IMAGINE a Pakistan free of hatred and violence, where everyone can live independently without distinction of religion, race, or caste. Imagine a society in which everyone may live their lives without fear of violence or intolerance. The attainment of such an ideal state depends on adopting a pragmatic strategy to address the deeply ingrained concerns of religious intolerance. In recent times, Pakistan is experiencing an upsurge in cases of intolerance such as mob lynching, blasphemy accusations, and forced conversions of minority groups.
The Swat incident, in which a man was ghastly lynched to death by a mob over allegations, exemplifies how intolerant Pakistani society has become regarding religion. The politicization of religion in Pakistan has exacerbated these problems. Elites use religion as a tool to advance their personal interests. Politically motivated groups then further instill hate in the minds of people. In reality, they exploit individuals who are emotionally weak, less educated, and have little knowledge about Islam.
In the past few years, the situation has worsened due to a combination of factors. The historical roots of religious intolerance continue to influence society today. This includes years of radicalization of Pakistani people and society, a weak educational system, hate literature targeting minorities, and a lack of justice provided to the people. Moreover, a report on extremism and religious intolerance stated that social conflict and injustice are significant contributing causes of religious intolerance, leading to psychological and emotional disturbances.
What is the future of a state whose basic pillars and institutions are weak? Institutions that are unable to provide justice, implement laws, and build trust among their people. Such a society cannot progress in meaningful ways, and downfall becomes its ultimate fate. How are Pakistanis perceived? Intolerant? Extremist? Associated with hate and aggression? Unfortunately, all these negative attributes are now permanently linked with them. Why is Pakistan unable to overcome these circumstances? It is due to its weak institutions and leadership uncertainty.
The discourse surrounding Pakistanis, especially Muslims, has severely damaged the image of Pakistan as a state. This must end now. The state should prioritize this issue and address the root causes to completely eradicate the problem. Confidence-building measures should be introduced to enhance people’s trust in the state and its institutions. The government should make efforts to properly implement the laws and policies in this regard. The quality of education in madaris should be improved. All these actions can be fruitful only if there is true political leadership. Unfortunately, Pakistan lacks sincere leaders.
—The writer is associated with NDU, Islamabad.
