Express Tribune: By Feisal H Naqvi.
Pakistan’s slow-motion slide into sectarian hell has, so far, met with studied silence from all the major political players.
In the case of the PPP, the silence is mere cowardice. In the case of the PML-N and the PTI, the silence is calculated; a cold-blooded conclusion that there are seats to be gained from turning a blind eye. What is more interesting though is the silence of the khakis. Because of all institutions, it is the Army that has the most to lose.
The fact of the matter is that the armed forces are a pluralistic institution. Our officer corps includes not just Muslims of every shade but also Christians, Parsis and even Ahmadis. More importantly, while Shias form 25 per cent of Pakistan’s population, there is some evidence that they form an even larger part of the officer cadre. The Army may, therefore, be able to survive the day when Muslims refuse to obey Christians. But it will not survive the day when Sunnis refuse to obey Shias. Assuming that the Army knows this, the question arises as to why it is doing nothing. My understanding is that there are two reasons — one official, one unofficial.
Let me be more blunt. By stating in our Constitution that certain people (i.e. Ahmadis) do not have the right to consider themselves Muslims, we have accepted the argument that an individual’s religious identity is a political matter. It is not possible to reconcile that argument with what the rest of the world considers to be freedom of religion. Moreover, this conflict is not just theoretical: we have thoroughly legalised persecution of Ahmadis and yawned in the face of their suffering.
Categories: Asia, Interfaith tolerance, Law and Religion, Military, Pakistan, Religious persecution
Unfortunately, nation as a whole is divided into fragments, Fragmentation of society is reflecting on institutions and vice versa. They threw Ahmadis outside fold of Islam considering it as an easy prey, but it is no difficult to understand that this state interference in religious matter has destroyed the whole fabric of society. Zia’s Islamic laws have resulted in high handedness of majority sunni sect. They will not rest till they impose their brand of Islam. However, this cannot happen. But in attempting to do so the whole nation and country will be damaged and God forbid anarchy will prevail.