Recently, Maulana Sami-Ul-Haq passed a contradictory statement regarding democracy in Pakistan, wherein he denounced and declared democracy the main hurdle in the propagation of Islam in Pakistan. However, in my opinion, this so-called democracy or vote-bank politics is the main reason for not curbing sectarianism rather it boosts the profiles of people like Sami-Ul-Haq. If this is not true, then how come, just the other day, the federal interior minister stated in Senate that banned sectarian outfits can’t be equated with terrorist groups. On the same day, Sindh government demanded interior ministry to take action against 90 seminaries over suspicion of extremist’s activities that are currently operating in Sindh. In-spite of knowing it, Sindh government had thrown responsibility over Ch. Nisar’s shoulder. Clearly, both right and left wing parties fear to lose the sectarian vote bank. It is difficult to fight the ongoing terrorism unless you clamp down on the sectarian outfits and their seminaries. Are we proceeding towards what most of Middle Eastern countries are suffering with – drowned in blood and hate over sectarian issues? Is this what our forefathers dreamt of while laying the foundation of a progressive, democratic and tolerant country?
Masood Khan
Jubail
