Smokers’ Corner: Wrinkles in youth
The most convenient understanding of the phenomenon of Pakistani extremists that one hears being echoed from TV studios and their favourite ‘guests’ suggests that young Pakistanis turning into religious fanatics has something to do with illiteracy and unemployment. Though not entirely incorrect, this notion however is a complacent explanation.
It fails to explain the emergence of young religious extremists such as Omar Shaikh, Shahzad Tanveer, Hasib Hussain and Faisal Shahzad. Each one of these young men came from educated middle-class families.
Saying they were products of western societies that they were raised in is a weak retort. This attitude simply refuses to seriously address the issue of educated young Pakistanis falling for a myopic and nihilistic brand of the faith — something that was once explained as a vocation only of the illiterate and the financially desperate. There has been an alarming rise in the number of young, educated middle-class Pakistanis (here and abroad), embracing the most reactionary and anarchic strains of the faith, believing it to be a justified and logical portrayal of ‘true’ Islam.
The state and the government of Pakistan will have to thoroughly investigate and rectify this alarming trend. While actors like the 7/7 bombers and Faisal Shahzad are obvious embarrassments to Pakistan and to the Pakistani communities in the West, so are the growing number of rabid, tech-savvy young people floating around various interactive websites to mouth the most obnoxious ideas about Islam and politics. There are websites out there glorifying utter mad men and propagating most twisted conspiracy theories, and many of these are owned, run and frequented by Pakistanis who work and are comfortably settled in western countries.
Just as the sudden rise of certain crackpots (via TV) in Pakistan was keenly followed and supported by a chunk of young, urban Pakistanis, various cranks are happily catering to the already confused religious and ideological bearings of Muslim Pakistanis living abroad. Much has been written about people like Zaid Hamid, Aamir Liaquat and Zakir Naik — men who cleverly represent (and glorify) the increasingly chauvinistic mindset of the current generation of young urbanites.
A recent book on Farhat Hashmi’s organisation, Al-Huda, (written by a Pakistani woman), accuses her of spreading hatred against Christians, Hindus and Jews among Pakistani women living in Canada. In the wake of the Faisal Shahzad episode in New York last year, the Muslim Canadian Congress (MCC), a group of liberal Muslims living in Canada, accused American Islamic organisations of refusing to distance themselves from the doctrine of armed jihad waged by extremists, as did the Deobandi ulema’s conference back home late last year.
The MCC goes on to state that many young Pakistanis living in the United States and Canada regard Pakistan as a safe haven for their preparation and training for waging wars against the West. Organisations like the MCC have also come down hard on outfits such as Al-Huda, refuting their claim that they are on a mission to convert westerners to Islam.
Nevertheless, even in liberal countries like US, UK and Canada, organisations like the MCC are coming under direct attack and threats from their more myopic counterparts who, it seems, are free to peddle away hatred and confusion to Muslims living abroad.
But, of course, the situation is more alarming in this respect in Pakistan. Political Islam – a mid-20th century philosophy that advocates the creation of a theocratic society and state through the Islamisation of politics – was once the prerogative of conservative scholars and established political parties such as Abul Ala Mauddudi and his Jamat-i-Islami. However, ever since the late 1980s it has rapidly disintegrated into a bare but populist entity with two prominent strains.
One strain has striped off this philosophy’s more scholarly aspects and left only its violent jihadist aspects to work with. This strain can now be found in the barbaric ways of extremist organisations like the Taliban and many of Pakistan’s sectarian outfits. The other strain has been working to turn political Islam into a populist set of easy-to-digest ideas through which, either elections can be fought or the military-establishment can be infiltrated and used as a patron.
The JI tried flaunting the populist aspects of political Islam during the 1977 and 1993 elections, but failed. Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N did so throughout the 1990s and somewhat did succeed but only with the help of the military-establishment. Political Islam’s historical drubbling in elections in Pakistan has increasingly made this philosophy the vocation of certain powerful sections of Pakistan’s military and its many mouthpieces in the popular Urdu media and in so-called Islamic evangelist movements.
Its most recent advocate (again with a more than a little help from certain sections in the military establishment) is cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan. Though Imran’s party, the PTI, has been quite a disaster in the two elections that it took part in, he has suddenly been propped up by an aggressive right-wing electronic media and an increasingly confused number of young middle-class urbanites.
Though, quite like Imran, most of his followers’ lifestyles are rather ‘westernised,’ these are no liberals believing in concepts like democratic pluralism or in the importance of tolerating and promoting religious, sectarian and ethnic diversity. By the looks of it, they see democracy as a threat to Pakistan’s imagined existence as a monotheistic state and society based on a single (state-sanctioned and clergy-approved) strain of the faith.
Imran fans, like the pro-Musharraf ‘moderates’, have, at best, sound like 21st century versions of Ziaul Haq. Instead of a sherwani and a stern frown, they can be seen in modern, western clothes and designer shalwar-kameez spouting the most worn-out rhetoric and narrative that was started by the state under Zia and his politico-religious sidekicks.
It’s the usual beat: Pakistan and democracy are not compatible; democratic pluralism promotes ethnocentricity; secularism is akin to atheism; religious extremism and violence are the handiwork of the ‘anti-Pakistan’ and ‘anti-Islam’ elements (mainly foreign), and the state and intelligence agencies of Pakistan have nothing to with it. Also to these Ipod carrying ‘revolutionaries’ there is only one correct version of Islam but most Pakistanis follow a corrupted and adulterated version because they are illiterate and superstitious; anyone questioning these assumptions is a traitor and that only politicians are corrupt, and we need a strong leader who cannot come through democracy because most Pakistanis are ignorant.
Furthermore, anyone also questioning the obvious and yet padded extremism and soft authoritarianism peddled by the Imran brigade is a ‘liberal extremist’ who is undermining religion and promoting ‘corrupt politicians’. And should I even get into their take on the need of a worldwide caliphate? Maybe not. Don’t want to turn this piece into a black comedy, if you know what I mean.
Dear Mr. Paracha
You are having a very good knowledge about Islamic fanatics and you wrote a very comprehensive column about it. But at the same time don't you think that you are being biased. Well of course organizations like MCC and others are bringing a bad name to Islam and Muslims but on the other hand what these Americans and Christians are doing, what do you have to say about it? Pakistan is going through many crisis these days but as a matter of fact you (Pakistani Media) is very much responsible for the such state of the country. And still situation is not that bad as you guys portray on the media. InshAllah the things will get better very soon.
Such a thoughtful, heartfelt piece. It's about how young people struggle to be true to their family values even while attracted to change. The descrepancy of adjusting liberated style with a conservative upbringing creates wrinkles for youth everywhere.
If there is drought in the country,NFP somehow will find an excuse to link it with Imran Khan. Yet he never blames PPP & its leadership for the lack of accountability. Blog is glaring example of selective & biased opinion.
Many young muslims living in western societies hate west and democracy.but at the same time they enjoy religious freedom provided by democracy.how pitty…
Dear NFP, you sound like my great grandmother who would not stop complaining and criticizing. While your articles are quite fun to read, they also show the shallowness of your thinking. You are no different than the millions of narrow minded lot comprising the vocal part of our society. I hope you can grow out of it and start accepting that life is not simply black and white!
NFP is minority in Pakistan. But hopefully that will not deter him speaking the truth.
Sir, with due respect you need a lot of soul-searching. Anyone to everyone in Pakistan – to you it seems – are illogical in their opinions. Weeks over weeks, you have been repeating yourself and now it loses strength.
wow, so true. I've encountered so many young, well educated Pakistanis living here in New York city who hate America and secular West, yet, they enjoy the religious freedoms and opportunities they receive here. It's just disturbing. These guys get so much from the secular Western society, yet, they also want their destruction. On the contrary, almost every Muslim country on this planet demands non-Muslims to live under Islam Sharia laws.
Imran Khan has always supported democracy and has never been part of military rule unlike other parties…..since there is no talk of PPP in your article i know for sure the writer is a PPP supporter and is trying to through dirt on Imran Khan….its governments like PPP that portrays Pak as a failed democratic state….
Agreed with Zaid.. Well the I don't read this man regularly, But with all due respect Mr NFP u always create fuss,Want to create hype, always criticizes the religious matters, but let me tell u one thing this is not our main concern as nation. The basic concern is about necessities of life. It is very easy to sit on chair and writes every thing, so be practical before criticizing Imran Khan. Can u spend whole warm and hot day on roads in the hot weather of Karachi or Sindh with the nation( U definitely cannot) i would suggest u 2 come outside and do something practical.
Ok Genius,
What is the solution then? Since everyone from Zia-ul-Haq to Imran Khan is wrong and you are the only righteous man in Pakistan then why don't you suggest how to improve our society. Everyday 180 million people in Pakistan rephrase the same problems that Pakistan faces and yet no one talks about the solution.
It would be nice to see some constructive criticism and some solutions, an implementation plan, not just a statement like improve the literacy of this country or some shit. The implementation plan has to be there.
You are just another Pakistani who scribbles out his thoughts and does nothing about it. You are no better than the people who follow the Drawing room Islam or talk about conspiracy theories. But of course, easier said than done!
Brilliant! I second you Zaid
"If you think there is a solution, then you are part of the problem." – George Carlin.
Stop asking for solutions and start thinking for yourself!
@M Ali Khan: How lucky you were to come across such a great saying and how intelligent of you to have copy-pasted it! If, being a political watchdog, one can't devise solutions then one should definitely also stop repeating oneself too!
There are many people who are upset about your comments about Imran Khan. However I consider this as your opinion which you are entitled to. I think IK is still confused about his strategy to bring his party to the mainstream. He also has been influenced by people like Hamid Gul. IK opposes the americans which is fine. However he has never clearly condemned the terrorists and appears to justify them by his silence. He may be a good cricket captain but doesnot have the right vision to be good leader at this critical juncture.
Interesting article, quite plausible too. But just note that multiculturism in all western socities that allow immigration stands a complete failure.
If we would have followed Imran Khan and Nawaz Shareef we would be facing Libya like situation instead Egypt like situation which was negociated by Benazir Bhatto. Or may be we would have end up like Bahrain by following Rightwinger…
You keep writing the same things over and over again NFP. I don't know if that is what is required in your country or not, but that is how it is.
Excellent as always !!!
NFP cannot hide his hatred towards Imran Khan. Happy to see NFPs fans not even supporting him on this one.
NFP is a real hope of Pakistan. I urge people of Pakistan to come out 'RELIGION…RELIGION….RELIGION' mindset…and if we Hindus can do it…why u people cann't..
After all our root are same…although some people think Saudi is their root and thats the basic problem…
sir your work is excellent which really depict our country and most people of our country are not aware of games of our politicians and our establishment i m really impressed from your every article
Imran Khan has become a pivitol obsession for NFP's diatribe. Wikileaks revelations about our current leadership have slipped by the blogger.Imran stands untarnished.
This is apparently an attack on Imran. I would appreciate more evidence about the statement that he is just the second 21st century westernized Zia.
I love your earlier work. This piece is bad. Did Imran ever say democracy is not compatible with Islam. Please give references for your accusations. Yes, we are all sick of obscurantists but you are picking at IK just because he is anti American!
if pakistanis want good infrastructure, good schools,economic progress and higher standard of living, they must keep islam for their personal life instead of making it a political issue.
Dear Mr. Paracha
Thanks for reminding your readers again about how the politics works in Pakistan and how its right wing politicians are groomed, as you put it," with the help of establishment" I particularly liked your comparison between Imran and Nawaz Sharif. Nawaz has developed a nack of annoying the establishment and perhaps propelling Imran is answer to his explicit outburts of the "establishment"?