No easy fix
The advent of spring is generally the time to talk about Pakistan’s soft image, or the lack of it. This year, however, the debate has assumed a new sense of urgency. Thanks to the realisation from the top that the narrative needs to be changed, suddenly it has become an element of political correctness to talk about changing the discourse.
Anatol Lieven in his book, ‘Pakistan: A Hard Country’, attempts to make a convincing case of the troubled nation’s inner resilience. The author, who is a professor of peacekeeping and terrorism studies at King’s College, London, penned his excellent work in 2011 when things were not so bad.
Since then things have only headed south so far as the soft image of Pakistan is concerned. In an atmosphere of intolerance and bigotry, jihadist culture with tacit blessings from powers that be, has only thrived in these years.
The state, if not being actually complicit, has remained a helpless spectator during the now familiar spectacle of its citizens being slaughtered in the name of promoting a perverted version of an ideology. Now, when it is almost too late our leadership — khaki and civilian — has suddenly woken up from its deep slumber.
Generally (no pun intended), the COAS General Raheel Sharif is considered to be the lead person in bringing about a discernibly positive change in a hitherto flawed mindset. Of course it can be rightly argued that the same institution — under the aegis of his various predecessors — was largely responsible for pursuing, nurturing and promoting the jihadist mindset.
But after Zarb-e-Azb launched last June, things started changing. Unlike General Kayani, General Sharif quickly realised that the myth of good and bad Taliban was no more sustainable. All terrorists, without distinction, need to be flushed out in order to save Pakistan.
However predictably, the civilian setup under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was rather slow to react. Initially, under the aegis of Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan, the government was assiduously struck in the groove of negotiating with the terrorists come what may.
The younger Sharif could have simply dropped in impromptu to attend any of its sessions to demonstrate his symbolic support for the event. In any case he should be more proactive in devising a new inclusive mindset
After belatedly realising that the mantra was changing, the political elite, albeit half-heartedly, decided to go along with the counter terrorism efforts launched by the military. But the dastardly attack on Army Public School last December in Peshawar proved to be the proverbial last straw.
Before that the most important thing in the world for Imran Khan was the dharna to protest the fact why he was not prime minster post 2013 elections. And for the Sharifs it was almost an existential need, not only to devise means to survive his onslaught, but also to enjoy the fruits of power.
Even now talk about changing the narrative is mostly emanating from the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s secretariat. The elder Sharif, perhaps enmeshed in problems of a bigger magnitude, hardly finds time to go in depth about such niceties.
Shahbaz Sharif has spoken of the urgent need to reform the curricula taught in Pakistani schools. Of course it is axiomatic under the circumstances to cleanse our textbooks of hate material in order to outgrow an exclusivist and inward looking mindset.
The chief minister is right that the scourge of terrorism did not engulf the nation overnight, nor will it go away suddenly. Concerted efforts bearing short-, medium- and long-term results will have to be initiated.
But so far only feeble and half-hearted measures are being taken to inculcate a new counter terrorism narrative. After the eighteenth amendment education is a provincial subject. Perhaps for this reason alone, reforming the curriculum figures nowhere in the national discourse. In KP the ruling PTI’s coalition partner Jamaat-e-Islami has a veto power in the matter and its obscurantist agenda holds sway in the province.
Only recently a literary festival was held in Lahore under the aegis of liberal minded sons of a business tycoon. It was a hugely successful event bringing together literati from all over Pakistan as well as from across the border. Despite immense security threats there was a sprinkling of foreign writers attending it as well.
It was a mega event attracting mainly the liberal elite of the country. With a few exceptions most of the sessions catered to the English speaking and reading public who already possess a largely pluralistic and inclusive approach to life.
The LitFest was an unqualified success, perhaps because the state — apart from providing security and its cultural complex as the venue for the event — had no say in its proceedings. Since the Literary Festival has become a regular feature drawing big crowds every year, the organisers should consider throwing in more local content.
Militating against Lahore’s cultural heritage, it is tantamount to throwing the baby with the bath water. Instead of strictly regulating the event the state has taken the easy route of altogether banning it
The younger Sharif could have simply dropped in impromptu to attend any of its sessions to demonstrate his symbolic support for the event. In any case he should be more proactive in devising a new inclusive mindset. His wife, Tehmina Durrani, having a relatively more urbane outlook, could lend a helping hand as well in devising a new narrative.
Sharif should reconsider his killjoy attitude towards life, for starters. Basant had become an annual mega spring event of Lahore — attracting enthusiastic visitors not only from India but diaspora from all over the world. Unlike the Basant festival celebrated in India, the Lahori Basant has more or less become an hybrid event, night flying being the ‘zinda dilan’s’ own peculiar invention.
But owing to objections of the religious lobby and its cohorts in the media, and activities of some miscreants, for the past few years it is altogether banned. Militating against Lahore’s cultural heritage, it is tantamount to throwing the baby with the bath water. Instead of strictly regulating the event the state has taken the easy route of altogether banning it.
Similarly, enforcing ban on sheesha smoking is another favourite hobbyhorse of the Punjab government. What is wrong with the wayward youth smoking sheesha instead of hashish or engaging in criminal activities?
The chief minister should concentrate on governance and changing the ideological moorings of the ruling party rather than regulating private activities of the citizenry. The federal information minister, Pervez Rashid, the other day made a very sensible speech at my late father Hameed Nizami’s death anniversary. He talked about Jinnah’s liberal narrative.
If the PML-N really means business about changing the narrative it should outgrow its ostrich like approach and espouse Jinnah’s pluralistic ideals. Easier said than done.
Walking the Quaid’s talk means encroaching upon what the religious right has made its exclusive domain. Carving an atmosphere of tolerance and live and let live is an uphill task. It is still not clear whether the government is actually serious about taking up this challenge.
Without changing a jaundiced mindset, merely expressing a firm resolve to root out the terrorism will remain an elusive dream.
