On August 21, 2023, the Chief Minister of Punjab announced that the government would be paying Rs. 2 million each to the distressed families of the Jaranwala case, as compensation. Is money really the solution to all the brutalities, the victims of this case had to face? From seeing their worship place and homes burnt, from being beaten by the members of the so-called religious parties to spending their nights out in the fields in fear, is this money going to help? Technically, yes as it can help rebuild their houses and support their families for a while. But what about the mental and psychological trauma this incident caused?
Unfortunately, Pakistan has seen an enormous growth in religious extremism in the last few years. In 2021, one such case shocked the whole country when a Sri Lankan man, who had been working in Pakistan for 11 years was falsely accused of blasphemy, and a mob of more than 800 men killed and set the body on fire in front of the whole world.
Later on, the family of Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana was also given aid of Rs. 17.6 million along with a month’s salary as financial aid. However, it does not remove the pain they all had to go through. They can never forget how their family member was beaten, tortured, killed, and set on fire, the culture of making videos and taking selfies in such circumstances instead of doing something only worsens the problem for the victim’s family.
Religious Extremism in Pakistan is an issue no government wants to tackle at the moment. Its growth for years has never been hindered and has only caused it to be deep-rooted in the minds and hearts of people with religious sentiments. Pakistan was the first country formed in the name of the religion Islam, At that time it was a revolutionary idea to see a country whose values were based on one religion that is Islam. With time, the mixture of politics, the Western system, and religion all in one governance system with the inclusion of corrupt people, proved to be very fatal for Pakistan.
Pakistan was divided over minor issues like whether to go with Islamic punishments or the Western ones, not to mention opting for both also had its setbacks like being called out as a human rights violation, by the West. At that time, the Pakistani government was faced with bigger issues too but the neglect of this division in the country caused by the religion started growing. During Zia’s time, the re-enforcement of the Shariah Law and bringing back Pakistan to an Islamic model furthered these problems.
Not only did it enhance the sectarian conflict between major Islamic sects in Pakistan but the era also sort of legalized giving harsh punishments to anyone who disobeys Islam. This later on was translated by the people of Pakistan as being brutal towards anyone who disrespects their own personal sentiments whether they are religious or not but they are surely given the religion card. It has given rise to brutal Shia-Sunni conflicts and also injured or inflicted death on many people from different religions.
Another problem is the lack of education and awareness due to which almost none of the Pakistani Muslims can identify themselves as an extremist. Under the banner of, “we are only doing this for the protection of our Deen” or “it is in our religion that we punish those, strictly who disrespect our religion” many have ventured on the path of showcasing how much of a Muslim they are by attacking those from different religions. Having no check on the Maulvis has only worsened the problem.
These religious educators have spread their own philosophies under Islamic teachings and have made people radicals by legalizing the use of force under Islam. People having no actual connection with their religion or those who have never understood the basis from which Islam can be learned that is Quran, believe in the ideologies of these Maulvis. These people have even stained the name of Islam for the whole world just because they do not try to explore what Islam actually is. The concerns over Islam have also been overtly sensitized for everyone to fear even highlighting such acts done in the name of faith.
Extremist organizations are run throughout the country, nobody knows what is happening in madrasas. Even parents do not bother to keep an eye on what their children are learning in these institutes. Correspondingly, the political and economic instability along with the high level of corruption has caused meager resources to be used to check on said institutes. Consequently, all this results in the formation of a man with his own set of religious sentiments for the protection of which, he can even execute any other person. When a group of these like-minded men visualizes how they can get away with anything unless it is in the name of religion, they gather to fulfill their selfish interests and name it “the protection of our religion”, while in reality, these guardians of Islam are no less than the enemies of the religion itself.
Under such circumstances, we cannot ignore the actual problem and keep on paying money to the souls distressed by these extremists. Pakistan needs to step up its game or else these extremists turning into terrorists will one day be our death. The foremost requirement is gaining economic and political stability because, without a sound base to invest in tackling extremists, nothing can be done.
Politicians of Pakistan instead of fulfilling their own interests need to see the bigger picture, without Pakistan they will not have a home to fight for and on. Pakistanis instead of fearing, need to come together to retaliate and work on uprooting the issue completely. Without every Pakistani’s contribution, we cannot reach the destination we want, of a Pakistan as a homeland for all, where everyone can live freely and enjoy their rights, of a Pakistan that can stand as the perfect and positive image of Islam.
By re-evaluating our education system and keeping a check and balance on religious institutes, we can work on a generation that is free from such extremist ideologies. Strict punishments need to be announced and followed for those spreading fake and false information about religion. On the grass-root level, it is our responsibility to evaluate our knowledge and that of our family members, keep an eye on what the family members are learning, and deal with the problem immediately even if it is a small one. Together, we can make our religion the part of solution and remove its narrative about being a problematic one for the world to see and others to learn.
