Pervez Rashid’s ‘blunder?’

Ball in Nawaz’s court

Perhaps now the information minister, at least, understands why the National Action Plan (NAP) never got off the ground, especially the parts about the madrassas and the so-called national narrative. Just a casual look at the gallery he has compelled into reaction shows just the kind of waters he now finds himself in. Hafiz Saeed judged his remarks about seminaries – “universities of ignorance” – blasphemous which, considering the religious-political makeup of this Islamic Republic, will cause ripples beyond religious circles directly associated with seminaries. Indeed, Hameed Gul didn’t like Pervez’s observation one bit, and interestingly, even Ijaz ul Haq offered his two-pence, calling madrassas the theoretical foundation of the state.

Now Pervez is not your typical N-leaguer, which is probably why he’s not been too visible in the kitchen cabinet. His roots lie in left of centre politics, and he learned the ropes when the left was vehemently opposed to mushrooming of these madrassas, warning of just such repercussions. But then his journey so far to the right owed in no small part to politics of self-preservation that is so typical of our political landscape. But now since the mullah lobby as well as right wing politicians, which are Nawaz’s core constituency, are calling for Pervez’s ouster, the prime minister is caught in an awkward spot.

However, it should not be too difficult for Nawaz to decide which strategy to adopt here. There can be no denying that a good number of these seminaries, at least, are cause for considerable concern. And time and again militant attackers have been traced back to a number of them. It should not be forgotten, also, that a number of al Qaeda runaways were nabbed from the homes of some of the more religious politicians who defend these madrassas so passionately. The government is also, no doubt, aware of its inability to form the much hyped national narrative, which was supposed to be the bedrock of the counter insurgency campaign. Considering Pakistan’s current situation, the government has only one option. It must back the information minister forcefully, and leverage the moment to finally construct the narrative. It must also begin investigating and auditing the madrassas.