As much as the search for the cleric who motivated late Governor Salmaan Taseers murder should be carried out, it just might be an exercise in futility. Though the murder may very well have been organised by a militant outfit, but that the killer was a lone ranger is a pretty plausible explanation. The aforementioned search might lead to a cleric who did indeed opine that the murderer Mumtaz Qadri should slay the Governor, but it is a view espoused by many. Does the state put them all such clerics in the slammer?
This case, more than any other acts of terrorism in the recent past, has polarised the entire country. Mumtaz Qadri is not from any of the sects or subsects that subscribe to a literalist, strict school interpretation of Islam. Had he not committed the crime, at first glance he would have appeared to be a part of that elusive silent majority that the liberals keep brining up in their arguments. The ones that, religious as they might be, are inspired by a more inclusive brand of faith. If that werent enough of a wake up call, what was surprising was how support for the killer cut across socio-economic and sectarian lines. More than three hundred lawyers have expressed the desire to argue his case for free. Social networks on the internet, like Facebook, have had an exponentially explosive growth of his admirers virtually within hours of his act. Huge rallies have been taken out by pressure groups that have, in the recent past, also taken out rallies against the Taliban!
There is no tangible enemy is front of us. There is Qadri, and he should be brought to justice. But regarding the larger question of intolerance, it is going to be a long, slow slog ahead if we wish to stem the rot. Not a satisfying crackdown like the second Swat operation. No chance of basking in the feel-good warmth of the power of the state here. Bad times ahead.