Sectarian violence in Pakistan

Posted by Faheem Belharvi
It is not a fairy tale. Not very long ago, Muharram was not the season of sectarian violence and mayhem. People of all sects would attend the Majalis, under the same roof, to pay homage to the great martyrs of Islam. While the Shias would move in processions, Sunnis would line up along the routes making a human protection shield and manage Sabeels.
Rise of sectarian violence in Pakistan is a recent phenomenon. People of Pakistan are not sectarian-minded, and for most of the country’s history people of different sects have co-existed peacefully. The sectarian scourge, in its current form, is certainly deep-rooted and not easy to eliminate, as misguided adventurers and religious bigots systematically fan it. An unfortunate combination of vested interests, misplaced policies and discriminatory laws have drastically reduced the scope for a religiously tolerant state and society in Pakistan.
Communalism, religious intolerance and sectarian violence are ugly scars on the face of any society; these are certainly an anti-thesis to the teachings of Islam. The word ‘Islam’ means peace. As a doctrine, it forbids bigotry and fanaticism. What to talk of intra-Islam harmony, it pursues generosity and tolerance towards the followers of the other religions as well.
It is interesting to refer to Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s address to the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947: “… you are free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship… You may belong to any religion or caste or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the State.” This speech came under similar circumstances when post partition communal violence was at its peak.
Sectarian extremism has enhanced over the last 3-4 decades. Earlier it was confined to rural pockets, now it haunts major metropolitan centers as well. In the good old days, sectarian violence used to spark up spontaneously, and then subside quickly to give way to peace. Now it is a perpetual activity spanning the entire year. Older version of extremism was a reactive response to objectionable utterances or actions of rival sect; now it is a proactive and premeditated activity, incorporating shades of battles for turf. Earlier weapons were sticks, glass bottles and knives; now the unrestricted use of grenades and bombs.
Another factor sustaining the sectarian intolerance is its politicization. Sectarian parties have entered the arena of politics; clerics contest elections on sectarian rather than Islamic basis. Sectarian intolerance is now the springboard for political dividend. Even mainstream political parties like to have electoral adjustment with sectarian clerics-turned politicians. The conflict between sectarian groups is not merely ideological; often it is impelled by the desire to obtain political power. Undue patronage of the clergy by various governments has steadily raised their public profile and influence, culminating in a larger than life political clout of sectarian parties.
Yet another cause is dominance of orthodoxy in the religious scholarship and accepting them as authority on religion. While orthodoxy holds the sway; mainstream clergy stands marginalized. Peripheral theological debates provide the basis for volatile divisions. As a result, healthy academic discourse has been replaced by militancy.
Of late, a dangerous trend has emerged whereby sectarian groups are playing an increased role in fueling the insurgencies in Baluchistan & FATA. Most of the extremist outfits either have links with terrorist organizations or they are unwittingly strengthening the violent agenda. Acts of violence by sectarian organization are reinforcing the global perception of equating Islam with militancy and terrorism.
It is an over-simplification to attribute the mushrooming of sectarian violence as a spinoff of Afghan Jihad or Islamisation effort by President Zia-ul-Haq. Afghanistan, where successive wars have destroyed the physical infrastructure and the social fabric, sectarianism is much more contained than in Pakistan. Likewise, Saudi Arabia where legislation has a heavier bias towards Sharia, does not have the kind of sectarian violence. A widespread perception has it that Saudi Arabia and Iran are fighting their proxy war in Pakistan by funding the seminaries of their favourite sects. Another school of thought maintains that many non-Muslim powers have vested interest in exploiting the Shia, Sunni divide the world over. What is happening on Pakistan’s landscape is just a sample of the broader jigsaw. Proponents of such suppositions argue that sustenance of any kind of militancy is resource intensive and Pakistani economy alone could not have afforded it for such a long time.
While challenging institutionalized sectarianism is certainly not easy, strengthening the common cultural heritage of Pakistani people offers a less-confrontational way to reverse the trend. The compulsions fuelling religious conflicts are certainly complex.
They have multiple negative implications. At the same time, it is not a problem, which will go away on its own. It needs to be confronted head-on.
Government, civil society, political parties and media have critical roles to play in countering the trends through promotion of religious freedom, social harmony and protection of divergent opinion holders. The blame for the current situation falls squarely on successive governments. The strategy to tackle sectarian extremism has always been reactive than proactive; i.e. it has always been about damage control. Successive governments have seldom been serious to arrest the steady rise of sectarian extremism.
It is high time that Pakistan comes up with a well-thought out national strategy to tackle sectarian extremism. The government cannot contain religious extremism and violence by simply issuing executive orders. It requires a comprehensive approach that entails monitoring supporters of the militant groups, curtailing their societal sources of support, and taking appropriate action against the hard-core sectarian militants. The government must also adopt measures to address socio-economic inequities. Unless poverty and underdevelopment are addressed effectively, ideological appeals and militancy will continue to attract the alienated youth.
The problem, which has taken roots over a couple of decades to build, may not necessarily take as long to eradicate. It is, however, essential that effort to tackle sectarian violence is begun immediately. This effort must be supported by unwavering political will and a long-term strategy. Mere cosmetic measures will not achieve much beyond patchy pauses of calm.

(Air Commodore (R) Khalid Iqbal)