Stop Lahore’s Talibanisation


Raza Rumi July 19, 2010

The worst has happened. Data Darbar, which defined the contours of peaceful Islam for a millennium, has been desecrated in Lahore. Its markets have been attacked and its minorities live in fear after the Ahmadi massacre. Last year, the petrified traders of Lahore’s Hall Road burnt objectionable CDs after receiving threats from extremists. A year later, low-intensity blasts took place in the crowded Hall Road — a market for electronics and kosher and non-kosher DVDs. This week, two internet cafes were targeted in densely populated areas of Lahore and some time back Peeru's was also bombed. Reports have suggested that the cafes had received threats from unidentifiable numbers asking them to stop their businesses as they were turning into hubs of ‘immoral activities’. Just because no one died there, media attention has been patchy. A younger female colleague told me how tailors are hesitant to take orders for sleeveless shirts and other designs that may offend the purist dress code. The militants are employing tactics of social control used in Swat. It cannot be brushed under the carpet anymore.

Prior to 1947, Lahore was a cosmopolitan city with a discrete culture of inter-faith harmony, with a reputation for the best education and socio-cultural movements. After its provincialisation, the resilient city re-emerged as a vibrant centre of progressive politics, avant-garde art and extraordinary literature. Since the 1980s, Lahore is a city with formidable infrastructure and boasts of great public spaces, especially parks.  The innate openness and tolerance of this metropolis could not be subjugated by growing extremism.

Given its reputation, putting this city under siege will be a major victory for the extremists. The low-intensity attacks are dangerous and call for a concerted campaign by all those who wish to see a prosperous and moderate Pakistan. I could be accused of Punjab-centric here but surely I will not be chided for naiveté. The greatest threat to Pakistan’s survival comes from within. Militant groups seemingly out of control, and dwindling state capacity to fight them, haunt our future. Add to this the economic meltdown when we ought to be creating millions of jobs for the youth. Yet, denial appears to be our collective response.

First, the confusion about political Islam continues. Democratic politics is being demonised unabated by media and unelected state institutions, paving the way for a vacuum. Anti-Americanism is diluting the impact of crackdowns against banned outfits. It is therefore imperative to deepen Pakistan’s democratic spell and hold politicians accountable without making them look like villains.

Punjab is now the new playfield for terrorists and institutions will have to collaborate to clean Pakistan through democratic means. Madrassa-education reform and enhancing the capability of criminal justice institutions is key to a solution. Political mobilisation against extremism is also the need of the hour. This is time for tough action and political consensus. Blaming drones, Blackwater and the Indians is simply not enough.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20th, 2010.

COMMENTS (39)

Syed Munawar | 13 years ago | Reply If the electorate wanted a Taliban Government they would have elected a fundo party, but they didn't so one can't really assume that the 'people' want this form of pseudo / distorted brand of Islam. Ironically, that too dispensed by a body that has non-muslim mercenary fighters embedded in it. Unfortunately, every regime in Pakistan has created its own ghosts while serving its own purposes without fully realizing (or possibly caring about) the long term implications. Collectively there are now so many indestructable forces set in motion that no matter what stance you take or what direction you adopt, you would end up hurting some vested interests. In such a scenario how do you clean-up and move forward? Not without creation of a common ground, recognition of all stakehoders, dialogue and some sacrifice on the part of all for the common good. The biggest underlying assumption is that the 'common good' is desired enough and the people demand it to the extent that they are willing to come out on the street for it and are willing to make short term sacrifices for it.
Umair | 13 years ago | Reply We need to get rid of these illiterate advocates of democracy who have invaded houses of representatives of the Pakistani nation on behalf of poor and uneducated people who recognise nothing more than colours of the flags of their political parties and faded reflections of slogans, speeches and promises of the great leaders who fed these parties with their blood. These are the people who have hopes attached, for their existence and mere survival, with these demons who disguise themselves as faithful leaders of their constituencies on behalf of their corrupt parties. It is responsibility of the educated people, the middle and the upper class to stop this curse. Do not let these demons play with fate of the poor and innocent people. These so called representatives are in fact liars, thieves, infidels, corrupts, who give backing to the terrorists, criminals, religious extremists and thugs who are able to walk around freely within the society and commit illegal acts. We need to remove these people from power, and bring them to the feet of justice and take account of their corrupt deeds of decades of looting national wealth, sweat and blood of the poor.
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