A TV channel hosted a seminar at a local hotel in
Karachi on 16.07.2008 on the topic of extremism with panellist Dr Ayesha Jalal, Dr Salman Shah, Ikram Saigol,
Rana Sheikh, Afghan Ambassador and many others. The
audience were also shown video clippings from the serial
"Yeh Junoon Keysa" which will be presented in 22 serials
on the menace of extremism.
It is for the first
time a known Indian actress Kiran Kher will be appearing
in TV drama serial of Pakistan. Dr Ayesha Jalal stressed
that we are suffering from identity crisis thus
resorting to extremism. Mr Ikram Saigol stressed upon
the media not to project minor incidents and do not give
coverage to incidents of extremism citing Indian
example, where Naxalite attacks are rarely covered by
the media.
Khalid Aziz, former Chief Secretary of
NWFP deliberated in detail, being a resident of NWFP and
his analysis made a lot of sense. It is unfortunate that
such sensitive issues are left to generalists to
adventure, rather seeking guidance from specialist and
think tanks.
Most of the panellists feared that
if the horror of extremism is not contained in FATA the
spillover will be visible down south with a big bang,
which is true and we have to come out of self denial and
address the issue. I emphasised that it is not only our
country, but even in India, the Hindu fundamentalists
are supported by masses but the media. India is trying
to veil these elements for the sake of soft image of
their country, unlike us who project just to find a
"news alert".
Every religion has abhorred
extremism, be it Christianity, Judaism or Hinduism. The
best example can be deduced from a priest in France in
1618, who bewitched the nuns, a film story "Possession
of Loudun" is classic on the affair. The present spate
of extremism is well-known to be created by "our
masters" who used Taliban against Soviets and once the
war was over, they were abandoned.
The monster
created rebounded on its creator. It is a historical
fact that after war "powers to be" may have ensured
rehabilitation of war affected people and on development
of economics as had been the case in Japan, Germany,
Korea and Vietnam etc.
However in case of Afghan
War the powers to be withdrew and instead of
rehabilitation/reconstruction they were targeted as
enemy. What a paradox? We all know the "think tank" in
Washington guided the government to turn to the red
after implementing their charter against Nazis in 1946
and once Russia and Eastern Europe collapsed, it was the
turn of green. Today we see similarity in the policies
of Obama and Mccain in respect of
Afghanistan.
The usage of terms crusade after
9/11 and continued Muslim bashing by western media
resulted into retaliation and identity crisis due to
humiliation suffered even by moderates. Thus it is
prudent on powers to be to contain their bashing and
equal responsibility rests on us to check extremism as
we all know it is unIslamic to hurt anyone. However
fanatics are found in every religion.
Some
misguided religious devotees feel so embattled and
embittered by the questioning or rejection of their
cherished beliefs that they are prepared to resort to
murder, even indiscriminate mass murder, as happens
wherever fanaticism mixed with resentment and ignorance
to produce the hateful brew of what is done in the name
of belief. They claim "Faith is what I die for, dogma is
what I kill for" as the saying has it.
It is a
curious fact that responsible enquiry, of the kind
conducted by scientists and expected in courts of law,
is careful in drawing its conclusion and in open minded
about the contrary future evidence, whereas in sharp
contrast matters of faith are tenaciously regarded as
inviolable, irrefutable and
unreversible.
Religious fanaticism has always and
everywhere brought war as it can be seen by the terror
of ruling evangelists superpower. Its intolerance and
persecution has distorted human nature into false and
artificial shapes. Some try to palliate or even excuse
the crimes committed in religious belief. We must
appreciate humanity's sense of beauty and decency, our
power to love and fear of our Creator and at the same
time we must shun evil, stupidity, greed and
cruelty.
I have not seen the full serial to make
my concluding remarks, but I strongly feel that powers
to be must restrain themselves from Muslim bashing and
avoid humiliating Islam for the sake of peace and at the
same time being mentors of Taliban, they must own them
by disarming and rehabilitating them to live a respected
and peaceful life.
I am a firm believer that it
is economic crunch, clubbed with rising unemployment and
scarcity of food, which gives rise to crimes, extremism
and all kinds of evils, as it is considered to be a
fight for survival. Our bleak economic scenario and
shrinking of economic cake may create ethnicity,
extremism and may affect saner elements of our society
which is finding hard to survive in this economic
turmoil.
The unemployment being rugged FATA is
70% thus the only option for the youth is to become a
mercenary who is said to be paid given Rs 10000 per
month. Our media and masses must not join the much
orchestrated chorus bashing by Western media. We must
resist and impress upon them to address the core issue
of rehabilitating fighters against Soviet invasion. It
pained me that our Chief Executive admitted a situation
like 9/11 re-emerging. We should not own others misdeeds
and be proud Pakistani not apologist.
I must cite
a recent example of 70s in Bangladesh, where the
government ensured rehabilitation of 2.5 million Mukti
Bahnis, firstly disarming them and thereafter providing
housing and employment .A trust was also created and the
tallest building in Dilkusha Commercial area in Dhaka is
that of Mukti Bahni Trust. We may make use of the
blueprints of Bangladesh and ask the powers to be who
are mentors to fund the peaceful disarming,
rehabilitation, formation of trust and provide
employment to youth.
This menace must be
addressed on top priority, so that more unemployed
youths are not induced to extremism, but with economic
crisis I do not see much hope from our government to
comprehend the serious problem. It is advisable to take
guidance from specialists like Khalid Aziz of NWFP who
identified the core issues and their
solutions.
