Disparity between statements and actions
Since the start of the countrywide clean-up/combing under the newly launched Radd-ul-Fasaad, scores of ‘terrorists’ have been killed and numerous have been detained for questioning by law enforcement agencies. Unfortunately reports have surfaced about the Punjab government giving informal orders to keep a relatively more vigilant eye on Pashtuns and people from FATA in the province.
Episodes of undue and discriminatory treatment in light of the order have already been reported displaying how quickly racist tendencies can come to the surface if it has the endorsement of the state. Pashtuns and FATA residents trying to make a living in urban areas of Punjab already feel marginalised in terms of economic opportunity and social inclusion. The enforcement of this discriminatory order only exasperates the situation and other political parties have spoken out against it as well.
All opposition parties including the PPP, PTI, JI and ANP have harshly criticised the Punjab government for issuing the directives in the first place and then being unable to control the situation. President of ANP Asfandyar Wali Khan has threatened the ‘forcible eviction of Punjabi people’ from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The JI chief has announced a Jirga in Lahore in protest.
Law Minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah has said that the allegations against the Punjab government were an attempt by the KP and Sind governments to “spread hatred”. This is merely deflecting blame and shying away from the real issue at hand. Evidence and letters of racial profiling have surfaced in Punjab, not in other provinces.
Instead of playing the political blame game, the minister along should investigate the issue and make a genuine attempt to resolve it before matters get out of hand and other provinces – like the ANP chief’s threat – start doing the same and add fuel to an unnecessary full-blown countrywide ethnicity and race issue.
