As gun shots echoed through the walls inside, our Federal Minister for Water Resources tucked his gun into the back pocket of his jeans standing outside.Donning a bullet proof jacket over his black shirt, he was ready to take on the terrorists attacking the Chinese Consulate in Karachi. Speaking to the media he said: ‘This is our country and we will fight for it.’ Over the next few days this scene would become the butt of many jokes- to no one’s surprise. From Rambo to Rajinikanth the memes just got funnier.However, others praised the minister for his courage.
Although PR stunts are indeed a useful weapon for politicians, it unlikely (or at the very least irrational) for an MNA to willingly risk his life for the sake of popularity. Nevertheless, between the laughter and the applause Mr. Vawda’sactions raised a very serious question: can we, ordinary people, do anything to combat the menace of terrorism?
Our armed forces have repeatedly claimed that the backbone of terrorism in Pakistan has been broken. There is no doubt that terrorist activities over the last few years have decreased drastically. However, the recent blast in Orakzai, which left over 33 dead and 56 injured, is proof that the issue is still alive. And it is an issue which affects the life of every Pakistani. Yet the common response is to step back, place the entire burden on security personnel and claim that the problem lies outside our domain.
Faisal Vawda chose the road not taken. However, following in his footsteps is not a better alternative. Tackling incidents such as the attack on the Chinese Consulate requires tact. There is a reason officers like SuhaiTalpur spend years training. While Mr.Vawda’s intentions may have been good, his actions set a dangerous precedent. As a politician he enjoys a significant fan following and in a country where access to illegal arms and ammunition is not very difficult, popularizing the idea of taking terrorists head on is extremely dangerous.
Imagine hundreds of men running to the streets holding guns every time there is a terrorist attack. The list of casualties will be long and there will be little record of who shot whom. So then what does one do after watching terrorists trying to tear apart our country on national television?
Terrorism in Pakistan is still alive because individuals are still being drawn towards violence in the name of Islam. And these terrorists are emerging from the very same society we live in. Young Naureen Leghari was a student at Liaquat Medical University when she left her family to become a suicide bomber targeting the Christian community on Easter last year. Saad Aziz, an IBA graduate, executed the Safoora Goth attack, killing 45 members of the Ismaili community in 2015.
Why someone becomes a terrorist is a complex issue. Economists say it is due to poverty, psychiatrists have told me it is due to psychological vulnerabilities, many students at Karachi University believed it was because they were constantly being discouraged from critical thinking in class
While working on a documentary style report on youth and terrorism last year, I had the opportunity of interviewing Mufti Zubair, who runs a Madrasa in Orangi Town. In the aftermath of NaureenLeghari’s case, he asked me ‘Why don’t they shut universities now? Initially when young boys studying at madrasas turned out to be terrorists, they began a crackdown against madrassas. Now do the same to universities if you believe that we sit and teach terrorism.’
Why someone becomes a terrorist is a complex issue. Economists say it is due to poverty, psychiatrists have told me it is due to psychological vulnerabilities, many students at Karachi University believed it was because they were constantly being discouraged from critical thinking in class. Nonetheless, I find all these factors to be underpinned by a misunderstanding of Islam. In addition toperson specific reasons for taking up arms, one underlying factor tends to be terrorist organizations such asBoko Haram, Al-Qaeda and ISISdefining their activities through an Islamic lens.
Terrorists justify taking innocent lives in the name of Allah. However, the Quran says ‘if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he has saved all of mankind (5:32).’ Growing up we learn to recite the Quran beautifully in Arabic and memorize its holy couplets, but without understanding a word. The upper classes are now afraid of madrasas and Islamic studies in schools have no space for questions. It is even said never discuss religion in public. Asking why becomes blasphemous. But to know one must learn and to learn one must question. Scholars such as Dr. ZakirNaik hold question-answer sessions for this very reason;being born a Muslim doesn’t automatically translate into understanding Islam.
Our armed forces are continuously carrying out operations to eliminate terrorism from our soil. But prevention is better than cure. For every terrorist they kill one more will be born, unless the religious narratives of terrorist groups are quashed. And for that we don’t need to take up arms. Instead we must take out time to study and research the religion we call our own.
The writer has a master’s in media with a distinction from the London School of Economics. She tweets @mawish_m
Published in Daily Times, December 1st 2018.