Sometimes it seems as if the “P” in Pakistan stands for ‘preachy. Sure, a harsh start to the article but bear reading the following for a few minutes to understand why. Just two weeks ago, the entire country was collectively bashing Sweden over the burning of the Holy Quran. The PM put out a statement, many protests were staged across the country and piece after piece was churned out in newspapers (1, myself penned one) condemning the Scandinavian country and almost telling them and the rest of the world how to respectfully act. After writing my piece titled ‘Sweden’s Selective Freedom’ l began a bit of introspection on our beloved nation’s behalf.
The following is an encapsulated version of my thoughts and why I think it’s about time to step off of our moral, religious and cultural high horse. It is ironic that in a country built in the name of religion and a heightened sense of nationalism, both Islam and the notion of ‘Pakistaniat’ seemed to be challenged all too often. The fragility is such that a mere celebration of Holi, last month, by a few university students seemed important and challenging enough that the Executive Director of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had to write a letter condemning the celebration and mentioning and then several times reiterating how such celebrations challenge the foundations on which the Islamic republic stands. Although the letter was later retracted by the HEC, it serves as a notable illustration of the point this article aims to make.
The letter, as it happens in most cases concerning religious minorities, made a reference to external/invisible forces at play achieving their objectives at the cost of innocent university students. However, it is mind boggling how much attention can be drawn from a small group of young men and women engaging in dancing and throwing colours. Letters like this one written by the Executive Director of the HEC diminish the importance of a religion that has existed for over 1400 years and challenge the belief system of close to two billion people worldwide. Here’s how: I, as a young Muslim, truly believe that a bit of song and dancing and a bit of inclusion and sense of co-existence does not challenge the foundations of my religious and national identity but has quite the opposite effect.
The likes of HEC in this country must realize that our belief system and our nationalism aren’t as fragile as they may believe it to be. This strange worldview is shared by many important quarters across the country. Our nationalism and religion seem to be challenged over and over. If a seminar focusing on Balochistan is announced, if a bill giving the transgender community their rights is passed, if a government appointment from a different faith/school of thought is made, if a girl proposes to a boy in public view or just if my view, religion and ethnicity is not the same as yours.
Many might feel that observing Holi does not have much to do with having intellectual debate and that the same goes for the intermingling of men and women. However, the fact of the matter is that all examples mentioned in this article go back to the mindset that persists in this country. It goes to the space or lack thereof that is present or perhaps absent for thinking, debate and questioning.
If the belief system of the country and the nationalism of its citizens shake so easily because of a bit of celebration then perhaps it is time for us to take a good look at ourselves and question why our faith in our peaceful religion is so fragile, so weak. It’s also then time to realize that we are not in a position to school others on how minorities should be treated. Perhaps, when we extend the same courtesy to our own people, should we ever tell Sweden to be fair to its religious and ethnic minorities? While two wrongs never make a right and what happens in the West under the banner of free speech is blatant Islamophobia, our treatment is no different from those that are marginalized and hence we are nothing but a bunch of preachy sermonic questionable nationalists.
—The writer is contributing for national press, based in Islamabad.
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