Neutralising negative image of Pakistan and Islam

Doing, finally, what needs to be done

Last week the ministry of religious affairs and interfaith harmony organised an international conference on promotion of religious tolerance which was attended by grand mufti of Egypt, Shwaki Ibrahim, and other scholars of international fame where the speakers laid emphasis on Islam being a religion of peace which aimed at prosperity of human beings and the entire world. Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and National Security Advisor Lt General (R) Nasser Janjua exhaustively dilated on the step taken by the government to promote religious tolerance in Pakistan and fighting the scourge of terrorism. The conference developed a consensus that a wrong narrative was being promoted about Islam and there was a need to highlight the enlightened face of the religion through rejecting all misperceptions about it.

The convening of an international conference in Islamabad was a very imaginative and visionary initiative in regards to dissemination of the desired message to the international community and dealing with the image problem. It would also lend more credibility to the efforts of the Pakistan government designed to ensure physical elimination of the terrorist outfits and their supporters within the country being targeted through operation ‘Radul Fasad’

The convening of an international conference in Islamabad was a very imaginative and visionary initiative in regards to dissemination of the desired message to the international community

Pakistan admittedly was facing an image problem among the fraternity of nations, with all its negative consequences for the country; a phenomenon that needed to be urgently addressed. Needless to emphasise that this state of affairs owes greatly to the rise of terrorism during the last 30-40 years unleashed by the geo-political developments in our region fuelled by a skewed narrative orchestrated by its proponents who used the distorted version of Islam to advance their nefarious designs.

The fissiparous and centrifugal forces unleashed by this development obscured our national narrative. While the terrorist outfits continued producing crops of terrorists through indoctrination of the young minds, no worthwhile effort was made at the national level to develop a counter-narrative to fight terrorism on the ideological front besides using state power to destroy the terrorist infrastructure or physical elimination of terrorists.

In view of the permeating situation the PML-N government and the military leadership of the country not only launched military offensive to eliminate and destroy the infrastructure of the terrorists outfits but also decided to redouble efforts at the national level to develop a counter-narrative against the dogma of the terrorists with a view to neutralise them on the internal front ideologically and also to send an unequivocal message to the world that Pakistan was a religiously tolerant state which  believed in religious harmony and abhorred any manifestation of terrorism.

The National Action Plan unfurled through national consensus also accorded due focus to the efforts regarding curbing the hate speech, introduction of reforms in the seminaries and bringing them into the national educational mainstream. The ministry of religious affairs and interfaith harmony was given the responsibility to develop the national narrative to challenge the narrative of the terrorists, who were using the religion of Islam to justify their actions, coinciding with the efforts to erase negative perceptions that had been choreographed through their incessant propaganda.

The ministry, reportedly, has been pursuing the given task with unswerving commitment and has taken appreciable steps in that regard. Some of the worth mentioning measures include formation of Ulema and Mashaikh Councils, holding of international Seerat Conference on religious harmony as well as establishing coordination with the provincial governments and other stakeholders. Probably the most significant step was the launch of a book-let titled ‘Paighame-e-Pakistan’ compiled by the International Islamic University and launched on 18^th January by the government of Pakistan.

The book-let signed by 1,829 religious scholars from nearly all mainstream sects in the country declared as un-Islamic several anti-state actions including rebellion, attacks and suicide attacks, spreading of sectarianism and anarchy in the name of religion or issuing a call to jihad without the consent of the state. It also held the use of force against the state of Pakistan in the name of Sharia as un-Islamic and prohibited use of force against the government by militant entities. The document also declared use of force in the garb of implementation of imposing Sharia, the waging of an armed struggle against the state or the use of violence and terrorist tactics to settle ethnic, geographical, religious and sectarian disagreements a violation of the injunctions of Sharia Law. The booklet also highlighted different decrees against terrorism prepared by the religious scholars and Wifaqul Madaris—the umbrella body for the regulation of religious seminaries in the country after thorough consultations.

It was for the first time that such a comprehensive national narrative on terrorism and religious harmony was evolved that enjoyed the support and approval of all the religious sects. It was indeed a very laudable and positive step towards meeting the challenge of the terrorists at the ideological plank and also pronouncing to the world the credentials of Pakistan as a religiously tolerant state which contrary to the impression created by its enemies and detractors, had an unflinching commitment to eliminate the scourge of terrorism and the ideology that they used to fuel their dogma.

Changing minds and attitudes developed over long period of time is an arduous and time consuming effort. The distortions introduced into the society would surely take time to ebb away but there is no doubt that the efforts made so far on the internal front have already started showing positive results. There is almost a national consensus on waging a relentless war against the narrative of the terrorists on the internal front as well as showing the true face of Pakistan to the global community. Thanks to the combined efforts of the government and the Pakistani media which has shown utmost sense of responsibility in supporting and reinforcing the national narrative.

There is probably a need for expanding the scope of the efforts to deal with the image problem of the country as well as the great religion of Islam. As regards negative perceptions about Pakistan it would perhaps be desirable to ask our missions abroad to adopt a pro-active approach on the subject by increasing their interaction with the local media outlets besides broaching on the idea of organising similar conferences in the countries where Pakistani expatiates are in greater numbers as well as activating their associations to supplement the efforts of our diplomatic mission and the government of Pakistan in their respective areas of residence.