who not only encourage violent attacks and suicide bombings against their fellow citizens but also take part in such types of deadly attacks themselves.
Besides, the Saudi and Gulf factor in boosting the thriving of religious fanaticism cannot be brushed aside. The Saudi kingdom is widely known for its anti-Shia sentiments. Like other parts of the country, its footprint is also visible in Balochistan. There are a number of mosques and madrassas in Balochistan funded by affluent figures of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states like Dubai and Kuwait. These well-off radicals are keener on funding religious seminaries and mosques rather than schools, basic health units and water filtration plants. To them erecting mosques and madrassas is the best way to please Almighty Allah. Hardly does one find a school or basic health unit in remote areas of Balochistan funded by a Gulf country, but Gulf-sponsored mosques and madrassas are visible in every nook and corner of Balochistan.
To check the mushrooming culture of religious fanaticism, the government must translate its pledges of free education into reality. Liberal education is the only way out to de-radicalise a nation. It not only broadens the vision of people but also effectively checks the influence of orthodoxy in society. And it is time to get on with it.
The writer is an Urdu Lecturer in Turbat, Balochistan