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Violent religious protests once again prove democracy is truly dead in Pakistan

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Shantanu Mukharji
Shantanu MukharjiDec 01, 2017 | 19:55

Violent religious protests once again prove democracy is truly dead in Pakistan

November 27 will be etched as a black day in Pakistan's history when the all-powerful military and the entire polity surrendered to religious hardliners. Law minister Zahid Hamid was forced to resign and the government accepted the demands of the zealots.

This development preceded violent clashes claiming six lives and injury to several hundreds. The common man was hugely inconvenienced due to long blockades of the highway in Faizabad by the protestors and, at one point in time, it looked like there was no law of the land and it was a free-for-all between the protestors and the police. 

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What provoked the protesting fanatics was the law minister's move amending the declaration of faith, which confirmed belief in the finality of Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad in the Election Act of 2017.

The protesting hardliners claimed that such a move was an insult to Islam and this act was seen as a clear case of blasphemy.   

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This meek surrender would also imply that in future diktat of the hardliners would prevail. (Credit: Reuters photo)

The centrepiece of the agitation and the prime mover was none other than the hardline political party Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) which held the country to ransom for nearly a week. The protests eventually snowballed into fierce violence lasting many days. The situation turned worse to the extent that the authorities had to block social media sites, including WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter for at least 24 hours. 

In the name of controlling the situation, the ambitious military, in an apparent attempt to play a visibly political role, intervened and that act was most deplorable as it literally coerced the targeted minister into releasing a video on social media apologising for hurting religious feelings while reassuring the sectarian hardliners that the already persecuted religious minority sect, Ahmadis of Pakistan, were non-Muslims to him.

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This meek surrender would also imply that in future diktat of the hardliners would prevail and a simple flexing of muscles by the bigots would bring the entire state machinery to its knees. Minorities would also be at the receiving end due to the pressure unleashed by the communal forces. 

Here, it may also appear important to know that the TLYR activists owe their allegiance to an Islamic movement of the Hanafi School of thought called the Barelvi, which has traditionally been considered tolerant and was initially assessed as a group closer to Sufi thought. This led to an opinion among the western countries after the 9/11 attacks that the TLYR was a group comprising the moderates. So impressed by their "moderate" leanings, the US is believed  to have funded  Barelvi elements as the latter was noticed condemning terrorist activities. 

Now, in hindsight, it appears the assessment went off the mark as Barelvi forces were allowed to grow increasingly conservative and were encouraged to target the non-Muslims and subsequently developed as an intolerant lot attacking religious minority at the slightest provocation on grounds of alleged blasphemy. 

Besides confirming Pakistan's dismal human rights record, the latest incident, in all likelihood, would also lead to more blatant violation of human rights in future.  

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The question is why did the military step in? It didn't come to restore order as normally expected of it, especially in a country like Pakistan which has seen umpteen coups and where law and order breakdown is more a rule than an exception.

Deplorably, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa facilitated a six-point agreement between the government and the protestors.

At the army's behest, a beleaguered civilian government caved in to the fanatics. More disturbing is the fact that criminal cases against the rioters are in the process of being withdrawn.

The perpetrators of violence have triumphed, and emboldened by such an amnesty, they are likely to resort to more violent acts as they now  know they have the backing and blessings of the powerful military establishment.

It also throws up a challenge to the government (by the military) as Bajwa will try to assert more - possibly for a political space. 

Negative role of the army in Pakistan is nothing new and this incident seems to be a wake-up call that the men in uniform remain a potential threat to the government and it, in all likelihood, will use religious fanatics to its political advantage.

The trend looks really disturbing.  Meanwhile, sources also disclose that the all-powerful Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) had a hand in the recent trouble. A TV footage showed Pakistani Rangers distributing cash to protestors. Rewarding the hooligans and anti-socials speak poorly of the prevailing situation in Pakistan. 

Due to the recent development, there is noticeable churning within the ruling party, PML( N). It's to be seen what Nawaz Sharif has to say in his forthcoming public meetings. Anyone who is critical of the terror group or zealots, incur the wrath of the fanatics. The murder of former governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, in January 2011 is a point in illustration. His killer (his own bodyguard ) Mumtaz Qudri was glorified as a hero as he assassinated Taseer on charges of alleged blasphemy. All politicians stand deterred by such deadly acts. And as in the recent case, condoning the rioters by those in power, is a big boost to the communal and parochial forces.

The future in Pakistan, therefore, looks critical. More, as the election dates draw closer.   

Last updated: December 02, 2017 | 17:07
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