A welcome shift in stance
JI is counted amongst most disciplined political forces and it can do a lot towards ridding the country of its evils
For those who still doubt that our entire political discourse is in the throes of a paradigm shift, let me point out the magnitude of that change. Quite colossal, I think.
That change, for instance, has reverberated through a party like the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and forced its leaders to denounce wanton acts of violence starting from last month’s attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar to other crimes against humanity. The party has also signalled its willingness to support all government measures to eradicate the menace of extremism from its roots.
Indeed this is a political watershed in the country’s history. Remember JI was once leading the political forces which aimed to liberate both Afghanistan as well as the disputed territory of Kashmir held by India. JI leaders have always justified extending support to resistance groups and individuals in Afghanistan, terming it to be a struggle for independence and the right to self-determination.
But now, after the Peshawar school tragedy, there is a palpable shift in the JI’s stance. Its party chief Sirajul Haq has publicly admitted that the party’s previous policies were wrong to cause interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, which in turn produced problems for Pakistan.
Only the state has the power to declare jihad; individuals, parties and groups have no power to make such a declaration. Also, jihad does not only mean ‘to kill.’ It may be aimed at “striving for the better” and may also be intended to promote education and cater to poverty alleviation.
Let us see which way the wind blows, but this shift in JI and other religious parties’ point-of-view regarding violence, terrorism and extremism should be considered a good omen for the future of the country and its people who have suffered so much. And for so long.
Today, the JI is counted amongst the most disciplined, organised and popular political forces and it can do a lot towards ridding the country of the twin evils of terrorism and extremism. It is time leaders of JI and other like-minded groups come forward and help the government and its security forces in the crusade against militancy.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 13th, 2015.
That change, for instance, has reverberated through a party like the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and forced its leaders to denounce wanton acts of violence starting from last month’s attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar to other crimes against humanity. The party has also signalled its willingness to support all government measures to eradicate the menace of extremism from its roots.
Indeed this is a political watershed in the country’s history. Remember JI was once leading the political forces which aimed to liberate both Afghanistan as well as the disputed territory of Kashmir held by India. JI leaders have always justified extending support to resistance groups and individuals in Afghanistan, terming it to be a struggle for independence and the right to self-determination.
But now, after the Peshawar school tragedy, there is a palpable shift in the JI’s stance. Its party chief Sirajul Haq has publicly admitted that the party’s previous policies were wrong to cause interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, which in turn produced problems for Pakistan.
Only the state has the power to declare jihad; individuals, parties and groups have no power to make such a declaration. Also, jihad does not only mean ‘to kill.’ It may be aimed at “striving for the better” and may also be intended to promote education and cater to poverty alleviation.
Let us see which way the wind blows, but this shift in JI and other religious parties’ point-of-view regarding violence, terrorism and extremism should be considered a good omen for the future of the country and its people who have suffered so much. And for so long.
Today, the JI is counted amongst the most disciplined, organised and popular political forces and it can do a lot towards ridding the country of the twin evils of terrorism and extremism. It is time leaders of JI and other like-minded groups come forward and help the government and its security forces in the crusade against militancy.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 13th, 2015.