By paralysing the parts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi for several days by a newly formed Islamic extremist group Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah, the writ of the state has been challenged and exposed. The so-called long march of that group from Lahore to Islamabad tried to exert pressure on the government to accept their demands like to end restrictions on registration of FIR under 295/C, hang all culprits involved in blasphemy, take action against those involved in amending affidavit of Khatme Nabowat, abolish loudspeaker act, dismissal of federal law minister, end-all cases against leaders and workers of Tehreek and include Islamic teachings in the curriculum which were previously excluded.
The state organs, which were supposed to take action against the unlawful sit-in and protest marches of that movement in Rawalpindi and in Islamabad miserably failed to enforce the rule of law. As a result of road blocks in Rawalpindi and in Islamabad on November 9, one child of eight months who couldn’t reach hospital because of traffic gridlock in the capital died. The father of deceased child went to Koral police station and launched FIR against cleric Khadim Rizvi, head of his own faction of Tehreek stating that, “Khadim Rizvi and his followers are responsible for the death of my son. If they had not blocked the road, we would have reached the hospital in time and my son’s life could have been saved.”
The tragic incident which took the life of an infant questions the writ and authority of state to maintain the rule of law. It is not for the first time that innocent people have become victims of VVIP movements and protest demonstrators, sit-ins and rallies of political and religious parties. The Islamabad administration, while banning such rallies and sit-ins failed to take any action against religious fanatic group which openly took law into its own hands. The Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal failed to give any reason why his government allowed the followers of Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah to launch a long march from Lahore to Islamabad and paralyse the capital and Rawalpindi through their sit-in Faizabad. It means those in the corridors of power are totally oblivious of serious threat which is escalating with each passing day in the form of those groups and parties who by exploiting religion for vested interests feel confident to pressurise and blackmail the state and get away with their extremist and violent acts.
How can we expect the national leadership to address issues that threaten the very survival of state when it seems to be completely oblivious to those issues?
There are four major reasons of fragility of state to deal with those elements that openly take law into their own hands and exploit sentiments of people on religious grounds. First, since the inception of Pakistan till today, the state of Pakistan has not expressed zero tolerance against those who take law into their own hands by provoking religious sentiments. The regime of Ayub Khan was considered to be strict on dealing with such elements but later had to relegate before those who used religion for personal and political purposes. Z A Bhutto, who appeared to be progressive, secular and liberal, is held responsible for giving space to religious extremist groups which was later on institutionalised by the military regime of Zia-ul-Haq. The level of religious bigotry, intolerance and sectarian schism which deepened during Zia’s rule has not been undone by those regimes that came to power after his death in an air crash on August 17, 1988. The policy of’ “appeasement” pursued by almost all governments of Pakistan vis-à-vis religious extremist groups is a stark reality to the extent that a part of establishment nourished, promoted and patronised religious Jihadi groups thus causing enormous damage to peace and stability in the country.
Second, the so-called policy of Islamisation pursued by the state of Pakistan during Zia’s era never focused on matters like religious and political tolerance, pluralism, social and human development of people but instead utilised resources of the country on providing patronage and funding to those religious and sectarian parties and groups who openly propagated intolerance, fanaticism and sectarian hatred. The so-called policy of Afghan Jihad during Zia era and to Islamise state institutions according to his own standards proved to be counterproductive as religious intolerance, extremism, radicalisation, violence and terrorism made deep inroads in the state and society of Pakistan. Third, bad governance, which tends to generate crisis in the form of the absence of the rule of law and justice system provide a lot of space to such elements who want to impose their own way of life by illegal sit-ins, protest marches and demonstrations. Those who are supposed to take action against such elements either lack the capability, will, determination or are in close nexus with those who according to Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah or their likeminded groups want to impose their version of Islamic system in the country.
Government officials, ministers and those representing security apparatus of state do not go out of their comfort zones and face the harsh reality prevailing in the society of Pakistan. In a situation when 25 million children in Pakistan are out of school; more than 40 percent of the population is living below poverty line; economy is in shambles; educational system is in a mess and the culture of corruption, nepotism, inefficiency and incompetence seem to have deepened in the state and societal structures, one can only expect more and more proliferation of groups like Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah who are given a free hand by those who are supposed to enforce rule of law. Finally, unprofessional approach in dealing with domestic and foreign policy issues and challenges tend to further deepen the fragility of state. When state institutions, which are required to ensure the rule of law and justice system are devoid of proper vision and planning to deal with elements who spread hate, chaos and disorder in society, it means their unprofessional way of doing things.
Holding of rallies, protests and demonstrations is a legal right of every citizen but these should not make people hostage of those who use religion for political purposes. And, can this country, which is 147 on the list of human development index; having foreign and domestic debt of more than 150 billion dollars; meagre exports of 20 billion dollars and public debt owned by Steel Mills, PIA and Railways of around one trillion rupees, afford the luxury of strikes, protests, demonstrations and sit-ins? When the national leadership is oblivious of fragile economy, deepening of water crisis; environmental catastrophe in the form of smog and pollution and the existential threat of extremism, intolerance, militancy, radicalisation, violence and terrorism, how one can expect such people to effectively address issues which threaten the very survival of state?
Unless zero tolerance is exercised by state institutions as far as intolerance, challenging the writ of state, corruption, nepotism, inefficiency and extremism are concerned, one cannot expect takeoff of this country particularly in terms of economy. Unfortunately, those who wield power have very little idea how dangerous the economic and political situation has become as they are restricted to their comfort zones. With more than 200 million people and the deepening of critical issues mentioned above, the neglect of state on matters of national security will further plunge Pakistan in another phase of crisis which may be detrimental to its own existence. Those who matter in realm of governance should not escape from the reality and misguide people.
The writer is Meritorious Professor of International Relations at the University of Karachi. E, Mail: [email protected]
Published in Daily Times, November 17th 2017.