The fight between extremism and moderation is an unequal one. On one side, you have a tiny but vocal minority that deploys threats and violence as a primary tool in the battle, while on the other side, there is the vast majority that simply wants to get on with life with minimum fuss. It is precisely this urge to avoid conflict which led authorities in Bhurban to cancel an Eid concert that was denounced by local clerics. While no one would want attending a concert to be a life-threatening experience, we have to be careful not to cross the line from caution to appeasement. By giving in to the most extremist elements in society, the government is announcing that it has no will to stand up for the rights of its citizens. Already, too many concessions have been given to those relying on mob rule to enforce their version of morality.
Although the case of Rimsha Masih, who was arrested for ‘blasphemy’, is far more worthy of outrage than the cancellation of a concert, a connection can be drawn between the two events. In both cases, the state should know better than to simply capitulate to those who seek to marginalise and threaten anyone who angers them. In both cases, authorities have erred on the side of fear. For the rest of us, silence should not be an option.
By granting religious obscurantists their every wish, we are rapidly acquiescing to the shrinking of public space. The elite will always have their parties behind closed, heavily-guarded doors, but for everyone else, there is simply no avenue for entertainment left. In public parks, we have to be careful of vigilante TV anchors demanding marriage licences. At concerts and theatres, there is worry that the content will be deemed un-Islamic and raided by vigilante mobs. The end result will be a country that is repressed, without culture and increasingly insular. This may be the Pakistan that the mullahs may want to create but it is not the Pakistan we should want to inhabit.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2012.
COMMENTS (17)
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I do not have a problem with concerts however if they mean pushing corrupt Western values, free mixing and abuse of women like in West then Pakistan do not need concerts.
I disagree on one point only, "On one side, you have a tiny but vocal minority that deploys threats and violence as a primary tool in the battle" I believe religious extremists have overrun Pakistani society.
@Morons Pakistan isn't a Shariah state yet. It's everyone's right to practice Islam and religion as they want - if you have a right to complain about concerts, and concert-goers have a right to go to concerts, no? Or does your version of Islam teach double standards too??
@Nadeem Zaidi I admire your ability to eloquently hijack an argument. You've completely missed the point, because it is YOUR children who are watching movies and listening to music and wanting a place to relax and have fun. And threatening to blow up a bunch of people listening to music isn't "moral uncertainties that are at heart of the social convulsions", it's resorting to violence against innocent people - people who could be at a concert, a mosque or a bazaar. Is that not one of the fundamental problems in this country? Don't just talk smart. You're adding to the problem.
Your so called "godless secularists" aren't forcing you to live like them at gunpoint. But these people are. If they really are a majority, then ALL of us - you and me both - are in trouble.
how is it ur right to keep others away form stuff they want? ou dnt want ot attend or ur kids to atend keep thme away, let there be choice!!
To the writer: Pakistan is an Islamic state and if someone finds something not in accordance to the shariah, they have the right to go to the authorities. The above incident is just the example. Why do you want to impose your so-called liberation on people who don't want it!! If you want concerts then go to any other place which allows it, just keep it away from our children. And, of course, this is our right.
Land of Pure is ridding itself of all impurities - religious,, ethnic and cultural. To outside ringside viewers of Pakistan there is no doubt whether the majority mindset is extremist or moderate, however citizens themselves seem unsure of not only this but a lot else. Political parties of course would like to pander to the basest instincts of the electorate through appeasement, only God can save the people now if he deems they are worth saving.
Its okie .... only a concert is banned.......
Its not like that the Sky fell
so just chill .....
t is fundamentally naive to suggest that people who feel offended by concerts are a small vocal minority. On the contrary, the godless secularists are a miniscule but vociferous and an enormously resourceful clique wedded to social elitism and determined to promote conventions repugnant to local culture. I sincerely believe that the secular, self styled liberals must stop cribbing about non issues like concerts when the country is beset with a myriad of problems. The very tendency of giving unwarranted attention to "events" like concerts, that have no bearing on the lives of the common people, smacks of detachment from the problems people face. By dismissing every sign of opposition to what the secularists consider correct as " mischief by a minority" the secularists ignore the rumblings of moral uncertainties that are at heart of the social convulsions that manifest themselves as "vigilantism." Such moral uncertainties have made social and political conservatism a norm throughout the civilized world. No where however are people subscribing to a certain view point dismissed as "minority." Nor do elitist intellectuals work indefatigably to paint their societies as "obscurantist"- though all civilized democracies are held hostage by rightist elements to varying degrees. The attempts by the secularist to marginalize the silent majority by branding it as the vocal minority-if I may add for their own selfish motives- will not check but aggravate religious radicalism. Right or wrong the ignoring the collective opinions of the common people imperils the entire social structure. Playing with the sensitivities of the masses is playing with fire.
It is fundamentally naive to suggest that people who feel offended by concerts are a small vocal minority. On the contrary, the godless secularists are a miniscule but vociferous and an enormously resourceful clique wedded to social elitism and determined to promote conventions repugnant to local culture. I sincerely believe that the secular, self styled liberals must stop cribbing about non issues like concerts when the country is beset with a myriad of problems. The very tendency of giving unwarranted attention to "events" like concerts, that have no bearing on the lives of the common people, smacks of detachment from the problems people face. By dismissing every sign of opposition to what the secularists consider correct as " mischief by a minority" the secularists ignore the rumblings of moral uncertainties that are at heart of the social convulsions that manifest themselves as "vigilantism." Such moral uncertainties have made social and political conservatism a norm throughout the civilized world. No where however are people subscribing to a certain view point dismissed as "minority." Nor do elitist intellectuals work indefatigably to paint their societies as "obscurantist"- though all civilized democracies are held hostage by rightist elements to varying degrees. The attempts by the secularist to marginalize the silent majority by branding it as the vocal minority-if I may add for their own selfish motives- will not check but aggravate religious radicalism. Right or wrong the ignoring the collective opinions of the common people imperils the entire social structure. Playing with the sensitivities of the masses is playing with fire.
@sabi: "Dilema of Pkistani society is that it lives on the principal ‘miti-pao’.Now this miti is returnig it’s qarz".
Nice!!!
I never understand how "majority" wants to go with normal life? Where's that majority? Fact on the street is that overwhelming majority is given to Taliban ideology. Reason or logic has become alien to us.
It is a fact that normal people have become a tiny minority. Majority celebrates when Taseer is assassinated, when Ahmedi are killed and they almost rejoice when Shias are targeted. It all has happened in our country. Majority approves obscurantist viewpoint.
Not a "tiny but vocal minority". Its actually a "VOCAL MAJORITY". Pakistanis are getting what they want in the form of religious extremism...
There is no homeopathic remedy for this menace it needs a big surgeory.
Dilema of Pkistani society is that it lives on the principal 'miti-pao'.Now this miti is returnig it's qarz.
we have seen zia now we need anti zia sooner the better.
"By granting religious obscurantists their every wish, we are rapidly acquiescing to the shrinking of public space" Crux of whole problem has been mentioned in this one sentence. One gets extreme astonishment when such relaxations are granted in the PP government which claims relatively to be liberal and secular oriented.
"By granting religious obscurantists their every wish, we are rapidly acquiescing to the shrinking of public space. The elite will always have their parties behind closed, heavily-guarded doors, but for everyone else, there is simply no avenue for entertainment left. In public parks, we have to be careful of vigilante TV anchors demanding marriage licences. At concerts and theatres, there is worry that the content will be deemed un-Islamic and raided by vigilante mobs. The end result will be a country that is repressed, without culture and increasingly insular. "
Wel spoken. I would like to add to that the new guidelines on obscenity that the CJ has asked the PEMRA to develop in consultation with JI - who also happened to be the petioner on the case. SO yes, the entertainment avenues for middle class pakistanis are shrinking fast and getting limited to eating and shopping - which can't be good for the health of the body, mind or wallet.