Salman Taseer’s assassination: can Pakistan survive as a viable state?
After Salman Taseer murder Pakistani Society seems very much divided. A cold and calculated assassination, not only highlights political turmoil in country but it also raises very fundamental questions related to the viability of state. And it appears the hardline & political interpretation of religion has become the most imminent threat to the viability of state.The repeated [mis]use of religion by right wing political forces and military rulers of country and obsessive hatred of other nations(especially West and America) and religious minorities have brought the state to a situation where sane people fear to reason with the right wingers lest they are regarded as blasphemers themselves. It’s been events over the past 30 years, like the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan, the Islamization policies of General Zia ul-Haq during the 1980s, which has really strengthened the Islamist forces and the more puritanical sects.
New York Times in a recent piece saw the assassination of the Governor of Punjab as intensification of the struggle between secular and religious forces in Pakistan, in educated class religious trend going upwards. Against terrorism war American are spending billions of dollar on Pakistan Army but it ignored conservatism in Pakistani Society. It is noticed that flowering on culprit of Salman Taseer’s murderer is looking strange; it includes mostly young men and lawyers. Murder on the name of Namose Risalat is appreciated very much. Now processions against the release of Mumtaz Qadri disappoint governor’s friends and government as well. It is noticed that strong steps against culprit according to law. In views of lawyers Pakistani society is divided, an effect of conservatism even extremisms is present mostly in educated class.
According to The Economist report “There is a small space in which a liberal vision of Pakistan hangs on. It shrank a lot further with the murder on January 4th of a notable progressive politician and critic of religious extremism, Salman Taseer”.
Fazal mahmood writes in his article” Liberal Voice Silenced in Pakistan” that:
THE assassination of Punjab governor and Pakistan Peoples Party leader Salman Taseer has proved to be a turning point for Pakistan.
The country that arguably had been standing on the crossroads between liberal secularism and extremist fundamentalism is now travelling the latter road as the reactions to the killing prove so vividly. Rose petals for the assassin, threats by the mullah against those mourning Taseer’s death, threats of similar murders of liberals if they dared speak out for Taseer clearly show that the liberal voice is so weakened that it is now barely heard.
The very fact that the security guard who pumped 29 bullets into Taseer reloading the weapon at one point while other guards looked on is a Barelvi is indicative of how deep the rot of extremism has set in. The Barelvi’s in Pakistan have largely kept away from violence, and are recognised as a peaceful sect. But now it is as if a dam has burst as Barelvi clerics have come out with strictures as it were, warning all clerics in the country against reading Taseer’s funeral prayers. No one dared and eventually the task had to be performed by a PPP religious scholar.
For the first time in recent memory, it is the extremists who are talking and reacting and threatening, even as the small liberal society of Pakistan huddles into a corner, worried and terrified of the future.
Who will be the next target is the question being asked in every home of Pakistan, in what is almost a confession that there is no political force that can challenge and defeat the extremists.
Salman Taseer’s biggest crime was his liberal approach & western views on law and democracy, he was a progressive, forward looking leader who wished to see his country tread a path of enlightened development. Lamentably, it was those views that clashed with a country that has increasingly identified itself as religious state. And ‘biggest sin’ was that he had opposed to the blasphemy law and had visited the jail to meet with the Christian woman Asiya bibi. Now, the most unfortunate part that the next time a political leader attempts to stand up for a just cause, or a religious minority, the image of Taseer will be foremost in his mind. And that was the point: Violence can be a calculated tool used by organized parties or groups to eliminate politicians, win elections and scare people away from certain positions.
Ms Sara Taseer told the BBC that: Pakistan is a “frightening place” and her father’s death was a message “to every liberal to shut up or be shot”.
The civil society groups are extremely worried about a large section of society “justifying the act of Taseer’s assassin in the name of defending the blasphemy law. The human rights and civil society groups have expressed regret at the reaction to the murder, saying the debate on the blasphemy law has been hijacked by the religious right that threatens anyone daring to bring up the issue with mortal danger. Civil society activists and liberals have been outraged at the way Qadri was feted by lawyers and members of religious groups during his two court appearances.They believe that living in a democratic state entitles us to debate this law or any law passed by parliament in a safe and secure atmosphere.
The Pakistani and international media described the assassination of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer as it was a reflection of the growing “cancer of intolerance” in the society, it exposes the ‘the cancer of religious fanaticism’ and it also highlight Pakistan’s instability.
Pakistan has paid much too heavy a price of war against terrorism, according to the Individualland’s estimation, Throughout the decade the greatest apprehension for the citizens, government and other concerned authorities remained security. During the year 2009, when 11704 people lost their lives among which 2324 were civilians, 991 were security personnel and 8389 were terrorists. During 2010, a total of 7199 people lost their lives among which 1731 were civilians, 444 were security personnel, and 5024 were terrorists. On reviewing these figures, we apparently see a slight decrease in civilian and security personnel figures. However, is this game of statistics only?
A number of rehabilitation centers are working in the most affected districts of the country. However, what has been the impact, if any of these rehabilitation centers? On analyzing the terrorist incidents that took place during the year, we can see that a total of 459 bomb blasts occurred, out of which 48 were reported as suicide attacks. However, in 2009 a total of 500 bomb blasts occurred out of which 76 were reported to be suicide attacks. The marked decrease in the number of bomb blasts and particularly suicide attacks is also evident from these figures. However, the challenge seems far from being addressed and a lot needs to be done to gain total control of the war affected districts.
The greatest threat to Pakistan is right now, is extremism/religious fanaticism. Although the United States invested heavily in the war on terror yet it ignored conservatism in Pakistani Society, it ignored Pakistan’s poor education system and its bias curriculum that often incites intolerance and violence, it overlooked fact that extremists and fanatics have deep influence in the intelligence and security apparatus & in civil administration and it also turned blind eye on this unholy nexus that has well established links with mainstream media to espouse a particular cause.
Pakistan’s survival as a viable state, totally depends on how as a nation we answer the questions related to extremism.
Author: Junaid Qaiser
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