The military operation in
Waziristan was a long-time coming. Great gains against entrenched terrorists
have been made with air, and now, ground offensives. Fortunately Zarb-e-Azb has
support all across the country.
The Pakistan Protection
Ordinance 2014 was just passed by the National Assembly giving dramatic and
sweeping powers to the government in its fight against terror. Searches can
occur without a warrant, militants can be shot on sight with orders from a Grade
15 police officer or higher, suspects can be kept in custody for 60 days after
a judicial remand, and convicted terrorists could face 20 years imprisonment.
Opposition groups, mainly the
JUI and the PTI, and human rights activists have expressed immediate protests,
fearing that the Pakistan Protection Ordinance would provide legal cover for
the government’s repressive agenda. Especially after the police brutality in
the Model Town tragedy, as well as the missing persons’ saga, these concerns
are understandable.
But to think that a military
offensive in North Waziristan by itself would be enough to rid us of the daily
ravages of terrorism is myopic at best. There are some built-in protections in
the Pakistan Protection Ordinance to curb its abuse.
Pakistan is at a point where
there needs to be a multi-dimensional approach to free it of the chokehold of
terrorism. In peaceful times we would have the luxury of safe-guarding human
rights; at a time of war with an enemy that has invaded the hearts and minds of
significant segments of the population, preserving the integrity of Pakistan,
as well as countless lives and major national assets, far outweighs the
possible violation of human rights.
Zarb-e-Azb is an immediate
surgical event; the Pakistan Protection Ordinance will serve to combat
terrorism in the short to medium-term. They need to be bolstered by a
well-organized and properly implemented effort to detoxify mindsets, for it is
terrorism-condoning mentalities and America-Israel-India hating conspiracy theories
that have created and sustained monsters in our middle.
The Pakistani mind has
undergone a gradual and sustained poisoning. The 1979 Russian invasion of
Afghanistan created a refugee crisis in Pakistan, an already economically weak
and overpopulated country. Prior to 1938 Saudi Arabia was only known for its
vast deserts, and as home for Islam’s two holiest sites. As its oil industry
progressed through the 1970s so did its hegemonic aspirations. Billions of
dollars were, and continue to be, spent in its world-wide export of its
literalistic Wahabi-Salafi ideology. A significant part of this move has been
the literature that sports the stamp of the Saudi Religious Ministry.
I grew up in a soft,
attractive, tolerant and inclusive environment in Lahore and Karachi. We went
to a milad every day in Rabiul Awwal,
visiting shrines of famous Sufi saints helped me to reflect on how they formed
and solidified their relationships with God. And the beautiful shalwar kameez worked for us in comfort,
cover and style. The long arm of literalism ruined all that. Honoring Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) has to be guarded for it is considered bidat or innovation by some, paying respects to Sufi saints is
classified as blasphemy and modesty is only defined by jilbabs (head to toe gowns), hijabs, niqabs and gloves. Never mind
the prominent premise in Islam that all actions are judged by their intentions,
and all intentions are known only to God.
The Wahabi-Salafi mindset is
devoid of the joy of faith. And it rationalizes corporal and capital punishment
for offenses contrary to the five schools of Islamic jurisprudence.
Poverty stricken, uneducated, disenchanted
and hopeless segments of Pakistan’s population were swooped up as victims to an
ideology that promised the nebulous but delivered death.
Perhaps we need the creation
of the Pakistan Protection Ministry, focused solely on the eradication of
terrorism in Pakistan. Curricula in public and private schools as well as madrassahs need evaluation and necessary
amendments. Perspectives on history is one thing but rewriting it altogether
and inoculating young minds with extremism is quite another.
Friday khutbas in mosques across
the country need to be monitored as well. Notifications to all mosques of
fatwas against suicide bombing issued by Al-Azhar University of Egypt as well
as prominent Pakistani clerics need to be sent by the government to each mosque,
and imams persuaded to regularly mention the sanctity of life as revealed in
the Quran and practiced by Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH).
The media has an important
role to play especially in this age of technology and social media. Television
programs with Islamic scholars like Javed Ahmad Ghamdi and Shujauddin Sheikh
are not only packed with knowledge and infused with perspective; they are
veritably nourishment for the soul.
There can be no vacillation
with regard to our commitment to banish terror from the boundaries of Pakistan.
Each one of us needs to grasp this and promote it in every way on a daily
basis.
We are a nation made of the
steely determination of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the vision of Allama Iqbal, the
brilliance of Dr. Abdus-Salam, the martyrdom of Aziz Bhatti and the courage of
Malala Yousufzai, among numerous other inspirations. Together we can make
Pakistan an icon of peace and progress; unity, faith and discipline can make it
happen. I know so.
