SSP rally had spread hate speech against Shias. PHOTO: EXPRESS/IRFAN ALI
We are our biggest enemies. This is something many fail to see because they believe external forces are to blame for Pakistan’s problems but the recent filing of a first information report (FIR) in Multan against members of a banned outfit formerly known as the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan might convince some of those people otherwise. Members of the group, with permission from the district administration and police, held a religious meeting in which they labelled Shias ‘infidels’ and exhorted that imambargahs should be attacked.
It is unclear why this meeting promoting ill-informed propaganda was granted permission to be held in the first place. The authorities perhaps should have been more careful about who was holding the meeting and for what purpose. In addition, the meeting lasted for over four hours. Due to the sensitive nature of a meeting held by this banned outfit, authorities should have been present to terminate the gathering in case hate propaganda was discussed — rather than allowing it to last for four hours. Nonetheless, it must be commended that an FIR was filed against the leaders of the group and that the police recognised the criminality in the purpose of the meeting.
It is unfortunate that these are our own fellow citizens brainwashing and spreading hate amongst the masses. That is why we are sometimes our own enemies. The accused must be apprehended. Police forces need to become more vigilant. Antiterrorism forces also need to begin more stringent crackdowns on this ‘local terrorism’ that is spreading hate campaigns. In this particular case, the campaign reached over 1,000 people and is at risk of growing as these people could pass their brainwashed beliefs onto their families and acquaintances. Hate speech must be halted now. It must be treated with stricter evaluation and must result in harsh consequences for those convicted of the treacherous crime.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2013.
COMMENTS (19)
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Almost all the people in the picture look like they were educated in a madrassa. Am I surprised with this report? No, I am not. The world continues to laugh at Pakistan and rightly so.
dear editor plz check what u have today published by Ejaz Haider and here you are gibing sermons on halting hate speech - please practice what u preach
The SSP and know called ASWJ has always been a group of troublemakers and their doctrine is very narrow minded and dangerous. They promote killings of of muslims. I hope the govt bans these kind of groups and promote the real teaching of Islam, Peace, Love, Harmony and just to make it clear I am a sunni muslim and not Shia however I despair people that give such a beautiful religion like Islam a bad name.
Lets not pretend the problem lies in what the Shia scholar say from their pulpits. Don't forget the glorification of certain personalities by Sunni Scholars that is also offensive to Shias. THIS is not the problem.
The problem is this: Point me towards one respected, widely followed Shia scholar that has sanctioned violence against other sects or their places of worship. You can't. This HATE is one-sided. So develop some courage and call a spade a spade. Don't hide your cowardice or bias behind plurality.
I am so tired that sometimes as a Shia I say, 'bring it on'. I say this absurd sentence due to frustration and hopelessness. I know for a fact that head on confrontation isn't going to solve anything but frustration, hopelessness and helplessness make you say the most absurd things.
I have always spoken for Pakistan from online chats to international forums. Hell, I have proudly represented Pakistan in several global conferences. But now it seems like Pakistan doesn't need us anymore.
I have been away from Pakistan for over a decade when we all were brothers. I left Pakistan with that picture in mind. I have been meaning to visit the motherland for some time now. At times I wonder if my friends (Baloch, Punjabi and Pastun) would kill me if I met them. This is how the ongoing tyranny is affecting us. We are doubting friends who were more than brothers to us.
The time is not too far when we Shia Hazaras would leave and start contributing to economies of other countries. Hope all this tyranny stops before we are gone.
@deep: YouTube is banned in Pakistan and who is 'Owasi' and what does he say?
I would also advise your readers to listen to Owaisi's speech on youtube - it is a classic case of evoking religious symbols to justify attacks against one's own country and then you have muslims talking of islamaphobia. Not only should owaisi be booked under fomenting distrust among communities but also bringing islam to disrepute - all these anti-shia speakers should be booked under the blasphemy laws. that will serve them to use religion to justify violence.
Mr. Suo Moto, kept his eyes close whenever it is sectarian issue.
Thank God for timely news by ET. Hope authorities will take notice of it. Sad part of the whole scenario, same practice continued against Ahmadies for many years. Similar banners and speeches continued. Even the Auqaf Department sponsored such meetings. High ups from Punjab government presided such meetings. No such actions came to lime light. Any way as long the irregularity has been identified is good and should be rectified. Similarly civil society and law enforcing departments should keep in mind that all the citizens of Pakistan has same rights irrespective of their religious belief. Hopefully same will stand true for Ahmadies and other minority groups also.
The editorial is most appropriate but it is more important to remove hate and jihad material from the education curriculum.
hate speed from both sects should be banned, what is this non sense, one side is free and other side is banned, one side is being victimized and other side is being encouraged shabash carry on!
halt hate speech now bt how to halt hate in hearts....
protectors of islam!!!!???
@Mirza: You have hit the nail on the head. Rana Sanaullah is the link between the PML(N) and these countless people with murderous intentions. They are out to destroy Pakistan and the country's so called ally, Saudi Arabia, funds these groups through its Zakaat donations.
The sooner the government gets its act together the better it is for the country. Hate speeches have long inflamed passions and the victims fed on false propaganda definitely pose a threat to those opposing them. Some control should also be exercised on the many so called Charitable organisations which seem to be nothing but fronts for the many militant groups wreaking havoc on the people of the hapless country.
A very timely and fair editorial by ET, thanks for that. I agree with you whole heartedly that these terrorist criminals must be reined in. Mere banning them is not helping, let us go out against them with the same zeal they have against their victims. The Punjab govt of Sharif and Rana Sana has direct links and alliances with these terrorists and it is an open secret. Nothing is going to happen to these extremists and they are only going to gain more momentum. Why are blasphemy laws not applicable to these false fatwa?
this is pakistan of mullah,s and taliban its no more quaid,s and iqbal,s pakistan.in this country there is no place for monorities only the followers of banned outfits with changed names and taliban are here........pakistan say zindabagh this become our slogan now ,god save us from these lunatics