Punishment for saints

This is an all-out battle between hardliners and the more moderate religious traditions of the sub-continent.

Saints everywhere in our country are being punished. Abdullah Shah Ghazi has been the latest to join the list of those whose shrines have been targeted by extremists who oppose the Sufi message of peace, tolerance and harmony. The sinners who carry out such attacks escape scot-free. We do not know who struck the shrines of Rahman Baba in Peshawar, Data Ganj Baksh in Lahore or other places built to honour men revered by people belonging to all sects. It is hard to believe our vast intelligence apparatus is unable to pin-point the groups planning and staging them. What then is its utility? Why do we, as tax-payers, support them?

The suicide bombings at the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi have left behind an angry, restive city. A number of religious organisations have condemned the attacks in which at least eight people died. But perhaps these organisations need to do more. What we are seeing now is an all-out battle between hardliners and the more moderate religious traditions that have existed for centuries in the sub-continent. The true evil of the policy under the regime of Ziaul Haq to encourage hard-line religious schools to take root in our soil is now obvious. Religious groups who have expressed outrage over the attacks should consider putting in place volunteers at shrines to ensure security rules are followed and to keep a watch on anyone who seems suspicious. This, of course, is not easy given the crowds that throng the shrines — but some effort has to be made to prevent people being slaughtered simply because they chose to worship at a particular place.

The government too needs to do more. It must promote the message of peace and tolerance, and persuade religious scholars to do the same. There has been too little effort from such men to condemn what is happening and to stand by the Saints who still inspire millions across the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2010.