To paradise by murder?

Bhakkar’s bloody affair

A murderous extremism and an equally deadly sectarianism are splitting the Muslim world apart at the seams. In most instances the distinction between the two is blurred as usually the heavily armed terrorist group(s) of the sect that happens to be in the majority, conducts an ethnic cleansing of the ‘heretics’ with all the passion of a true jihad. Funded and patronised by either of the two ideological capitals, they fight it out like unthinking automatons, as for instance in Iraq on the one hand and Pakistan on the other. The fair name of a great religion is paraded out to mask and justify the basest animal instincts.

So it was in Bhakkar Friday where sadly, eleven unfortunates gave up the ghost in the mad passions evoked by a religious fanaticism based on illiteracy and hatred – and official apathy. Eight others including a policeman were injured. Even after the deadly gunfight, provocative statements were still being hurled at each other over the respective mosque loudspeakers, keeping already inflamed passions simmering. The police failed abysmally in controlling the situation before it had gotten out of hand. It failed to disarm the armed groups, and reportedly it was not prevented from reaching the scene by one of the armed groups. This is an unpardonable administrative lapse and those on the right side of the law held responsible must not go unpunished. Lessons must also be drawn from the bloody affair to avoid a recurrence. The unchecked mushrooming of mosques in recent years presided over by dubious elements in many cases (especially in the rural areas) demands urgent regulation by the government. Preaching and spreading hatred against other sects or the minorities must be made a punishable offense by an Act of Parliament and carry a heavy penalty according to the circumstances, that is taking in view lives lost and damage to property. Perhaps a clearly spelt out (and enforceable) list of do’s and don’ts for the mosques khatibs prepared by the ministry of religious affairs and even a uniform Friday sermon all over the country ditto that promotes harmony rather than controversy is the need of the hour. Too much blood has already been spilt and the needless sectarian divide is being turned into an unbridgeable yawning gap between Muslims.

One must also realise that agent provocateurs and ‘false flag’ enemies are also taking full advantage of this clash of the sects to divide and fool the Islamic world. It therefore becomes imperative on the two unnamed capitals to set aside their so-called ideological differences and sectarian differences and put up a united front to face the multitude of problems confronting countries like Pakistan today. The blame for any ‘Bhakkars’ also falls on them. But most of all it is the Punjab government that must take responsibility, especially because the sectarian issue is by far the worst in this province, to the extent that it is impacting others too.