Peace threatened by unseen forces: Malik

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday raised the spectre of a disruptive “unseen force” that is plotting attacks against religious shrines like Data Darbar and actively working to stoke conflict in the country.

The minister’s observation came after he had chaired a meeting of religious leaders representing all schools of thought. In a growing sign that the government was patching together a bigger coalition against terrorism by eliciting broader support among the country’s religious and political constituencies, Malik announced several steps intended to bolster the fight against militancy. Towards that aim, the government signalled its willingness to seek counterterrorism suggestions from the Sharif brothers. After Sunday’s meeting the minister claimed that people belonging to all walks of life were united against terrorists and the ‘unseen forces’ that were trying to destabilise the country.  He claimed that the government had taken all religious leaders on board and would not allow anti-state elements to fan sectarianism. “This is a strong message of unity to terrorists since all schools of thought are on the same page on the issue of eradicating this menace”. De-radicalisation, according to the minister, is the government’s top priority.

The minister equated the bombings at Data Darbar with an attack on Islam. As such, he said, the government is aware of the sensitivity of the recent  situation and is coordinating with the provinces to crush conspiracies against Pakistan. Malik said: “Religious leaders have condemned terrorism in all forms and assured us that they will cooperate with the government”.

The minister also said that all leaders, including Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, want to put an end to the insurgency.

“We are ready to receive suggestions from the Sharif brothers on the situation,” he said. He said all political forces were consulted before the government adopted the ‘3-D’ policy in Swat and adjoining areas to stamp out the insurgents.

“Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has called a high-level meeting in which a further strategy will be devised to strengthen coordination and resolution against the terrorists,” he said. Malik said chief ministers, home secretaries and inspectors general will attend the meeting to be held on Monday.

Malik said a peace walk would be held in Islamabad and the provincial headquarters to express unity in the fight against terrorism. However, he did not say when this would take place.

Earlier, religious leaders adopted a five-point resolution at the end of Sunday’s meeting and condemned attacks being carried out across the country.

Muhammad Asad Thanvi, who read out the resolution on behalf of his colleagues, urged the government to take immediate and effective action against outlawed outfits involved in the attacks.

In an effort to bring different schools of thought together, the religious leaders and the government agreed to form a joint committee of Ulema of all sects.  The absence of renowned scholar and Ruet-e-Hilal Committee chairman Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman from the meeting was conspicuous. Sources told The Express Tribune that Mufti Munib had turned down the government invitation in protest at the government’s failure to protect religious shrines.

Thanvi said: “We endorse the government’s strategy against terrorists and demand that the government utilise all available resources to fight against terrorism”. He said the leaders will not allow anyone to create differences between Sunni and Shia sects.

The leaders said a committee consisting of the heads of all schools of thought should be formed so that harmony between all sects could prevail. He also vowed that Ulema would go to any extent to protect the nation’s interest. The decision to strengthen anti-terrorism laws is also one of the demand of the religious leaders, it is learnt.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2010.