Pakistan: Now or Never?
Perspectives on Pakistan
In Pakistan, a death foretold
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In one of the more anguished posts about the murder of provincial governor Salman Taseer, Pakistani blogger Huma Imtiaz wrote that his assassination ”is not the beginning of the end. This is the end. There is no going back from here, there is no miracle cure, there is no magic wand that will one day make everything better. Saying ‘enough is enough’ does not cut it anymore …”
It was a sense that permeated much of the English-language commentary about Taseer’s killing in Islamabad by one of his own security guards. Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Taseer, governor of Punjab province and a leading politician in the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), was killed because of his opposition to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. A sense that the forces of religious intolerance are becoming all but unstoppable; and that those who oppose them by promoting a more liberal vision of Pakistan occupy an ever diminishing space.
“Salmaan Taseer was many things, but most recently, he was a champion of a particular strand of liberal, secular discourse in a country where such voices are dwindling down to nothing. He was a minority because he chose to stand next to the Christian and Hindu minorities who are denied basic protection in their own nation. This is a great loss,” wrote historian Manan Ahmed at Chapati Mystery.
Taseer had championed the case of Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman who had been sentenced to death under the blasphemy laws, which have been criticised in particular for their misuse against minorities, often to settle local scores.
In his own words, from one of his last interviews, Taseer said of Aasia Bibi: “She is a woman who has been incarcerated for a year-and-a half on a charge trumped up against her five days after an incident where people who gave evidence against her were not even present. So this is a blatant violation against a member of a minority community. I, like a lot of right-minded people, was outraged, and all I did was to show my solidarity. It is the first time in the history of the Punjab that a governor has gone inside a district jail, held a press conference and stated clearly that this is a blatant miscarriage of justice and that the sentence that has been passed is cruel and inhumane. I wanted to take a mercy petition to the president, and he agreed, saying he would pardon Aasiya Bibi if there had indeed been a miscarriage of justice.”
For that he had suffered death threats from the religious right who present any challenge to the blasphemy laws, introduced under former military ruler President Zia-ul-Haq, as an insult to Islam. In response he had promised on his Twitter feed to resist the pressure from the religious right “even if I am the last man standing”.
But the despair over Taseer’s killing was not only over the death of one man. It was because the warning signs had been there for so long and been ignored. And because so many others had died already, and nothing had been done. The killing of more than 80 members of the minority Ahmadi sect in two mosques in Lahore last year might have served as a wake-up call. It didn’t. Nor for that matter did the killing of eight Christians in the town of Gojra in Punjab in 2009 following unsubstantiated allegations that a Christian had desecrated the Koran.
Instead the weak PPP-led government, like other administrations before it, has retreated in the face of powerful religious lobbies who have reduced the liberal, secular English-speaking community to a shrinking minority in Pakistan. The promises of Pakistan’s founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah that the new country would be a place not only where Muslims would be safe, but where people of all faiths would be free of discrimination, have been buried over decades by each retreat by each successive administration.
“One central truth most of us are unwilling to face is that much of the increasing extremism we see around us is deeply embedded in Pakistan’s DNA. When a country is created in the name of a faith, then inevitably, that faith will come to dominate modes of thought and behaviour,” wrote Dawn columnist Irfan Husain in a piece published a few days before Taseer’s death.
“Many of us who represent a dwindling liberal, secular strand in the media are fond of quoting Jinnah’s Aug 11, 1947 speech which remains as eloquent a declaration of secularism as I have read anywhere. But talk to clerics or students today, and they will look at you in disbelief and even anger if you impute secularism to the founder of Pakistan. In their view, he created Pakistan in the name of Islam, and not for the Muslims of the subcontinent. This is too nuanced an argument for most people who prefer to see things only in black and white.”
So while some individual PPP politicians had fought for changes to the blasphemy laws, the government itself had backed down in the face of street protests held before Taseer’s death, promising these would not be amended.
Small wonder then that few believe the provincial governor’s killing will galvanise the country into action against religious intolerance.
Instead even Pakistan’s usually determinedly optimistic bloggers are showing a growing weariness with the state of the nation, where it has become a staple of populist television shows to declare those who fail to conform with a particular interpretation of Islam as “wajib-ul-qatl” or worthy of death.
“Plenty of media personnel and right-wing politicians in this country contributed to this (Taseer’s death) with their constant ‘wajib-ul-qatl’ refrain, not to mention equating support for blasphemy laws to support for Islam. All of them could technically be dealt with as inciters to violence (illegal in our country, and basically every other one out there) but they won’t. You get to say and do whatever you want, act with as much impunity as you want — as long as you have God on your side,” wrote Ahsan Butt at Five Rupees.
Taseer’s killing could stimulate a discussion about Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and the way it treats its minorities, wrote Mosharraf Zaidi at Foreign Policy.”Unfortunately, what is more likely is that Taseer’s death will not only not stimulate a more serious examination of how the Pakistani state deals with the highly toxic issues of blasphemy, but it may help mute the already nervous voices within the thin sliver of Pakistani society that seek to amend these kinds of legal provisions.”
“I get an overwhelming sensation that we have given up on Pakistan,” wrote Awab Alvi, who blogs at Teeth Maestro. “Have we? Please prove me wrong.”
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Jinnah is often quoted for his secular values. But he got a nation for himself by not following secular values. He turned into a religious bigot and used it as a weapon to carve a nation. He induced the phobia of Hindu oppression and used it to achieve his end. Once he got what he wanted, he suddenly became a secularist and said in Pakistan religion will not interfere with the affairs of the state. He triggered violence when he realized his objectives were hard to realize otherwise. Now the extremists in Pakistan are using violence to get their objectives. I do not understand why Jinnah is quoted here as the example of tolerance and secularism. Jinnah would have gone to any length to get what he wanted. And the country he founded is following the same path – knock out those who stand against the goal. Jinnah is known to have said on his death bed that he had committed a great blunder. And it is being proved true by his followers today.
What a tragic waste!
Decades of state sponsored brainwashing of kids combined with a proliferation of armed groups does this to a country.
I do agree with the anguished bloggers. This is NOT a wake up call. This is the wake.
I am a Muslim and let me clarify a couple of things, first Islam states that to kill one person is equal to killing the whole of humanity. Secondly, bloodshed is forbidden in Islam as well as infighting. Islam preaches brotherhood, peace and equality.
Just like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan is a sunni country. Pakistan must constitute a religious body of Islamic scholars. Take help from Muslim nations if need be, bring reforms, pass laws and state the limits. Thereafter the government must use the Army, paramilitary forces and intelligence services to tame the religious extremists inciting hatred and committing bloodshed. Make a hit list of troublemakers, arrest them. shake every sectarian terrorist organization upside down. Dont handle them with kid gloves otherwise their fire of hatred will burn the entire country.
But unfortunately, this is a coward and incompetent government.
Without complete investigation of this incident, its hard to tell if he was a single cell or he was a part of bigger conspiracy. It seems like it was handiwork of rouge elements in ISI and security agencies, as the killer had enough time to empty a magazine, load another and empty again, and killer was not shot by another security personnel, instead disarmed and handcuffed.
This was so against the worldwide protocols of VIP security. If its a bigger conspiracy then pakistani establishment is infested by Islamic extremist. But even more serious problem is if killer was a single cell, in that case Pakistani society is infected by extremism beyond cure.
I am sure of one thing, Mumtaz Qadri will be a national hero soon in Pakistan after Jinnah. Bye Bye sanity
“But unfortunately, this is a coward and incompetent government.”
– Posted by Umairpk
What can Govt do in this. Guard in the Elite Security must have been screened and cleared by “men at their best” PA or ISI or whatever.
Governments are made of elected people and they can’t do anything if a security guard points his SMG and empties the magazine. Every leader including top PPP leadership is saying that Dead governor should have been silent on this issue of Aasiya Bibi. They looked scared themselves and did not even utter a word in favor of the Mr. Taseer.
Example has been set for Politicians in Pakistan now, do not dare to go against fanatic mullahs and their fatwas. Bullet can come from inside as well.
Punjabiyar:
“What can Govt do in this. Guard in the Elite Security must have been screened and cleared by “men at their best” PA or ISI or whatever”
-The military has its own procedure of top security clearence for VIP security. The Elite Force is part of Punjab police and has nothing to do with the Army. The investigation will reveal if it was a lone wolf attack or a cell was involved. From an intelligence stand point certainly pre-operational surveillance must have been carried out to ensure a successful assassination. This was a breach of VIP personal security and question remains how did the assassin come so close to the victim and shot from close range.
I am surprised that no one in Pakistan has yet blamed RAW, IB, Mossad or CIA.
Duke of Amalfi, a former Spanish ambassador to Pakistan, always had it, this country will drift from crisis to calamity, from calamity to catastrophe, and from catastrophe to disaster. This was also in the 1960s — and so it has been. He wrote little, spoke even less, but had a sound perception of the lands in which he served.
Source
http://news.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/daw n-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/hob bling-along-qs
Looks like the malaise is spreading inside Pakistan. Many seem to have supported the assassination and the blasphemy law on Facebook.
http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/05/facebook- praise-for-taseers-assassination.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/world/ asia/05pakistan.html?_r=1&hp
Religion has a very strong influence on emotions. Once allowed, it simply takes over and turns people into monsters. Being educated has nothing to do with it.
“I am surprised that no one in Pakistan has yet blamed RAW, IB, Mossad or CIA.”
– Posted by 777xxx777
It is a noble deed to murder kafirs, how can pakistan let RAW, CIA or Mossad to take credit for it.
@punjabiyaar
Looks like you are correct.
Five hundred Pakistani religious scholars have warned that anyone who expresses grief over the assassination of a senior ruling party official who opposed the country’s blasphemy law could suffer the same fate.
http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia- 53937020110105
Islam has probably taught them intolerance and to kill anyone who questions the validity of preachings. Apparently God’s commandments, preached by prophets, were followed and kaafir was put to rest.
Thank God India is NOT a hindu country.
“I am a Muslim and let me clarify a couple of things, first Islam states that to kill one person is equal to killing the whole of humanity. Secondly, bloodshed is forbidden in Islam as well as infighting. Islam preaches brotherhood, peace and equality.”
– Posted by Umairpk
You seriously want anybody to believe that?!! Thirteen hundreds years of violence perpetrated in the name of Islam suggests otherwise.
Islam and Peace mix like oil in water.
Umair,
I’m glad to see that you want stern & quick action against radicals & fundamentalists, who have taken your country hostage & are inciting hatered & violence. Such people & groups do not represent any religion or country. However, I feel that the civilian govt of Pakistan is powerless & it can not take any action against extremist groups unless the Pakistani army is on board. The Pakistani army has enough power to take action against any group/individual that they want to but it seems to me that the PA is still not taking this threat (rising radicalism) seriously & instead chooses to focus on India. Moderate Pakistanis like you should start a campaign & pressurize your army to take action against extremists.
let us remind ourselves that Pakistan is a muslim country by its own choice. Pakistan also allowed millions of muslims into the country who were of muslim origin and who later were reluctant to integrate with the locals of Pakistan, imposing Urdu language as a lingua franca on the inhabitants made up of Punjabis, Pashtoons, Sindhis and Baluchis. let us leave Bengalis aside who could not understand the military force.
Neither the civilian Govts. nor the military headed Govts. have ever managed to keep the judiciary independent or allowed the development of a secular fabric of the society. The mix up of religion with the so called secular system has bogged the country down to the current situation. Not many in Pakistan have the slightest idea of a secular govt. yet intellectuals and elites have been going over to the anglo saxon institutions abroad to study and they all came back with a drum beat to introduce secularism in the country. They never realised that all the European Govts constitution is based on christianity and represent christian values. The Govts. and the State is secular and do not mix with the business of the church which even today collect religion tax from its faithfuls in Germany for example and the Govt. is obliged by law to collect it from the citizens on behalf of the church.
Pakistan masses have been left alone for a very long period even during natural disasters to rot with their local day to day problems from hunger to education to security. On top of that the country became a market place for the Americans replacing the Brits and for the people’s consumption animosity with its neighbouring country India lingered on without any resolution of the chronic Kashmir issue.
Pakistan is now the friday or the Indian or the under dog lackey of the Americans who in their last decade of the only super power period, have embarked on a new mission, directed by the zionest lobbyists, the war against terrorism, and it is just a coincident that the countries happen to be all so called muslim countries. The new Moses Obama started with the pre-amble that the USA is not against Islamic countries but against terrorism, extremists, insurgents and all the names one can find in the webster’s. It is also an accident that the commander who is running the show happens to be of jewish origin?
Pakistan army is now taking care of the security of the USA and its allies. Pakistan civilian govt. of mr Zardari has the free hand with support of the American Govt. to run the country as he wishes as long as he delivers to the Usa the ‘wanted’ insurgents. The list is very long and subject to additions.
The question comes to mind as to who is responsible for the security of the citizens, who are the daily casualties of the insurgency throughout the country. Well, mr Zardari is too naive to understand it. His ministers and governors also from his party and under his control are criticising the laws which they took owth on to preserve. Never mind what the spaniard Duke said(he should have worried about the ETA)? Is this a surprise, definitely not except for mr Zardari and Sharif Bros. Is this something new? Definitely not, Rawalpindi or Islamabad as it is called has seen more political assasinations than in any other city of the world. Let us not forget Mrs Indira Ghandi and Mr sadaat both of whom were assasinated by their own guards.
If Mr Zardari does not have the stomach to swallow this tragedy caused by the utterences of his own party man, Governor, businessman and politician who was often known for his absence from duty without leave and was roaming about in the bazaars and market place of Islamabad, far awy from his official residence.
The country needs a Govt. of National unity and not based on party politics, which attends to the problems of the citizens and not the Americans. Democracy above the heads of the people and not with the people is not going to last. Enough with the emotional speeches of the past and enough of the blame game using madrassas and theologists as the scape goats. The Govt. is on the hook and must deliver on their promises of Pakistan a land of peace and tranquility where all muslims would be safe to worship their God and not be molisted by the infidels. How come Mr taseer was made the governor of a province if he was declared a non muslim by Mr Bhutto govt. in the first place. OR was it do not ask and do not tell policy of the Zardari Govt.? How did the guard found out? It was probably the inside job and a set up?
Rex Minor
Salman Taseer’s assasination is the final wake up call for the moderate segment of Pakistan. If they don’t wake up now, the radicals will silence every moderate/liberal voice & turn the country into a primitive & backward society. There’s no time to point fingers or make excuses any more. It doesen’t matter, as to who created these monsters, whether they were created by US during the Afghan war or India’s stance on Kashmir, is immaterial. The reality is that these mosnters are pakistanis & are becoming powerful by the day and unless they are soon tackled by moderate Pakistanis, they will consume the nation.
Please wake-up Pakistanis. What is happening in your country in the name of Islam. Is this the teaching of Islam to kill innocent peoples. Islam is religion of peace, love and tolerance. Are we forget the life of our Beloved, Respected Holy Prophet( peace & blessing of Allah be upon him). What he did at the time of the conquest of Mecca, how he treated the lady who throw trash on him every day.He went to visit her at her home because she was sick. Was he killed any one on the conquest of Mecca. Did he not forgave every one that day even the woman name Hinda who disrespect the dead body of Hazrat Hamza. Is there any example of his revenge to any human being. He was the mercy for all mankind(Rahmat-ul-lilalamin) May Allah give you wisdom and strength to fight against the falsehood and follow the true teaching of Islam. In Holy Quran Allah says in chapter 16 verse 19, “Verily, Allah enjoins justice, and the doing of good to others; and giving (like) kindred; and forbids indecency and manifest evil and transgression. He admonishes you that you may heed.May allah Save Pakistan. Visit to http://www.alislam.org to learn true teaching of Islam.
If it is a noble deed to kill kafirs, then it is a much nobler deed for the human race to end this mental disease of religion, and Islam specifically. It is a much nobler deed to free the world of an insane religion using the same methods that they would use against those who believe in freedom of speech, thought and in equality of the sexes.
In the 21st. century, we shouldn’t be having this conversation. The above article plainly shows a cancer that should have, a long time ago, been excised from the collective body human. But like a cancer, it is very hard to rid the body of, and extreme measures including amputation of limbs sometimes have to be taken.
I’ve always considered Pakistan and advanced country of educated individuals, from meeting them at jobs. But maybe the educated left. Please come back into the modern age Pakistan, and leave that nonsense in your past, where it belongs for the whole human race.
“If it is a noble deed to kill kafirs, then it is a much nobler deed for the human race to end this mental disease of religion, and Islam specifically. It is a much nobler deed to free the world of an insane religion using the same methods that they would use against those who believe in freedom of speech, thought and in equality of the sexes.”
This disease has fully infected Pakistan, they are exporting to other countries now. Why not send all Jihadis till last to Pakistan. Snap all diplomatic and otherwise ties with this infested place and make it a district 9. Let them slit each others throat for next 100 years. It will be easier, feasible and cheaper to exterminate with few of them left and in same demographic area. Tell PETA to shut up or send them to Pakistan as well if they poke their nose in.
Its pretty clear they cannot coexist with anyone with a normal and rational brain. Why let them kill normal people.
Let us not forget the 1979 revolution in next door Iran and the overthrow of the corrupt repressive government of Shah.
Pakistan is divided today, there is a need of unity among everyone. Unless all are on the same page the divisions will remain. We are all brothers, muslims and fellow Pakistanis. We need to bring prosperity, healthcare, education and jobs, equal opportunity, justice for all. Otherwise a vast majority of deprived masses will fall victim to religious extremists. Please do not blame Islam, look at deeper reasons behind Pakistan’s problems. Though in past sectarian tensions have remained high, but now the heat is being felt. One more reason why the Afghan war should end sooner rather than later otherwise Pakistan will keep getting more destablized.
i agree with punjabiyaar. This religion of Islam is no good. They keep killing and keep saying Islam is a religion of peace. And Indians have specifically borne the brunt of this diseased religion for the past 1000 years.
@alreaud
“It is a much nobler deed to free the world of an insane religion using the same methods that they would use against those who believe in freedom of speech, thought and in equality of the sexes.”
*** Sir/Madam: You just cannot attack ANY religion like the way you did. I can understand if you had proposed to free the world of all religions. I can understand atheists but not selective haters of ANY religion.
@rrdas
“This religion of Islam is no good.”
***How old are you?
Punjabiyar said:
> Tell PETA to shut up or send them to Pakistan as well if they poke their nose in.
Huh? PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals? What did they do wrong?
Regards,
Ganesh Prasad
rrdas said:
> This religion of Islam is no good.
I personally have a problem with Wahhabism but not with Sufism. Sufism has given the subcontinent some of its finest philosophy and music, not to speak of spiritual peace.
Your statement is not only a blanket condemnation of very diverse philosophies using a single label but also ignores some of the finest individuals in the world.
To take just one example, if you read “Wings of Fire”, the autobiography of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, you will come away with a much softened attitude. I would very much recommend you read this book.
Regards,
Ganesh Prasad
@rrdas
“This religion of Islam is no good”
Tell me which religion is good in your opinion and I will show you enough dirt and filth in the heads of its followers that you will start rejecting ALL religions. Make up your mind, whether problem is religion OR its followers??
“PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals? What did they do wrong?”
I think PETA will jump in when these extreme fanatics of Pakistan will be exterminated by rest of the world.
After all PETA is the only one who stand for Animal rights.
Ganesh/Rehmat
You might have problem with Wahabism or hail sufism, but remember the Barelvi sect religious leaders have welcomed the assassination of Salman Taseer, asked the followers not to read funeral prayers or express sorrow over his death. We have to understand the main essence of Islam is unity among Muslims, sense of sacrifice and brotherhood, refrain from infighting, bloodshed. A Muslim is a person from whose hand and tongue another person remains safe. In other words do not harm anyone with your actions or words.
Shamefully, and unfortunately a minority is holding the majority hostage in Pakistan. I condemn all those who hail the assassin of Salman Taseer. Tommorow when they will be brought in front of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) what answer they will give? What will they say that they killed in this world in the name of Islam? Absolutely disgusting. Whether Barelvi, sufi, Wahabi, Sunni Shia or Ahle-Hadees, we will have to take on the religious fanatics and bring them into senses.
Umair,
Your words are heartening and I wish you all success, but I don’t know if the statement below is true:
> Shamefully, and unfortunately a minority is holding the majority hostage in Pakistan.
Which side really has the majority? The fear is that liberals like yourself are the minority, in which case Pakistan’s future looks very dark indeed.
Let’s hope you’re right.
Regards,
Ganesh Prasad
> After all PETA is the only one who stand for Animal rights.
Heh.
Regards,
Ganesh Prasad
Moderators,
Please remove postings that openly put religions down. This discussion is about nations and not religion.
Posters,
Kindly look at your glass houses before you start throwing stones at others’ houses. There are bad apples in every system. Unfortunately in the Muslim world, bad apples have gained ascendency. By insulting their religion and criticizing them, you will be alienating the good and reasonable ones. They are the ones that need sympathy and help. Be specific on whom you target for criticism – those who twist religion to their advantage. If you see from that angle, you will find a small group like this in every religion. Progressive people outnumber lunatics. Let us remember that. We need to support Umair here who seems to be the only one championing the cause of rational people from the Pakistani side. He might have his opinions and loyalty for his military. But he does not have to answer for militants who have hijacked Islam. Let us not isolate normal people. There are more Rehmats around than the cave dwellers from Germany. For their sake, kindly do not vent out emotional words.
Ganesh:”Which side really has the majority? The fear is that liberals like yourself are the minority, in which case Pakistan’s future looks very dark indeed.”
-Gnesh, i can assure you there is still a huge majority which is silent and oppose the assassination on the basis of religion like this. The only thing is this assassination has now started a debate among Pakistanis of both camps. Now the focus will be on the reasons behind this divide, I am sure ultimately the religious fanatics will be rejected. By this murder these radical idiots have isolated themselves, have lost public support and exposed even further. Their bigotry and idiocricy is evident, in an elections i bet these bigots would not get a single vote and ultimately Pakistani society will defeat them. From all the challenges Pakistan is facing, religious extremism is one more urgent one. I hope we can deal with it.
PS; the majority I refer to which is silent, when it will rise up and challenge the status quo, those include the working class and the youth. People who are stuck in between, who are fed up of these religious fanatics and cannot relate themselves to corrupt political elites either. They are the ones who can challenge the status quo.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/99547/the-mo nster-rising-within-us/
The monster rising within us
Umair,
We are all with you in your stand against the radicals. Please be assured that we will always support the rational and liberal people in all societies. We may argue with each other passionately on issues between our nations. As far as radicalism is concerned, we all have had an exposure to it within our own systems. Please keep the hope alive.
@Umair
You have said it and named lots of religious pundits, who are are now openly shouting for or against the act of a security guard. Now cool down your emotions and look at the events of the last year and now this act from the one whom you call silent majority. You have been witnessing the voice of the majority all along under different labels, a revolution is taking place in your country, not by the communists or students (talibans) but the proletarians the ordinary working people. They have had enough of messing about with their faith on one or another excuse.
Even after the loss of his wife, Mr Zardari has never understood the message from the ordinary people. For over sixty years the game of musical chairs between military and the civilians has been witnessed by the Pakistani folks, but never before their faith was in the fore front or in question. The American paranoi is fully entrenched among the elites of Pakistan and every citizen is being labelled extremist or liberal, religious or secular, shia or sunni, and even being sub-divided in several sections, wahabis, deobandis etc etc.
No one’s security could be guarateed by the military or police for the whole year. Now the new turn has reached, no longer are the elites and the officials are safe from the proleterians. No longer the security police or the military soldiers would be prepared to accept orders from those who in their view are bent on destroying people’s faith. Who was this Taseer, was he not aware of the aftermath of Musharaf military assault on the Red Mosque?
I have noted on BBChome page that all Pakistan english language paper have condemned the act, whereas, all the urdu language papers in Pakistan have praised the act of the assasin!
The next weeks and months should be very serious to see if it was an act of the individual or was well organised by a group of people? The first order of the day should be for the so called people’s party to submit resignation.
Rex Minor
The case of Salman Taseer is a case study of high stupidity of so called liberal PPP’s political moves. It is well established that they have failed to achieve minimum credibility in governance. They are deep in corruption, cronyism and mis-governance. Politically they are in disarray. They are desperate to shift attention away from issues inflation, unemployment and problems of people.
Desperate situation requires desperate measures. In comes Salman Taseer, the political attack dog of the party. Knowing full well history of Lahore where his own family was intellectually active, he walks into the forbidden zone. This is a story of the famous walk on the wild side.
Any student of Islamic history knows well that forbidden zone. You don’t abuse Koran and the prophet. Taseer failed to learn this simple proposition from his mentor ZA Bhutto. It is the end of discussion on religion and politics. The actual application of Blasphemy law or harshness of penalty is a subordinate issue and Salman Taseer was not engaged in it.
It should be noted that people pushing Islamophobia, children of Orientalists, use similar tools and tactics. They know that it would get an emotional response where provocation is needed. Salman Taseer who considered himself a cultural Muslim was not unaware of this aspect of the issue.
“I am unafraid of the embers that are flying through the darkness but I fear that the flame-like bloom of my flowers might reduce my garden to ashes.” (Quoted in the Telegraph)
Now the ball is in PPP court and they have lost an attack dog as well the support of Brelvi group. They can use Bhutto name and end up being nothing more than grave worshippers.
The fault does not lie in Islam or any other religion but in the humans who distort it in order to achieve their own greedy ambitions. We, as humans, are inherently devisive by nature & if we did not have religion, we would devide & catagorize each other by race, nation, class, gender etc etc. If not any of the above, we would invent other ways to devide each other. At the end of the day, no religion (including Islam) teaches hatered or murder. I challange anyone to show me, where it’s wtitten in the Koran that killing in the name of Islam is acceptable. Religion should be a guide to lead one’s life & not a line drawn in the sand. IMO, on it’s own, religion can narrow an individuals thinking but if coupled with education, it enables individuals to better understand the religion, accept all the good it has to offer but also to challange & reject something that goes against common sense or good judgment.
The problem in Pakistan is that the number of educated people who can challange what’s wrong, is decreasing while the number of those who blindly follow is on the rise. It’s a direct result of hard-line madrassa education installed by Zia-ul-Haq with the help of his saudi suiters. This radical brand of Islam has been enticing & brainwashing the naive & vulnerable minds of young Pakistanis for decades and we have the Pakistan that we have today. The first thing that needs to be done, is bring all madrasaas under the main stream education system.
Umair,
We Indians and the whole world supports moderate/liberal Pakistanis like you in your fight against radicalizm. Hopefully, you have learned that silence is not an option when it comes to fighting extremism/radicalizm. The monsters who hurt others yesterday, will sooner or later hurt you or the one’s you love. Yesterday’s Kasab is today’s Qadri but they are both sides of the same coin. Also, you have suuported & defended your army long & hard but now it’s time for Pakistanis like you to demand some accountibility from them. This monster was created by your army (under Zia) & they are the one’s who will have to clean it up.
correction: they are the one’s who will have to slay it.
@Umair,
Based on your and some of your countrymen’s posts here, all I can say is Good Luck to you. I wish for your safety and security. Although you are from a military family but still I guess you need the wishes given the fanatic mullahs have virtually taken over your country. But tell me what is PA and ISI doing to fight off these fanatic mullahs (so called religious/spiritual leaders of Pakistan)??
rex/Matrix
You have your views and can express them, but I am in the middle of all this. The venue of Salman Taseer’s assassination, the Kohsar Market is a short distance from our office in Islamabad. What is happening here has a direct affect on our daily lives. Politics aside, but lets look at this issue as human beings. I am not a liberal by any menas, I am pretty much a conservative Pakistani like any average person. Last elections I voted for PML-N (Muslim Leage- Nawaz Sharif). I was not a fan of Salman Taseer either. PPP government is sure corrupt and incompetent.
But nothing justifies pumping 24 bullets into Salman Taseer’s body, absolutely nothing. Who ever thinks such an assassination is justified is out of his mind. Just stop the bloodshed this is not what Islam teaches us, this is my point of view. In case Salman Taseer was against the blashphemy law or he was supporting the christian woman. The law should have been used to take up the issue, not to just go and kill the person.
It is not just the religious fanatics that are tearing apart Pakistan, the corrupt incompetent ruling elite is also the culprit, the Military on its own has to take a lot of corrective actions, the businessmen have to start paying the taxes, the average Pakistani has to work even harder and show a greater committment towards the country. It is said to win the freedom is easier, but it required much more sacrifice to maintain the freedom. And forget about Pakistan, we can not even become good Muslims if we do not get above these minor differences and live in peace and harmony.
Mortal:”We Indians and the whole world supports moderate/liberal Pakistanis like you in your fight against radicalizm. Hopefully, you have learned that silence is not an option when it comes to fighting extremism/radicalizm. The monsters who hurt others yesterday, will sooner or later hurt you or the one’s you love. Yesterday’s Kasab is today’s Qadri but they are both sides of the same coin. Also, you have suuported & defended your army long & hard but now it’s time for Pakistanis like you to demand some accountibility from them. This monster was created by your army (under Zia) & they are the one’s who will have to clean it up.”
-Islam is a moderate religion and calls upon its followers to take the middle path in everything. Be modest, be generous, do not flaunt ones wealth etc. Just sometime back people on this blog compared Pakistan to Nazi Germany. Now see for yourself, the governor got 24 bullets in his body to defend a member of minority group. This shows divisions among the society.
Coming to the Army now, the army in Pakistan remains a corruption free (to great extent) institution which is efficient, and the only order among the chaos. Now once again as the country is drifting towards political instability the US is getting closer to Pakistan army knowing it is the only institution to do business with;
Political unrest may bring U.S., Pakistan army closer
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39331003
I support the Pakistan army policy in 1980s to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan. That was the need of hour then, today Pakistan Army is fighting the terrorist criminal elements that is the need of hour today. Gen. Zia Ul Haq supported Afghan Mujahideen, backed up by the US and Saudi Arabia. That is when extremism took roots in Pakistani society, a direct result of Soviet intervention in next door Afghanistan. We cannot blame Pakistan Army, even today with all the instability in Pakistan I support the Army’s efforts to stabilize the country and help build the capacity of civilian government.
777xxx777 said:
> But tell me what is PA and ISI doing to fight off these fanatic mullahs (so called religious/spiritual leaders of Pakistan)??
It’s going to be a bit hard as even Gen Kayani has to watch out for his bearded bodyguards nowadays…
I know Umair will protest that the PA is a professional organisation. But there are more beards in the army today than a generation ago, which means that for many soldiers, there could be more than one “higher authority”. That’s troubling. They’ve been steadily moving up the ranks too, so what happens when the whisky-drinking general meets the bearded brigadier? (That question sounds like the start of a joke, but the end result is likely to be anything but funny)
Regards,
Ganesh Prasad
Umair said:
> I am not a liberal by any means, I am pretty much a conservative Pakistani like any average person.
But you also said:
> But nothing justifies pumping 24 bullets into Salman Taseer’s body, absolutely nothing. Who ever thinks such an assassination is justified is out of his mind. Just stop the bloodshed this is not what Islam teaches us, this is my point of view.
That’s liberal enough for me
.
As other Indian commenters on this site have said, our best wishes are with you. We sincerely hope Pakistan manages to get back to peace and stability soon.
Regards,
Ganesh Prasad
@Umair
“The law should have been used to take up the issue, not to just go and kill the person”
If you are not doing mere lip service then I applaud this statement from you.
@Ganesh
“But there are more beards in the army today than a generation ago, which means that for many soldiers, there could be more than one “higher authority”. That’s troubling”
Troubling more for India than for Pakistan because India has far more to lose than Pakistan. I am afraid to say that Rex might be right that these bearded guys in PA are absolute insane and will not think twice before hitting the nuke button. Taseer’s assasination should be an eye opener for RAW and IB to pull up their socks and get to work. The lazy fools cannot eat Indian tax payer’s money without delivering results.
Umair said:
> Coming to the Army now, the army in Pakistan remains a corruption free (to great extent) institution which is efficient
Ayesha Siddiqa doesn’t seem to think so.
http://bit.ly/7NezCS
She estimates the size of the army’s commercial empire at Rs. 200 billion. I agree with her opinion that this is good for neither the army nor Pakistan. It corrupts and bloats. So your statement that the PA is professional and efficient is questionable. How much more professional and efficient it would have been without its fingers in industries ranging from “cereals to banks to airlines”.
Your dad was in the PAF, right? I believe the PAF has been relatively untouched by this kind of corruption. Ask him what he thinks about this.
Regards,
Ganesh Prasad
Umair
In my post, I presented political analysis of what has happened. In no way I condone the murder of anybody. Let the law take care of it.
By the way I’m very liberal in dealing with other people including Hindus. I’m into socio-economic analysis and for that one has to step back, take a dispassionate view of situation.
You should know that there is war going on in the shadows by hidden forces and worries me more than open conflict. Luckily nothing will shock Pakistani people because they have endured a lot in recent years.
Indian focus on PA and ISI is self serving and obvious. Any advice from them is not welcome.
Matrixx said:
> I’m into socio-economic analysis and for that one has to step back, take a dispassionate view of situation. [...] Indian focus on PA and ISI is self serving and obvious. Any advice from them is not welcome.
To be truly dispassionate, you would consider every argument on its own merits and not based on who made them. Even if a known liar told you there was something dangerous crawling up your sleeve, it might be a good idea to check…
Regards,
Ganesh Prasad
@Matrix/Umair
Matrix says: “Indian focus on PA and ISI is self serving and obvious. Any advice from them is not welcome.”
***That is not dispassionate at all like you are suggesting to Umair.
This attitude in fact is what propagates extremism. That means Pakistanis would do the opposite of what Indians say. If Indians say quit suporting extremism in anyform ANYWHERE, tha is never take positively.
Both of you guys are suggesting what should be done to the extremists and their ideology, which is positive. But this is not normal times and Umair is in his patriotic spirit (rightly so) and thinking of several issues that need attention in Pakistan: healthcare, tax, religious extremism etc. It is much more meaningful to think of all these issues at all times, including when Pakistan becomes totally peaceful. It is also not black and white scenario. From an outsider point of view, I have Umair like stand on religious extermism but I would still call some extremists whom the so-called some “moderates” in Pakistan would like not to consider so. Using religion to motivate masses to wage war to solve issues must end. This has not been working. It is a proven failure. I hate to use these words, by any optimstic analysis Pakistan is at the edge and need Pakistanis to walk the talk and move beyond slogans.
I am an Indian and any more prescription from me will induce allergic reaction or cause side effects in you. So I will stop here and will add that Indians are not the only ones who prescribe this, a section of Pakistani media also says that. Irfan Hussain at Dawn says: “Until we have achieved a national consensus rejecting extremism, the jihadis will continue to receive moral and material support.” I am pretty sure he means ALL kinds of extremists.
I saw an article in Dawn: “How Indians look at Taseer’s assassination” Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan has been compared with Sedition in India.
http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/07/how-india ns-look-at-taseer%e2%80%99s-assassinatio n.html
I am looking forward to a day when majority of Indians and Pakistanis have same stand on religious extremism.