AFTER a period of relative calm, a dangerous bout of sectarianism rocked Karachi on Sunday, leaving at least two men dead, several others injured, and a number of vehicles torched. The incident occurred in the city’s Gulbahar area as a rally organised by the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat — a violent extremist group that was proscribed by the National Counter-Terrorism Authority in 2012 — was passing by a local imambargah. As per reports, slogans were exchanged between the rally participants and the locals, and later gunfire was traded. After this violent episode, the Sindh government started making the usual statements about ‘keeping the peace’ and ‘not allowing anyone to target communal harmony’. Yet Sindh’s rulers, and indeed the country’s security institutions, must be asked why a banned group was allowed to take out a rally, that too on the eve of Chehlum, passing by some of the city’s most sensitive neighbourhoods. When groups known to indulge in hate speech are given free rein, why does the state express shock when there is violence associated with their activities?

Thankfully, the situation was contained before it could lead to further unrest. Mobile service in Karachi and other parts of Sindh was suspended on Monday, presumably to prevent hatemongers from exploiting the Gulbahar incident. While saner elements from the ulema representing both major sects must act immediately to put out the fire whenever such incidents occur, it is the state’s responsibility to prevent hate groups from fanning the flames of sectarianism. It is true that Pakistan has been spared the kind of sectarian violence seen in some countries in the Middle East. But this is no reason for complacency. The state must be clear: hatemongers and communal troublemakers from any sect will not be allowed to spread their toxic message. Unless this is ensured, the state will only be fooling itself and the citizenry when it talks about maintaining harmony.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2024