Daily Times

The past few years have been nothing but a sorry commentary on the sick society and the problems that prevent true progress. With every new grotesque sight of people taking lives, designing blood-chilling vilification campaigns, the power to construct an electrifying narrative that may or may not be true grew by leaps and bounds. Today, after religion and politics, the roots of intolerance have grown so deep and wide that a seemingly harmless expression is enough to put the wheels in motion and release the most frightening of Frankenstein’s monsters. On Sunday, police in Bahawalpur arrested a man for allegedly chopping off the head of a three-year-old in a fit of rage, stuffing his body in a gunny sack and burying it in a field. The toddler was made to endure this unimaginable brutality because his father had used a mildly pejorative term. Today, his apology can neither bring back the dead nor give a sense of closure to the parents haunted by life-long trauma.

From religious to political intolerance, Pakistan seems to be grappling with a wave of negativity that threatens to further divide its already polarized population. Many may trace this descent back to the growing influence of extremist ideologies that infiltrated the masses, normalising the desire to become a law unto themselves. Radical groups have exploited religious sentiments to fuel hatred and violence, resulting in a toxic environment where intolerance thrives. Between vicious attacks on women, religious minorities and recently, those with a differing political opinion, the vigilante brigade kept aiming for higher standards of freedom to enforce its preferred code. More catastrophically, little to no accountability meant more and more people felt empowered to act upon these sinister wishes.

In most cases, the government does not take due notice of the threats unleashed upon the lives and peace of its citizens. Since no religious sentiments have been harmed in this horrific murder, local law enforcement agencies might propel into action against the culprits. Yet, it would be an utter delusion to expect that this isolated incident could somehow reverse the broader issues at play.

We need a constructive role from the media and civil society to confront this issue head-on by ensuring that any such perpetrators are held accountable. By shining a light on the dark underbelly of intolerance, the media can help raise awareness and instigate change. Just as important is the need to remove stigmas associated with mental health in a country that has one of the highest rates of mental illness in the world. To allow fury to take over decisions would pave the ground for a collective tragedy, riddled with errors. *