Seeing is believing

It doesn't appear as a serious attempt at hindering or even stopping the activities of banned groups


Editorial October 19, 2017

The strength of the grip of the federal government is going to be tested with the direction that the provinces launch actions against banned religious organisations as well as those that are currently ‘under observation’. Their offices are to be closed as well as any weapons and properties confiscated, and reports be submitted on their financial activities. The interior ministry has instructed all the provincial chief secretaries and the chief commissioner of the capital territory to ‘restrain all such organisations from continuing their activities.’

That it was necessary to issue such an instruction is anyway indicative of just how loose is the lead the provinces are on, and may be seen in the light of the possibly-warming relationship with the Americans coupled with a recent statement by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, in which he pointed to the need for Pakistan to be ‘putting our own house in order.’ The Interior Minister backed him up in the Senate on Thursday 12th October and hey-presto an order to the provinces.

Just how much this means in concrete terms is a very open question. With about 64 banned organisations and another four that are ‘under observation’ the scope that they have for hiding in plain sight is considerable. Many of the banned organisations are wealthy and powerful in their own right and enjoy considerable support in the wider populace. They have sympathisers and probably active supporters in the various police forces. Some have mainstream political support as well; plus the majority of those on the banned list openly solicit funds and are able to hold rallies.

Against this background the federal government's expectation that the provinces are all of a sudden going to crack down on organisations that they turn something of a blind eye to comes with a considerable credibility deficit. For one thing the directive is manpower-heavy and for another a myriad of reasons for failing to comply can and will be found. This looks more like a ‘see how much more we are doing’ message to those that watch from afar than any serious attempt at hindering or even stopping the activities of banned groups.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2017.

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