Smokers’ Corner: Scary votes
Illustration by Abro
Much has been analysed about why the PPP-led coalition government, the opposition (both within and outside the Parliament), and the security agencies have all been so hapless in the face of the ever-growing menace of extremist violence in the country.
The government has done well to set an exceptional precedent of surviving its full term as an elected entity (a rarity in Pakistan), but it was just that: Survival.
Beyond this it has looked shaky, indecisive and at times almost paralysed in addressing issues such as sectarian violence and extremist terror.
On the other hand, the security agencies and the military-establishment have still to come to terms with political and ideological complexities arising from an awkward situation in which they find themselves face-to-face with brutal outfits, most of whom were once their strategic assets.
But there is also another aspect and dimension to this that doesn’t get the kind of attention that it deserves.
I am pointing towards the attitude of non-religious political parties that seem paralysed and awkwardly placed when it comes to addressing the issue of extremism.
For example, we keep hearing why so and so political parties can’t go all out in supporting bills, resolutions and policies against extremist outfits because they don’t want to offend the sentiments of a particular section of their voters.
Though this is calmly related in an analysis, the fact that this may also suggest support among large sections of the population for the brutes is never touched upon.
PML-N, though at this point in time the most vocal champion of democracy in Pakistan, has continued to remain ambiguous in its stance against extremist terrorism.
It condemns it, but never does this party take the names of those responsible for slaughtering over 40,000 soldiers, cops, politicians and common civilians ever since 2004.
One of the reasons given (by analysts) is that (in the Punjab), a vital section of the party’s vote-bank constitutes conservative right-wing petty-bourgeoisie and the trader classes.
So, is this to suggest that these classes (though not violent) actually have sympathies for sectarian and extremist organisations; and that they will refuse to vote for the PML-N if it supports any move against, say, the Taliban, Al-Qaeda or any of the many Sunni extremist organisations out there?
If so then this is certainly a cause for concern. It proves that violent anti-state outfits actually have support among certain sections of the population and that these sections are being patronised by democratic parties that should normally and inherently be anathematic to such a scenario.
Thus it does make sense then when one sees some PML-N men holding hands with members of banned sectarian organisations so the party can count on the votes of certain pro-extremist sections of the population in urban and semi-urban Punjab.
But PML-N is not the only non-religious party caught in the paradox of at least keeping one of its electoral branches rooted in the mentioned section of the population.
This is the same enigmatic section that Imran Khan’s PTI is also counting on to give him a numerical edge over the PML-N in an election.
That’s why, though recently Khan has decided to shed some of his ambiguity regarding his stance on Islamist and sectarian violence, till only early last year he was sending emissaries to rallies where some of the star speakers were sectarian bigots!
Even the more secular outfits such as the PPP and the MQM have gone on to appease and bag extremists on the other end of the sectarian spectrum.
For example, a few months back the PPP announced a possible electoral alliance with the Sunni Tehreek (ST).
ST is an organisation of Sunni Muslims from the Barelvi school that, though opposed to the extremist expressions of the Deobandi school of Sunni Islam (such as the Taliban), has its own extremist tendencies.
ST is often involved in organising anti-Taliban rallies, but this is the same outfit that considers those who kill supposed blasphemers as heroes.
That’s why the PPP’s decision to cosy up with ST also has a stark irony attached to it.
In January 2010, the PPP’s senior members and Governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, was shot dead by a man who accused him of committing ‘blasphemy.’ The man, Mumtaz Qadri, was hailed as a hero and ‘true soldier of Islam’ by the ST.
So, by getting into an alliance with ST, is the PPP expecting to get some electoral push by that section of the population which considers extrajudicial killers and self-styled vanguards of faith as admirable heroes?
The MQM’s case in this respect is a bit more complicated. Compared to the PPP and maybe even the ANP, it has flexed itself to be perhaps the most overtly secular mainstream party in the country.
In fact, it has continued to be at odds (sometimes violently) with the fundamentalist Jamat-i-Islami (JI) and Deobandi extremists such as the Taliban and the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LeJ).
Unlike the PPP, MQM has also been at odds with Barelvi parties such as the Jamiat Ulema Pakistan (JUP), and the ST.
Though MQM’s animosity against outfits such as JI, Taliban and LeJ have been largely ideological, its anti-ST stance has more to do with the fact that during the state’s operation against the MQM in 1990s, the more religious cadres of the party shifted their loyalties to the ST.
Recently the MQM tried to regain this ground by supporting Dr. Tahirul Qadri’s long march in Islamabad.
Qadri, an Islamic scholar from the Barelvi denomination, and a politician, heads the Minhajul Quran (MuQ) organisation that has a large following among the petty bourgeoisie in the Punjab.
It was obvious that Qadri had some backing of that segment of the establishment that is still trying to redefine and mould democracy, government, and the state of Pakistan in its own image.
But this article is not about that. Thus, even though it is true that the MQM has tried to remain close to the establishment ever since it rose from the ashes of the state’s operation against it in the 1990s, there was certainly talk within the party of banking on Qadri to help the MQM bag the moderate religious Barelvi vote in Karachi and maybe even in the Punjab.
MuQ is largely a Punjab-based organisation.
So, what does this prove? As we see the military-establishment and even non-religious political parties trying to strike partnerships with organisations that express varied extremist tendencies, all this also lays bare the fact that within the non-violent (and voting) sections of Pakistan’s population, are sections of ‘normal’ men and women who (with their vote) are willing to punish any party for actually taking a clear stand to counter extremism.
Everyone scare of religious extermist because they hold the power of media. Our education class are the one mainly supporting these religious view. The only reason these parties are not in power yet because they have not many educated people to vote them. Just look at our all education institues it have way more presence and influence of religious parties than in our democratic assemblies.
So with all the power of people , our assemblies cannot be openly vocal and bring any laws against these extermist.
And thing is different at overseas ,Pakistani educated people due to this reason , unable to impact any significant influence at western society .
Governments talks back and forth with Therik Minhajulquran , clearly indicates that Mr. Quadri was invited by our rulers. In order to save their face due to decresed popularity in coming elections, PPP must increase his voters bank to win the election in Punjab. Mr. Qadris followers will clearly make a large portion of PPP,s voters. There must be a deal behind the doors which lay person will never able to know. Another brilliant move by the Zardari.
NFP , You let MQM of the hook easily. Party has no philosophy but goes with the flow,always with the seat of power,8 years with military ruler Musharraf, then joined PPP.Ironically always beating drums of democracy.Recently declared to join the march with Qadri, then backed away 24 hours before march commenced. Party is shifting sand that is why its vote bank is only in urban Sindh.
Khudawanda ye tere sada dil banday kidhar jayen,
Keh darveshi bhi ayyari hai sultani bhi ayyari … (Bal e jibril, Iqbal)
PML-N, TTP, PTI, PPP, MQM, ST, ANP, JI, LeJ, JUP, MuQ. An alphabet soup of a choice for a hapless Pak citizen. Which of them will lead him to a pot of gold, to salvation.
And what is success anyway?
The Primal Question of Existence is Survival, Growth, Evolution. Religions, Political Parties, Movements, Ideologies, all provide rational answers to this question in mind of man or woman, rich and poor, black or white, young or old. Only the most efficient and effective solutions is adopted and takes root.
Who has survived, grew, and evolved and who has not? The yehud, after 4,000 years are only 13,200,000 and disappearing. Their in-breeding Tribe is beset with limited gene-pool, weak immune system and diseases particular to themselves. All their wealth and knowledge and Nobel Prizes has failed them in the Primal Question. Reason – their inflexibility.
Then there is the progeny of Mohammed AS, from one daughter Fatima alone (the Syeds) numbers 40,000,000 and growing, with a wide gene-pool and superb immune system, and all that in mere 1,400 years. Now that is success. Reason – adaptability.
Christians pray for their daily bread, but Muslims pray for higher blessings, as their sustenance and that of non-believers is guaranteed by Allah. The Muslim equivalent to the Christian Daily Prayer is the 7- verse Fateha.
“… O Lord, show us the right path, the path of those who were blessed, not of those who were cursed or who went astray …”
So, Islam is not merely the right path but the correct means to find that right path. We must continually update our path to the changing surroundings.
The emerging world order is Globalization and Free Trade. Which of the PML-N, TTP, PTI, PPP, MQM, ST, ANP, JI, LeJ, JUP, MuQ will help us Survive, Grow, and Evolve in the coming era?
That is the $64,000 question.
Few with quality are far better than million of ignorant, useless masses of flash.
after delivering all the religious glory and sermon, you fell for dollars. You valued your question in dollars. Go man, weigh your question in riyals.
I have always wondered what the ordinary people of Germany were thinking when Hitler was committing holocaust against ordinary jews (or anyone who was not a white Christian) or why were they supporting him by remaining silent. Now after reading this article I understand how. Thanks NFP.
Dear NFP,
You are always spot on. The rot in Pakistani politics is so deep and entrenched that if eradicated too quickly has the distinct possibility of killing the polity as there is none other (except this rotten one).
It was a little, not much, surprising that you posed the support of the masses for these sectarian killers as a question Vs a statement of the fact. We all know that Pakistani politicians and the military are in cahoot with them for a long time.
You of all people, at least I do for sure, know that these murderers of innocent men. women and children can not survive and prosper as they have so far without the implicit support of the masses. The tragedy is that support for them is overt and explicit. Pakistan is a mess and the future is bleak unless the people change their minds and hearts and see these hateful sectarian murderers for what they really are…….MURDERERS OF INNOCENT HUMANS.
Thank You again for an excellent, well analysed and a truthful article on the state of Pakistan.
Follow the money trail. Allah, America, or Army?
Pak political parties are being funded (mostly) from outside – States or individuals, from Saudi Arabia, America, Canada.
To mollify Qadri, Rehman Malik threatened to divulge his source of funding unless he relented.
The Saudis may have deeper pockets today, but are they deep enough? It is a long haul. And will pak blood remain dirt cheap with time?
…..and that is why the Quaid in his wisdom saw Pakistan as a secular state……and the religious right skilfully turned secular into a dirty word and have not looked back since.
What happened to Pakistan post Jinnah is no different than what happened to Islam post Mohammed AS. Read your history.
Correction @ AT; Nothing happened to Islam….if at all something happened….it may be with more than few muslims….
TUQ: AOA
It was not a “few” Muslims. Today the mainstream believes in the “Rightly Guided Islam” rather than the “Mohammedan/Quranic Islam”. For an average globe dweller Islam means war, terrorism, oppression of women, ignorance, backwardness.
I agree with you that nothing happened to Islam, but as George Bernard Shaw once told his heckler, what you and I can do against all this crowd telling the truth?
Wassalam