Daily Times

Failure to stand up to extremism is a collective failure, hence it remains a matter of collective responsibility. It is important that the civilian leadership, despite the differences that plague it, must stand united and share the burden of this capitulation. It is, thus, Parliament’s responsibility to unanimously tackle the nefarious designs of the militant right, which openly accuses members of the sitting government, including the interior minister, of blasphemy.

Allowing extremists to participate in elections does not moderate them, it only legitimises their criminality. Our honourable courts and wise judges must ponder over this ‘conspiracy’ and not let it become a norm.

The army chief must also seriously look into the situation and rescue Pakistan’s soft image. Criminals cannot be a part of a democratic polity and a just political order. They will simply not change their tactics, even if they are allowed to share governmental authority.

History makes it evident that extremists always brought a bad name to the Islamic world. They were responsible for the brutal killing of the pious caliphs who succeeded the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). As history shows, terrorists will always remain terrorists.

The toxic narrative surrounding the Faizabad protests and the subsequent activity that occurred in Lahore have been allowed to exist and propagate unchecked. All those who could have stopped this violence from occurring failed to do so. It was, moreover, a failure whose responsibility lies with all institutions.

The heinous assassination attempt on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal is another serious matter that the government machinery must investigate and take required action against. All these incidents highlight how our sacrifices in the struggle against terrorism and extremism are going to waste. Our soft image too is eroding.

The foremost task the national leadership must take on is to safeguard the country’s security and guarantee that people live in peace and socio-economic prosperity. Conditions must be created that wipe out extremism for the sake of internal and external stability.

Criminals cannot be a part of a democratic polity and a just political order. They will simply not change their tactics, even if they are allowed to share governmental authority

A sense of security goes hand in hand with a sense of responsibility. Can we truly depend on powers that shirk their duties and that do not adhere to a strong sense of responsibility? People have the democratic right to question the acts of state and non-state actors. Everyone ought to have the space to express his or her opinions, but sadly, this right is highly circumscribed in Pakistan.

Only if one understands the meaning of life does life attain significance, purpose, goals, direction and sophistication. Positivity stresses the need for all these aspects of life. At the end of the day, the focus is on sophistication and on refinement. Extremists, unfortunately, lack the ability to understand which things make life better for others. They can only give society hate and desperation.

Nawaz Sharif has played his innings well, but he could have done better. At this critical juncture, he should exercise restraint, wait and see, and stop doing things which led to failure in the past. His party can make a mark in the general elections. For his own good, he is advised to remain out of further allusions and confusion. Caution is the best strategy for him.

It is high time that Pakistan wakes up to the economic and social challenges that lie ahead, and resolves issues of extremism and instability.

The writer is a former Director, National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Government of Pakistan, and a political analyst, a public policy expert and an author. His book Post-9/11 Pakistan was published in the United States

The writer is a former Director, National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) Government of Pakistan, a ‘political analyst, a public policy expert and an author. His book Post 9/11 Pakistan was published in the United States

Published in Daily Times, May 12^th 2018.