Reclaiming Pakistan’s identity from extremism

To bring about a fundamental shift

The suicide bombing in Lahore targeting Pakistan’s Christian minority, leaving over 72 dead and 300 injured, is yet another devastating outcome of the ascendency of deadly obscurantist forces. With mostly women and children killed in the massacre, a faction of the Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Recurring invocations of blasphemy charges against Pakistan’s beleaguered Christian community, increasing oppression of minorities, the storming of the capital in protest of the execution of convicted killer Mumtaz Qadri, all too grimly exemplify the sinister shift of extremist groups from the margins to the mainstream.

With violence becoming an indelible part of Pakistan’s narrative, the routinely employed blasphemy charge represents nothing more than a thinly veiled excuse to inflict yet more brutality, representing a manifestation of the increasing influence of hard-line ideologies. The codification of this absurd notion into law remains indefensible and a convenient weapon easily deployed against the most vulnerable.

The military’s assertive response in the face of extremism is summed up by Army Chief General Raheel Sharif’s unequivocal stance, “[The] War against terrorism and extremism is being fought for future generations… Only a safer Pakistan guarantees a prosperous Pakistan.” This resolute approach is an example of Pakistan’s determination to root out extremism as highlighted by the success of the army’s Zarb-e-Azb operation. However, General Raheel emphasises that the war against extremist groups cannot be won by the military alone but requires mass support, “The war we are fighting and security threats we are dealing with are multi-dimensional, orchestrated and complex.”

Economic and social reform remain central to thwarting the increasing momentum of radicalisation. Grinding poverty, a lack of access to education, healthcare and other basic amenities means that extremist groups find ready adherents, preying on the sense of hopelessness felt by a large swathe of Pakistan’s young population.

Soul searching and reflection can help to counter entrenched mindsets, paving the way in reversing destructive patterns of behaviour which have gained increasing traction over recent years.

To bring about a fundamental shift away from the hatred engendered by extremism, perhaps a recalibration of Pakistan’s national identity is required with a greater emphasis placed on the country’s spiritual and cultural heritage.

The searing experience of partition represents a defining moment in the emergence of modern day Pakistan, the reverberations of which are still felt today. Borne out of the chaotic withdrawal of imperial Britain, this hasty retreat unleashed unprecedented violence impacting all of the subcontinent’s diverse communities, searing sharp divisions across ethnic and religious lines. No community remained unscathed from the all-encompassing bloodletting; a trauma which has left a deep impression across South Asia with boundaries continuously being redrawn and consequently a baleful legacy of violence.

However, the emergence of modern day Pakistan from the depredations of colonialism is only part of the country’s story. A myopic focus on partition dominating the national narrative has meant that much of the land’s previous heritage remains disregarded.

The increasingly shrill invective of self appointed religious clerics and the rising tide of fanatical zealotry runs counter to the country’s rich sufi heritage. These ancient values must be reinvigorated and the sufi ideals of compassion, tolerance and unity in diversity reclaimed. This was once a land which flourished with a multiplicity of religions and communities where the universal insights of mystics like Bulleh Shah, Shah Abdul Latif and Ali bin Usman Al Hajveri resonated powerfully across all communities.

Renowned theologian Shaikh Abdal Hakim Murad highlights the futility of mindless orthodoxy, intolerance and exclusivism as an anathema to the very essence of Islam, “The Blessed Prophet (PBUH) never tired of reminding us, there is little value in outward conformity to the rules unless this conformity is mirrored and engendered by an authentically righteous disposition of the heart.”

This prophetic teaching was propagated by Sufi mystics like Sachal Sarmast who cautioned against the blind following of tradition, calling instead for a journey of discovery of the Sublime in order to achieve ultimate liberation: “You by yourself know what is in your form! Why chant ‘Allah Allah’? Find Allah within you. You listen, you see, Allah’s word is witness, there is no doubt, O Sachal! That the Lord is One!”

An elision of Pakistan’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage can lead to social dysfunction, loss of identity, a distortion of the truth and an appropriation of religion to suit self-serving interests. While the language of intransigence, bigotry and hate has space to propagate, extremist forces will continue to gain ground and Pakistan’s dark days of polarisation will persist.