Fighting terrorism ideologically

A comprehensive policy needs to be formulated

Now that in the aftermath of the Peshawar mayhem, the government, the military establishment and the nation stand united with the resolve to eliminate scourge of terrorism and the necessary cooperation of the Afghan government and US is also forthcoming in taking out the TTP militants based in Afghanistan, the chances of the success of the operation Zarb-e-Azab have increased manifold. The civilian and military leaders are in a constant huddle in developing an anti-terror policy that takes care of the military, administrative and legal measures necessary to take the fight against terrorism to its logical end. The parliamentary committee is also busy in firming up its recommendations in this regard, while the security and law enforcement agencies are busy round the clock to hunt down the terrorists and their abettors.

Hopefully through the collective wisdom of all the stakeholders a nationally-owned and nationally-backed action plan against the terrorists would soon emerge and no time would be lost in implementing the same. The nation rightly feels indignant and hurt by the bestiality perpetrated in Peshawar as the terrorists have indeed hit the soul and body of the nation and deserve no mercy, as rightly stated by the prime minister who while presiding over a high level meeting also attended by the COAS, DG ISI and other high ranking military official, vowed to lead the war on terror personally come what may. However, while firming up responses to the phenomenon of terrorism utmost care needs to be taken that they are not tinged with the sentiments of revenge and are instead designed to establish peace.

The recommendations and the contours of the final plan agreed on their basis are not yet known but the fact remains that apart from the measures aimed at physical elimination of the terrorist elements, there was also an imperative need to fight the war on terror on the ideological front. What the TTP stands for and what it has been doing for imposing its distorted version of the Sharia on the Pakistani society is against the teachings of the Holy Quran, the only source of Sharia. Perhaps it would be pertinent to mention some of the verses to unravel and expose their machinations and intentions. Quran says, “Let there be no compulsion in religion.”(2:256). On killing human beings it says, “Take not life which God hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: He commands you that ye may learn wisdom.”(6:151).

The Holy Quran considers life as sacred trust of God which cannot be taken away by anyone except under law of the state purported to dispense justice. It clearly suggests that only the state can take a life of a person under law in a just manner for the greater good of the society. The value of human life is so great that the Quran equates the taking of even one human life unjustly with the killing of all humanity: “If any one slays a person, for spreading mischief in the land, it would be as if he slays the whole humanity. And if any one saves a life, it would be as if he saved the whole humanity”. (5:32) This verse also reiterates the value of human life and allows taking life of a person only if he commits a murder or spreads mischief in the land and the only authority authorised to take this action is the state.

The Holy Quran also forbids rebellion or taking up of arms against the rulers of an Islamic state by the armed groups. It says: “O, you who believe, obey only Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.”(Al-Nisaa 59) There are innumerable sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) on this subject which forbid rebellion against the rulers and the state. Hudaifah Bin Al-Yaman narrated the Prophet as having said: “There will be after me leaders who will not follow my guidance and my Sunnah and there will be among them men whose hearts will be like those of Satan in the body of a human being. Listen and obey the ruler, even if he lashed your back and took your money.” Auf Bin Malik asked the Prophet: “Do you recommend fighting them?” The Prophet replied, “No, do not fight them as long as they do not prevent you from your prayers.”

As is evident from these Quranic verses and Hadith, the acts of terrorism committed by TTP are an affront to the teachings of Quran and the genius of the Muslim society. Their acts also warrant and justify the quelling of the rebellion through all the might at the command of the state even if they have to be killed for spreading mischief in the land. What kind of Shariah is it which allows attacks on mosques, worship places of other religious sects and minorities, attack on security installation and security men, and blowing up human beings indiscriminately and destroying private property?

A counter narrative needs to be developed to discredit the TTP dogma in the light of the Quarnic teachings and Hadith, with the help of the religious scholars and widely disseminated through the media and all other forums of communication. It would require long term effort to erase the footprints of the mindset preached and agitated by the terrorists, in view of the support and sympathy that they still enjoy in certain sections of the society. Perhaps it would be a good idea to include the anti-terror and anti-extremism narrative in the curricula of all the educational institutions including the seminaries.

Regrettably, the highly polarised media in Pakistan has been responsible for propagating and publicising the narrative of the terrorists in complete disregard to professional ethics and social responsibility. That needs to be checked but not through putting curbs on the media or banning some media outlets as per one of the recommendations of the parliamentary committee. Instead the government should initiate a dialogue with the media to evolve a code of ethics and accordingly devise guidelines for the role of the media in the war against terrorism and in realising its objectives.