The dark and sinister forces of obscurantism, bigotry and religious fanaticism are on the march again. This time the primary focus and target of their evil designs is judiciary of Pakistan or rather superior judiciary in the form of the Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa. The deputy Ameer of Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan Pir Zaheer-ul-Hassan Shah had the audacity to issue an open death threat against the CJP and even go to the extent of announcing a reward of Rupees One crore for anyone who could behead the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The Government moved fast and arrested the TLP leader from Okara. The case was filed in the Qila Gujjar Singh and the charges framed against the TLP deputy Ameer are inciting religious hatred, causing public disorder, intimidating and threatening judiciary, interfering in official duties and obstructing legal functions.
According to the FIR during a protest meeting organized by the TLP Pir Zaheer Hassan Shah incited hatred against the judiciary and announced a reward of ten million rupees for anyone who cuts off the head of Qazi Faez Isa. The daring and intimidating actions of the religious fanatics is nothing new.
Top judiciary and the military leadership have been targeted and threatened before also. It was in 2018 that a leader of the TLP Pir Afzal Qadri had openly threatened judges of the supreme court and had also incited army soldiers to rebel, mutiny and refuse to obey the orders of their superiors if Asia Bibi was not hanged publicly and these statements were issued with the blessings of Khadim Hussein Rizvi founder of the TLP.
The Govt. has responded swiftly and resolutely but it is yet to be seen how serious the govt. is to bring to book the threatening forces of religious fanaticism and bigotry and if the govt. will remain firm to establish its writ and punish the leaders of the TLP according to the law of the land.
The dangerous and fiery rhetoric of the TLP leaders has been mostly ignored by the state for fear of a backlash and sheer brute street power of the religious cum political outfit called the TLP.
The latest outburst and venomous remarks were uttered outside the Lahore Press Club in the presence of the TLP chief Saad Rizvi the deputy Ameer of the TLP dared to issue life threats to the CJP and incite the public to violence and hatred against the superior judiciary. It was in 2018 when the TLP had managed to paralyse the entire country after the Supreme Court had exonerated Asia Bibi on blasphemy charges and leaders of the TLP had called for assassination of the two honorable judges for acquitting the poor Christian woman. Instead of punishing the fanatics the Govt. of the day struck a deal with the TLP, lifted an earlier ban on the party and promised not to oppose the TLP’s review petition about putting Aasia on the ECL to prevent her from leaving the country and seeking asylum abroad. Apart from all this all cases of violence including the murder of some policemen were withdrawn and it was allowed to operate as a normal political arty registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan.
We are now facing the consequences of the lax and irresponsible actions of the past govt. This time however one can only hope and pray that the powers that be have finally realized that this group of fanatics must be dealt with immediately and effectively, The Govt. has now registered criminal cases in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad and Okara against the top leadership of the TLP under the Anti-Terrorism Act.The ugly threats and abusive language of the TLP leaders has been condemned by all the sundry. Lawyers, Political activists, Council of Islamic Ideology have all agreed that no one should be allowed to pass judgment on anybody’s religious beliefs and issue edicts for their killing. Ironically in a country of 98 percent Muslim population religious fanatics and fundamentalist goons are using religion to target fellow Muslims for the promotion of their political agenda or for economic benefits.
History is a witness that past governments of Pakistan have never learnt any lessons from their patronage and support of violent and militant religious fanatics and extremist groups and then these very groups have turned against the state. The TLP has also enjoyed the blessings of some past rulers and now it has no hesitation in making fatal threats against the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
The state has no option but to launch a serious and meaningful crackdown against all fanatical and extremist religious outfits or these groups will become a threat to the very existence of the country.
In 2021 when a ban was imposed on the TLP, the interior minister Sheikh Rashid and the religious affairs minister Noorul Haq Quadri both had said that this party was engaged in terrorism, actions against national security and in creating anarchy in the country. The group was also blamed for causing harm to security agencies, damaging public property, and promoting hatred. This group was viewed as a major threat to national security. After these declarations the Federal Govt. listed the TLP as a proscribed organization. The action was carried out under Section 11B(1) of the anti-terrorism act of 1997.
Previous Govts. Have all failed to take a bold stand before this dangerous group they have all compromised and made deals with the religious fanatics. Even today two federal ministers that is Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal condemned the threats against the CJP and insisted on the rule of law but may now surrender like the PTI govt. did in the recent past.
The Federal Govt. has still not formulated a practical and serious policy to deal with the menace of the TTP and other groups of the same ilk. . Since the TLP’s inception, it has accepted all its demands, including controversial ones, to convince its leadership to end their protest. However, the state used such agreements only to find a temporary solution to end the protests; this, eventually, strengthened the group.
—The writer is Professor of History, based in Islamabad.
