Pakistan: Turkey-Like Reforms Needed

By Tauseef Ahmad Khan, Tr. New Age Islam 12 March 2024 Lynching For Blasphemy Is Common In Pakistan Main Points: 1. Mishal Khan was lynched in Wali Khan University for alleged blasphemy. 2. Rashid Khan, a human rights activist was killed for alleged blasphemy. 3. A woman accused of blasphemy in Lahore market was saved by a lady police officer. 4. A Sri Lankan Hindu factory manager was lynched for alleged blasphemy. ------ (Screengrab) ----- The innocent woman was forced to apologise. If the ASP, Ichhra Bazar police station in Lahore had not acted courageously, not only the woman but his entire family would have been ruined. The woman who had gone to Ichhra Bazar had worn a shirt that had the Arabic word "Halwa" printed on it. Halwa in Arabic means love. The religious extremists unfamiliar with Arabic language surrounded her and accused her of blasphemy against the Quran. Some shopkeepers of Ichhra Bazar tried to convince the crowd that the shirt had no blasphemous word on it. But the crowd refused to see reason and was bent on violence. Someone informed the police. The police arrived soon. Later ASP, Shaher Bano arrived there and rescued the woman. In the police station, a video was recorded in which the woman is seen apologising for the act she never committed. That brand of shirt is widely sold in the markets of the Middle East. Maulana Tahir Ashrafi and some other religious leaders indeed condemned the incident but the leaders of prominent religious organisations remained silent. A few years ago, a Sri Lankan citizen Priyantha Kumar who worked as a manager in a factory manufacturing sports goods was lynched by the employees. He was a sincere and disciplined man. He exhorted the employees to come on time and work according to the rules. Some employees were not happy with his strictness and planned to teach him a lesson. They accused Priyantha Kumar of blasphemy and lynched him. The killing of the Sri Lankan citizen caused worldwide condemnation and embarrassment to Pakistan and threatened the export of sports goods of Pakistan. Therefore, the Pakistan government got them arrested and convicted. Thus the export goods industry averted a crisis. People still remember the lynching of Mishal Khan in Wali Khan University of Mardan. The lynching evoked countrywide condemnation. The police arrested dozens of students and non-teaching staff. They were booked under terrorism laws. Mishal Khan's father was a brave man. He tried his best to get the guilty punishes but the police adopted a lackadaisical approach to the case and made mistakes in investigation that benefited the accused. Some accused were lightly punished while others were acquitted. Radical organisations tried to save these people. The human rights organisation of Pakistan, HRCP co-ordinator Advocate Rashid Rahman was shot dead by Kalashnikov wielding men in 2014 because he was fighting a teacher's case. A few months ago, an angry mob destroyed houses and churches of Christians of Jaranwala in Pakistan. A miscreant had spread the rumour of desecration of the Quran and instigated the mob. Later, the rumour was proved to be false. Now in Karachi, places of worship of other religions are regularly attacked in a planned way. Such incidents became recurrent during Gen. Zia's regime. Statistics available since 1990 show that most of the killings occur in Punjab. Religious extremism was spread in a planned way and the mind of the youth was radicalised. The political class has played an important role in strengthening religious extremists. Religious extremism was used as a tool that weakened democracy. The members of the minority community, People's Party and members of the civil society became targets. Muslim League (N) was also a target. In 2018, some elements misinterpreted election laws and launched a campaign against the Muslim League government. Someone hurled a shoe at Mian Nawaz Sharif at Madrasa Jamia Nayimia. A Muslim League leader was attacked but survived. Religious extremism has not only besmeared Pakistan's image but also divided the society. Recently, a vilification campaign was unleashed on social media against the Chief Justice of Pakistan Faiz Isa for one of his judgements. The main aim of the campaign was to bring the judiciary under pressure and obstruct the judicial process. Now that a new government has been formed, it has become imperative to form policies for eliminating religious extremism and to effectively implement those policies. Those spreading religious extremism should be dealt with an iron hand. Secondly, reforms should be introduced in madrasas to bring about changes in the mindset of students .The syllabi of educational institutions should be reformed and the proper training of teachers should be ensured. Laws to prevent the spread of extremist ideas on social media are also the need of the hour. Scholars of history are of the opinion that Pakistan needs a leader like Turkey's Kamal Ataturk to bring about radical reforms in the country. ----- Courtesy: Express News, Pakistan URL: https://newageislam.com/the-war-within-islam/pakistan-turkey-reforms/d/131898 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism