Daily Times

Sir: We all cry over plights of Rohingya Muslims. We also fiercely condemn the inhumane treatment Muslims face at the hands of religious bigots everywhere in the world, especially in the West. Moreover, we demand equality and freedom of religious practices. All is justified. But do we reciprocate and whether minorities are safe and get equal rights in Pakistan? Recent death of a Christian student, Sharoon Masih, in Burewala speaks of volumes in this regard. Hypocrisy is at its best.

Owing to radicalisation of our education system it is hardly surprising that a Christian student was barred from using a water cooler as it would contaminate water and make it unfit for pious Muslim students to drink. This had compelled Sharoon Masih to remain thirsty throughout the long hours of schooling in this hot weather. However, Sharoon rebelled and his attempt to drink water from the cooler cost his life at hand of his classmate. This is not an isolate incident,the country’s education system has deeply been radicalised at all level mostly universities. Paradoxically, universities have become breeding grounds of intolerance and extremism. Militant organisations recruit students from these universities. Hostels are sanctuaries of the “agent of chaos”. Moreover, investigation in Mashal Khan case has also revealed that there is unholy nexus between corruption and extremism in campuses.

The scenario is very gloomy and for sure an existential threat to the country. Thus it demands an urgent but comprehensive workplan to fight this monster. The plan can be divided into two phases: short-term and long-term goals. For short term, security of campuses and proper monitoring of student activities are necessary in order to prevent any misfortune.

For long-term goals, first a drastic change must be brought into the curriculum. One of reasons behind our radicalized society in general, and campuses in particular, is the teaching of distorted and monolithic history, which breeds hatred in the hearts of students. Hence, a pluralistic narrative is required. Time is short and the country is at the stake.

KASHIF HASSAN

Karachi

Published in Daily Times, September 19^th 2017.