Attack on Data Darbar (III)

KARACHI: The two suicide attacks on Data Darbar weren’t merely the work of individuals. They were the products of ideology. We have given people with extremist mindsets the licence to preach intolerant versions of our religion. These people don’t encourage debate or curiosity. Shunning the other side of the story, they frighten their followers into submission. We can’t stop suicide attacks unless we bring an ideological change altering their mindsets and making them tolerant to different points of view.

The extremists can’t be defeated with conventional weapons, police, sham democracy, or even armed operations. The only way we can stop them is by reversing their brainwashing. But we are doing nothing on that front.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2010.