THE martyrdom of Sheikh Muhammad Idrees in Charsadda is not merely another act of terrorism; it is a direct assault on Pakistan’s religious conscience, social peace and moral order. Reports from Charsadda confirm that he was targeted in Utmanzai while travelling to his seminary and that two police constables deployed for his security were injured in the attack.
This incident exposes the true character of the Khawarij. They do not stand for Islam, reform or justice. They stand against every voice that guides society toward knowledge, discipline, compassion and peace. Ulema are respected in Islam because they preserve Quranic understanding, the Sunnah, moral values and collective responsibility. By targeting religious scholars, the Khawarij reveal their hostility not only toward individuals, but toward the very foundations of Islamic guidance.
The murder of Sheikh Muhammad Idrees must, therefore, be understood in its wider context. Extremist violence in Pakistan has targeted Ulema, teachers, worshippers, civilians, police personnel and soldiers alike. This pattern proves that the Khawarij have no principled cause. Their method is fear, 8their language is bloodshed, their objective is instability. When they cannot defeat religious reasoning, they try to silence it through bullets. Their attack on Ulema is especially significant because religious scholars are among the strongest barriers against militant distortion.
A scholar who teaches patience, justice, lawful conduct and peace weakens the propaganda of extremists. That is why the Khawarij fear the classroom, the pulpit and the mosque when these spaces are used to spread authentic Islamic understanding. They want society to be confused, divided and intimidated. Pakistan must not allow that.
The injured police constables, Pervez and Sher Alam, also represent another important truth: Pakistan’s law-enforcement personnel stand at the front line between citizens and terror. Their sacrifice reflects the state’s commitment to protect religious leadership, public order and community life. Terrorists may seek to shake confidence, but every such attack further clarifies the national duty to confront them with unity, law and resolve.
The Afghan Taliban must also understand the seriousness of this moment. No authority claiming Islamic legitimacy can ignore the presence, movement or facilitation of militants who spill Muslim blood, attack Ulema and destabilise neighbouring communities. Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns about militants operating from Afghan soil, while Kabul has denied such allegations; the responsible path is visible action, not silence or denial.
Pakistan’s response must remain firm, lawful and united. The state must pursue the perpetrators and facilitators through intelligence-led operations, while society must reject every narrative that glorifies violence under religious cover. Political, religious and community leaders should speak with one voice: killing scholars, policemen and civilians is not jihad; it is a crime against Islam, Pakistan and humanity.
Sheikh Muhammad Idrees’ martyrdom is a painful loss, but it also strengthens the national argument against extremism. The Khawarij have exposed themselves. They are not defenders of faith; they are enemies of peace, knowledge and Pakistan’s stability. The answer must be national cohesion, protection of Ulema, support for security forces and an uncompromising rejection of every ideology that seeks to impose terror on a peaceful Muslim society.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Rawalpindi.
