Editor’s Note: June 2010
Pakistan is fast becoming a state that will be habitable only for extremists: religious bigots who hold the view that only Muslims (as defined by them) have the right to live in this country – and that all non-Muslims are kafirs, infidels who are wajib-ul-qatl or deserve to be killed. Further, that all those who kill them are guaranteed a place in heaven, replete with houris and streams of milk and honey.
It’s criminal that those who harbour such hatred are being allowed to operate with impunity, to spout venom from the pulpits of mosques, to train in the Punjab government’s backyard while the head honcho feigns ignorance, even as his own law minister is seen hobnobbing with the Sipah-e-Sahaba at an election rally in Jhang.
Is it any surprise then that two dastardly attacks are carried out in broad daylight on Ahmedi mosques in Lahore, killing 95 people and injuring a 100 more. This is followed by yet another strike by the same terrorist group at a government hospital – to kill or secure the release of an accomplice recuperating in the same emergency ward as the victims of the earlier attacks.
How does this reflect on the intelligence and state of preparedness of this country’s security network that still remains ‘unaware’ of the hideouts of these elements, who have been making life intolerable for Pakistan’s small minority communities for several years now?
Ahmedi mosques, Christian churches and Hindu temples have been vandalised, their properties burnt or seized illegally; additionally, forcible conversions and marriages have taken place. And the culprits have always managed to escape the (not-so-long?) arm of the law.
Ironically, it is these very characters who have been quick to use the controversial blasphemy law to implicate minorities in false cases and make sure that they are lynched by charged mobs or left to rot in jails forever. Any attempts to make amendments to this law have met with stiff resistance from them, forcing the government to back off.
Consequently, the perpetrators of these hate crimes are getting bolder by the day. Three days after the attacks on the Ahmedi mosques, a father and son from the community were stabbed by a fanatic in Narowal wanting to convert them. The father died instantaneously. The hate crimes against the Shias have not ceased either. Yet another young doctor was gunned down – a stark reminder of the murder of 74 other Shia doctors in Karachi between the early 1990s and 2002, which remain unresolved to this day.
Likewise, the victims of the Gojra and Shantinagar incidents in which several Christian families lost their family members and property are yet to get any justice. There are no accused to hold to account – and the few who were arrested have been acquitted for “want of evidence.”
What evidence would be needed to prove an “identified” accused’s culpability? Only recently, Maulana Aziz and his entire family were acquitted of charges of illegally occupying a children’s library in Islamabad for lack of evidence.
Wasn’t this “illegal occupation” one of the causes that had sparked off the whole Lal Masjid furore in the first place? This fact was reported in the country’s major newspapers at the time. If these reports were inadmissible in a court of law, why couldn’t the police find any witnesses to substantiate the charge? Was it the threats from extremist forces or orders from some relevant quarters at the top that made the police and the prosecutor back off?
The June issue of Newsline is on newsstands now.
The opinions expressed in this article and the views shared by readers in the comment forum below do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance or policies of Newsline.
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This frustrates me about Pakistani journalism. Has Newsline covered the evidence available in the Gojra cases in detail? Dont make vague references to “relevant quarters”. Name the politicians and bureaucrats applying pressure. Publish the evidence. Dont accuse others of cowardice and negligence without mentioning your own dereliction of duty.
Jawad, this is the editor’s note, not an investigative report. What you ask should definitely be looked into as a detailed investigative report, but 600 words cannot possibly do justice to the task you demand.
“the victims of the Gojra and Shantinagar incidents in which several Christian families lost their family members and property are yet to get any justice. There are no accused to hold to account – and the few who were arrested have been acquitted for “want of evidence.”
Very well said, Justice should be served to all, not only to minorities or a particular segment of society. The 1500(though roughly estimated) victims(girls/women) of Lal Masjid operation who were snuffed out in lethal bombing besides “Ghazi brothers” also deserve some space on ur magazine.dont they? or were they lesser human beings? Unfortunately, the champions of “Women rights”, and “Human rights” never uttered a word of protest against such cruelty. When you go killing hundreds of innocent people with impunity in the name of “war on terror” you cannot expect peace in the country.In such circumstances, what you should expect is only retalitation,upeheavel,and chaos.
Why do we turn a blind eye to the atrocities taking place in the name of War against terror?? who is to be held accountable for drone attacks in tribal areas?
Why do we implicity defend the homicidal rage of America and its allies?
Kudos to the Newsline team. I didn’t realize this at first, but someone else pointed it out on Cafe Pyala, but Newsline (along with Herald & Friday Times) are the only publications to call an Ahmadi mosque by its name. All the big names (Dawn, The News, etc) went with the shameful “places of worship.”
1500 victims of Lal Masjid is much touted hype by vicious clergy just like 10,000 martyrs of Khatame Nabuwwat. Lal Mosque cannot be compared with attacks against minorities. No minority has ever tried to create “state within state” or took to arms against state; no matter how state either facilitated their persecutor or sponsored their persecution by enacting laws. If there are any atrocities being committed in the name “war against terror” those are condemnable and are condemned if innocent people are caught in the line of fire. If you want us to condemn “war” against those so-called Human like creature going out to kill and blow themselves up at public paces; no sir we are not going to do that and have no mercy for them until they give up arms.
Very well said. The enemies of Pakistan, Majlis-e-Ahrar, who called Qaid-e-Azam as Kaffir-e-Azam and Pakistan as Paleedistan (nauzobillah) have finally succeeded in their mission. They were working hard for the last 60 years to achieve their goals right under the government noses. The politicians not only embraced them but fed them to become a giant monster.
This monster has destroyed every fabric of Pakistani society. From education system to politicians to judiciary to constitution is all infected with this cancer in the pure and holy name of Islam. If there is anything not Islam you can find it in Pakistan in the name of Islam. Intolerance, hatred towards others, fatwa factories to declare Kaffir, declaring everyone wajibul qatal, just kill anyone you don’t agree with and call it Jihad.
There is no place left for a civilized human being to live freely in Pakistan. This is a safe haven for terrorists and their sympathizers.
lolz, they too wont show mercy on you unless u put a lid on this hoax of war on terror. If you have a right to crush innoncent people in the name of terrorism, they too have a right to strike back with vengeance. What goes around comes around. The same is happening in Balochistan and will continue to happen until we justify the vicious acts of our insensitive State. They will not give up arms because our governments(inlcuding previous) made them pick it up by denying them the rights!
Ok. If you think they can succeed let them keep coming. They are a bunch of renegades fighting with state trying to justify their terrorism in the name of Islam. As far as Rulers are concerned, Pakistan is very unfortunate country which never got sincere rulers except for initial couple of years. Aided by mullahs, Ameerul Momineen Zia started Talibanization process, BB & NS kept quiet during their era, Musharraf kept mum. Now the monster is grown up and has started spitting fire. Still there are people who want to nurse this demon. Pakistan paid a very heavy price for Muslim fraternity. Its time to wakeup and think about Pakistan and Pakistanis only.
Islam is a religion of peace and rejects any violence in the name of religion. Holy Quran is full of peaceful teachings of coexistence, forbearance, tolerance and love for the humanity. The Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (saw) provides practical examples how to live in a diverse society, but these brain washed terrorists are taught a few verses (out of context) from the Holy Quran, and some twisted stories fabricated for their own ulterior motives, and then sent to kill their own brothers and sisters in the name of Allah. This is not Islam, it is fasad and rebellion against not only the state but against Allah and His Prophet (saw). If there is any capital punishment in Islam, rebellion against the state is one of the crimes.
May Allah give more courage to our brave army and our politicians to get rid of this cancer and also get to the root of this cancer and terminate it for good to make Pakistan a safe place for Pakistanis.
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