PAKISTAN has been facing scourge of terrorism for the last more than 20 years. From 2001 to date the nation has lost over 83 thousand lives and incurred a financial loss of more than 35 trillion rupees. Violence, extremism and intolerance have increased in society. Holistic policy and comprehensive strategy are needed to meet this challenge on a permanent basis. For attaining sustainable success, formation and propagation of a national narrative against terrorism and extremism is of vital importance in this age of digital communication. It needs to become foundation of counter terrorist and counter extremist measures.
Armed resistance or call it with whatever name, including Jihad, against the State of Pakistan, any of its provinces or units, is strictly forbidden (haram). No individual or group can declare war (Jihad) against the State of Pakistan. No one can declare functionaries of the Government of Pakistan, personnel of defence forces and law enforcement agencies as non-Muslims liable to be killed. There is no justification of attacks on such persons and institutions. Such attacks are heinous crimes in Islamic Sharia too. Use of force, armed resistance against the State, spreading violence, committing terrorism, promoting extremism in the name of enforcing Sharia are strictly forbidden and fall in category of mischief on earth.
Pakistani nation firmly stands with its defence forces, police and other law enforcement agencies in their lawful duties to curb terrorism and extremism. These institutions are integral part of the Pakistani nation. No decree or fatwa can be issued against them for their role & duties which include protecting life and property of the people of Pakistan. Terrorist acts undoubtedly are crimes against the State and it is duty of the law enforcement agencies to bring such offenders to justice. Those who fight against Pakistan are outlaws, rebels and terrorists liable to be punished in accordance with the law.
All public and private educational and training institutions should be strictly forbidden from promoting militancy, hatred, violence, extremism, or terrorism. These acts are crimes according to the law of the land. If any institute or individual associated with such institutes, religious or non-religious, is found involved, be punished in accordance with the law. Religious and non-religious extremism is condemned by the State of Pakistan in all its forms and manifestations. No sect should impose its views on other sects using force and violence. No sect or religion is allowed to abuse sacred personalities of any other sect or religion. No sect can declare any other sect as non-believer (kafir).
Takfeer (declaring other Muslims as non-Muslims) should be strictly prohibited. Any violations be punishable under relevant laws. No individual or group is allowed to take law into their own hands to inflict punishment on any person accused of a religious offence including offence of blasphemy. Only courts shall punish such accused after due process of law. Strict legal action be taken against such lawlessness and violence.
Suicide bombing is strictly forbidden (haram) in Islam. It is a heinous crime according to law of the land and Shariah. Suicide bombers go to hell according to teachings of Quran and Sunnah. Those who prepare young people to become suicide bombers also go to the hell. Killing of one innocent human being is tantamount to killing the whole of humanity, according to Quran. Suicide bombing does not become justified even when named as fidai attack. Change of name does not change its nature and consequences.
Without haste military operations shall be conducted against religiously motivated and non-religious terrorist groups and their facilitators without discrimination to bring them to justice. The National Action Plan shall be implemented in its letter and spirit by all stakeholders. To achieve this objective, the LEAs should be strengthened with provision of all necessary resources. The LEAs be provided training in latest intelligence collection and counter terrorism techniques and should be equipped to defeat terrorism on a sustainable and permanent basis. Investment in peace and security is in fact indirectly an investment in economy of the country. Peace will bring dividends in the shape of economic progress and prosperity.
All the necessary steps should be taken to prevent and counter extremism in the society. Extremist propaganda be suppressed through use of modern technology. Extremist elements active in physical and cyber domain, including social media and internet, to spread extremism should be stopped and brought to justice. Extremist ideologies and online hate will be suppressed and countered effectively. Space in cyber and physical domains should be denied to all kinds of extremism including religious, linguistic, ethnic, separatist or regional. Propaganda to malign national institutions will have to be countered and punished in accordance with the law. Battle of narratives be fought and won by the State of Pakistan using all means possible.
Armed resistance and terrorism committed by non-religious armed organizations, based on sub-nationalism, language, colour, creed, ethnicity, regionalism, etc, are totally unlawful and strictly forbidden. Armed resistance against the State, any province or unit, in any name or ideology, fall in the category of rebellion and insurgency. Such crimes be punished according to law. Territorial integrity of Pakistan shall be protected at all costs and rebels and insurgents be punished for treason and other serious crimes. All kinds of terrorism and extremism be rooted out from society. The country be made a peaceful place where its citizens lead their lives peacefully and without fear of any kind.
—The writer is editor, book ambassador political analyst and author of several books based in Islamabad.
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