Propaganda against Pakistan’s Ideology
By Sajjad Shaukat
Straightforwardly speaking, subversive activities arranged by the Indian secret agency, RAW in connivance with American CIA and Israeli Mossad inside Pakistan coincides with the propaganda launched by the US, some western countries and India. In this regard, high officials and media of these countries manipulate every terror attack to tarnish the image of Pakistan. For example, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership, all the political and religious parties had strongly condemned Taliban for the failed assault on Malala Yousufzai. But US-led these countries, especially India left no stone unturned in exploiting the incident in connection with Talibanisation of Pakistan.
Now, their media have also started distorting Pakistan’s history. In this respect, a book titled, “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: The Unfinished Memoirs” written by the Bengali leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as his autobiography has recently been released. While speaking in line of the book, senior media anchor of Geo News, Hamid Mir reproduced its contents in his article, “Mujib’s Memoirs,” published in daily, ‘The News’ on November 24, 2012. He writes, “One-sided history books tell us that Mujib was a traitor who broke up Pakistan…in fact, the political intrigues and blunders of military dictators broke up Pakistan—Bengalis were massacred and their women were raped.”
Notably, a renowned Bengali journalist Sarmila Bose authored a book, “Dead Reckoning: Memories of the 1971 Bangladesh War.” While countering exaggerations of the Indian and Bengali Journalists, Bose argues that the number of Bengalis killed in 1971 was not three million, but around 50,000 while Bengalis were equally involved in the bloodshed of non-Bengalis, and their women were raped.
In fact, before the 1971 war, Mujibur Rahman was in contacts with Indian rulers and training camps of Mukti Bahini, established by Indian army and RAW. Therefore, when East Pakistan was occupied by Indian Army, Majib stated with pleasure that his 24 years old dream of an independent Bangladesh had been fulfilled.
However, foreign entities have taken a new turn of propaganda, showing ill-conceived thoughts against the idealogy of Pakistan. In this context, under the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), Indian propagandists visited Pakistani educational institutions and criticised country’s curriculum labeling it hate-spreading contents against India. While favouring Indian point of view unilaterally, US-based magazine, ‘The Christian Science Monitor’ published a story on February 28, 2013, titled ‘Pakistan text books raise debate about curriculum of hate.’ It writes that in a suburban high school of Islamabad, ninth-graders are taught Pakistani history with an oblique angle vision.
As regards the migration of 1947, the magazine explained that students are taught: “Caravans on the way to Pakistan were attacked by Hindus and Sikhs. Not a single Muslim was left alive in trains coming to Pakistan.” While quoting Pakistani historian Mubarak Ali, it indicated that it was a one sided story and that actually it was an Indian reaction to Pakistani attacks on Hindu and Sikhs. The magazine also quoted, another historian, Abdul Hameed Nayyar, who targeted the Pakistan text books in similar tone saying, these “try to create and define Pakistani nationalism in a very narrow sense…in term of an Islamic identity.”
But anti-Pakistan and self-created approach of ‘The Christian Science Monitor’ was clearly exposed when it wrote, “across Pakistan, government-sanctioned school text books contain blatantly anti-religious-minority and anti-Western material…many people are worried that the curriculum is fueling intolerance, especially among youths…leading to violent behavior and even sympathy for the Taliban.”
Nevertheless, we need to know the historical facts with reference to the above false propaganda, as its aim is to stimulate skepticism about the ideology of Pakistan.
During the British rule, Hindus which were in majority in India dominated Muslims in every field. The Hindus demanded that Urdu should be written in Hindi Script instead of Persian script. The Indian National Congress which claimed to represent all communities, oppressed all Muslim ideas and supported the Hindus. In 1905, the partition of Bengal ensured a number of political benefits for the Muslims but the Hindus launched an agitation against the partition which was annulled. Taking cognizance of Hindu injustices, in 1906, a Muslim deputation met Viceroy Lord Minto and demanded the right of separate electorate for Muslims. Afterwards, in various political reforms, the separate electorate was maintained for Muslims, which endorsed the two nation theory.
The two nation theory means the cultural, religious, economic and social dissimilarities between Hindus and Muslims. These differences of outlook, in fact, were greatly instrumental in giving rise to two distinct political ideologies. Despite living together for centuries, Muslims maintained their individual culture and civilization.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan who was pioneer of the two nation theory advised the Muslims not to join Congress. Allama Iqbal said in 1930, “India is a continent of human beings belonging to different languages and professing different religions …I, therefore, demand the formation of consolidated Muslim state in the best interests of the Muslims of India and Islam.”
It was due to the obstinacy of Congress which rejected the genuine demands of the Indian Muslims that Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was compelled to leave Congress. He advocated the two nation theory by declaring that Muslims needed a separate state to protect their rights. Jinnah came to believe that Muslims and Hindus were distinct nations with unbridgeable differences. In All India Muslim League’s annual session at Lahore in 1940, the Pakistan Resolution was adopted as the main goal of the party.
Indian Congress had refused to recognise an independent Pakistan. Therefore, during partition, thousands of armless Muslims, migrating to Pakistan were massacred by the brutal attacks conducted by Indian armed gangs. They were tortured to death; their women were raped, caravans were looted and several Muslims disappeared. No doubt, Pakistan became a reality on the basis of ideology which is Islam. In this respect, while addressing the Constituent Assembly on August, 11 1947, Quaid-i-Azam elaborated that he did not want Pakistan to be a theocratic state. He wanted Pakistan to be a liberal, secular and progressive state where the followers of every religion, faith, and sect were treated as citizens of equal status and they enjoyed equal rights.
Islam which does not permit suicide attacks considers killing one innocent person equal to murdering the entire humanity, while jihad is a sacred obligation, but its real spirit needs to be understood clearly. In this connection, 50 Islamic scholars and muftis of the Sunni Ittehad Council have issued a joint fatwa (edict) on February 7, 2013, and declared, “Killing of innocent people, target killings and suicide bombings…in Karachi and Balochistan including sectarianism as against the spirit of Islam.”
Now, people from all segment of life and majority of politicians including general masses want that a handful of terrorist elements must not be allowed to dictate their agenda and to impose their self-created ideology in the country.
On the other side, US-led some western countries and their media have totally ignored Hindu terrorism which emanates from the ideology of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism). Hindu politics and culture, dominated by the fundamentalists parties such as BJP, RSS, VHP, Shiv Sena and other similar groups have been propagating ideology of Hindutva which is also being encouraged by the government officials. Although, sporadic attacks on the other ethnic and religious communities, entailing Indian lower castes, and especially Muslims and Christians have continued, yet appointment of extremist Hindus in top positions in various institutes, and alteration of academic courses in accordance with the Hindu ideology have reflected the intentions of the BJB and the subsequent Congress rulers. Indian text books misinterpret historical facts regarding Sub-continent and Pakistan. While Indian constitution declares the country to be a secular state, but in practice ideology of Hindu nationalism has been implemented.
Recently, Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde confessed the nexus between BJP and the RSS, disclosing that organised training camps run by these fundamentalist parties were promoting Hindu Terrorism. They also revealed that these parties were behind the Samjhauta Express, Meccca Masjid and Malegaon blasts including Gujarat and Babri masjid incidents.
Nonetheless, displaying unilateral move by neglecting Hindu terrorism and Indian text books, the US-led some western countries, their media like The Christian Science Monitor, and some Pakistani internal elements have been misinterpreting the history of Pakistan, its ideology and Islam by equating the latter with Talibanisation. They are defaming Islam which is the religion of peace, democracy, moderation and human rights.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations
Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com
