Violence, Terrorism Posing Threat Existence Of Pakistan
Muhammad Khurshid
April 10, 2008
The continued violence and acts of terrorism have endangered the very existence of Pakistan. The society gripped by terrorism has been heading towards a bloody revolution. The politicians failed in controlling violence in Pakistan, which is a frontline state in war on terror.
The Dawn in its editorial commented that no amount of censure is enough for those who manhandled Dr Sher Afgan Niazi in Lahore on Tuesday. The former parliamentary affairs minister, who locked himself inside the chambers of his advocate for several hours before being attacked by angry lawyers, is a heart patient. But this consideration did nothing to lessen the wrath of the frenzied mob that verbally and physically assaulted him as he tried to get into a waiting ambulance. Coming in the final hours of the caretaker government, it would, of course, be very tempting for some quarters to attribute the unwholesome event to elements seeking to undermine the lawyers´ movement. If indeed there is a grain of truth in this theory, then it is even more incumbent on the lawyers to thwart such designs by showing restraint when passions are whipped up. The truth is that a movement that stood for the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary is in danger of turning into a self-absorbed, opinionated entity with no regard for the values of tolerance.
There is no doubt that Dr Sher Afgan fully supported President Musharraf´s autocratic order that played havoc with the judicial institution. But the lawyers´ revenge could have been sweeter had they kept within the limits of civilised and lawful conduct and refrained from attacking the former minister. If victory is finally theirs, it will be marred by such instances of wild behaviour and their inability to understand that the rule of law is not about heroes and villains but a clear vision achieved through a principled struggle.
The other concern is the inaction of the police. Is it possible that a force that previously showed itself to be quite adept at thrashing and tear-gassing lawyers could, in this case, not protect a lone man against the mob´s excesses? The fact of the matter is that the law-enforcement forces are too politicised for anyone´s good. Caught between the outgoing and incoming political orders — both having diametrically opposed visions — there must have been considerable confusion within their ranks. Would they be hauled over the coals for forcibly restraining the lawyers whose star is in the ascendancy? Or would they receive a rap on the knuckles from a pro-Musharraf dispensation for not protecting a politician who was the president´s right-hand man? This is yet another example of how institutions are impeded in their duties by political masters whose individual or party agendas keep them from following the course of the law.
In keeping with the newfound spirit of forgiveness and national unity, the coalition government would do well to promote tolerance among the public. Both the Sher Afgan and Arbab Rahim incidents show that the anger of those who suffered under President Musharraf has reached a boiling point. Unless they are advised to keep their anger in check, in fact to channel their energies to protect the rule of law, the government, despite its democratic credentials, will find it difficult to prevent the country from sliding into an era of anarchy.
Fears abound that once again Karachi may become the backdrop to a theatre of blood and conflict. Even before violence erupted on Wednesday ostensibly triggered by the Sher Afgan episode there had been a sharp rise in targeted murders of political rivals in the city as over two dozen were slain in the month of March. According to law enforcement agencies, political violence flared up shortly after the Feb 18 elections to claim 25 activists of various political affiliations. Political parties such as MQM-H lost six workers, Sunni Tehrik lost four, two victims belonged to Jeay Sindh Mahaz and surprisingly, PPP and MQM, two major political stakeholders in the province did not go unscathed either. Police authorities maintain that this spate of political confrontations is unlikely to subside in the near future. This becomes all the more apparent as representatives of MQM-H dismiss official statistics, asserting that they have ´received the bodies of 35 party workers since the polls´. The party also lays the blame for the bloodshed on the MQM, which in turn is vehemently refuted by the latter´s leaders. Although the Sindh home department maintains ´it is more exaggerated than the ground realities´, Karachi´s political environment is becoming eerily reminiscent of the days of MQM´s bloodstained confrontation with the state; a virtual wipe out of a generation of young party faithfuls.
Last week´s climate of ´brotherhood´ and reconciliation, which is now under serious strain, did little to assuage existing differences in the lower rungs of various political factions. The recent attacks on PML-Q leaders, particularly the incident in the Sindh Assembly, demonstrate that party leaderships have clearly failed to take their workers on board and create a culture of appeasement, or restraint, within their ranks. As party influentials were working out power-sharing formulas to protect their own stakes, they closed their eyes to a deeper malaise that plagues their representatives on the street. As a result, these long festering demons have wreaked much blood-letting. Undeniably, real solutions lie with party leaders who should make peace a priority before entering power deals. Perhaps the inclusion and consent of party workers is a clear route to general accord and until this is achieved, amity in the city will remain a major challenge.
The End
The Dawn in its editorial commented that no amount of censure is enough for those who manhandled Dr Sher Afgan Niazi in Lahore on Tuesday. The former parliamentary affairs minister, who locked himself inside the chambers of his advocate for several hours before being attacked by angry lawyers, is a heart patient. But this consideration did nothing to lessen the wrath of the frenzied mob that verbally and physically assaulted him as he tried to get into a waiting ambulance. Coming in the final hours of the caretaker government, it would, of course, be very tempting for some quarters to attribute the unwholesome event to elements seeking to undermine the lawyers´ movement. If indeed there is a grain of truth in this theory, then it is even more incumbent on the lawyers to thwart such designs by showing restraint when passions are whipped up. The truth is that a movement that stood for the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary is in danger of turning into a self-absorbed, opinionated entity with no regard for the values of tolerance.
There is no doubt that Dr Sher Afgan fully supported President Musharraf´s autocratic order that played havoc with the judicial institution. But the lawyers´ revenge could have been sweeter had they kept within the limits of civilised and lawful conduct and refrained from attacking the former minister. If victory is finally theirs, it will be marred by such instances of wild behaviour and their inability to understand that the rule of law is not about heroes and villains but a clear vision achieved through a principled struggle.
The other concern is the inaction of the police. Is it possible that a force that previously showed itself to be quite adept at thrashing and tear-gassing lawyers could, in this case, not protect a lone man against the mob´s excesses? The fact of the matter is that the law-enforcement forces are too politicised for anyone´s good. Caught between the outgoing and incoming political orders — both having diametrically opposed visions — there must have been considerable confusion within their ranks. Would they be hauled over the coals for forcibly restraining the lawyers whose star is in the ascendancy? Or would they receive a rap on the knuckles from a pro-Musharraf dispensation for not protecting a politician who was the president´s right-hand man? This is yet another example of how institutions are impeded in their duties by political masters whose individual or party agendas keep them from following the course of the law.
In keeping with the newfound spirit of forgiveness and national unity, the coalition government would do well to promote tolerance among the public. Both the Sher Afgan and Arbab Rahim incidents show that the anger of those who suffered under President Musharraf has reached a boiling point. Unless they are advised to keep their anger in check, in fact to channel their energies to protect the rule of law, the government, despite its democratic credentials, will find it difficult to prevent the country from sliding into an era of anarchy.
Fears abound that once again Karachi may become the backdrop to a theatre of blood and conflict. Even before violence erupted on Wednesday ostensibly triggered by the Sher Afgan episode there had been a sharp rise in targeted murders of political rivals in the city as over two dozen were slain in the month of March. According to law enforcement agencies, political violence flared up shortly after the Feb 18 elections to claim 25 activists of various political affiliations. Political parties such as MQM-H lost six workers, Sunni Tehrik lost four, two victims belonged to Jeay Sindh Mahaz and surprisingly, PPP and MQM, two major political stakeholders in the province did not go unscathed either. Police authorities maintain that this spate of political confrontations is unlikely to subside in the near future. This becomes all the more apparent as representatives of MQM-H dismiss official statistics, asserting that they have ´received the bodies of 35 party workers since the polls´. The party also lays the blame for the bloodshed on the MQM, which in turn is vehemently refuted by the latter´s leaders. Although the Sindh home department maintains ´it is more exaggerated than the ground realities´, Karachi´s political environment is becoming eerily reminiscent of the days of MQM´s bloodstained confrontation with the state; a virtual wipe out of a generation of young party faithfuls.
Last week´s climate of ´brotherhood´ and reconciliation, which is now under serious strain, did little to assuage existing differences in the lower rungs of various political factions. The recent attacks on PML-Q leaders, particularly the incident in the Sindh Assembly, demonstrate that party leaderships have clearly failed to take their workers on board and create a culture of appeasement, or restraint, within their ranks. As party influentials were working out power-sharing formulas to protect their own stakes, they closed their eyes to a deeper malaise that plagues their representatives on the street. As a result, these long festering demons have wreaked much blood-letting. Undeniably, real solutions lie with party leaders who should make peace a priority before entering power deals. Perhaps the inclusion and consent of party workers is a clear route to general accord and until this is achieved, amity in the city will remain a major challenge.
The End