In the next phase of the national counter-terrorism plan, the government will launch a decisive crackdown against sectarian hate-mongers and all those madrassas that refuse to register under the new registration policy. “We are going to wage a war against sectarianism. It is our biggest priority. Clerics have given us the go-ahead to take action against all the seminaries aiding, abetting or facilitating extremists and militants,” the country’s top security czar, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, announced at a news conference on Monday. Despite enjoying the army’s backing, the government had continued to neglect the task of streamlining the working of the seminaries and evolving an effective mechanism of oversight. It had assigned the task to the Interior Ministry which handed over the hot potato to the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The two ministries wasted over eight months, hardly proceeding beyond impotent pronouncements. The Interior Ministry was as unwilling to proceed against the transgressing seminaries as it was to take action against the TTP. That the COAS had to be present when the seminary representatives were issued the directives was indicative of the lack of nerve or fear of defiance on the part of the government. This also underlined the tendency of the government to yield the turf to other institutions rather instead of undertaking bold action when required by national interest. The government finds itself confronted with a huge task as sectarianism and extremism have seeped deep into society and have torn apart our social fabric. It will be a tall order monitoring hate speech, and the activities and funding sources of all madrassas, with the authorities bound to face resistance on this front. Apart from the operational obstacles that will be encountered, this is going to be an ideological battle as much as one fought through the use of force and the government may have to overcome resistance to this from within its own ranks as well. Rebuilding our society will take time and effort. Both short- and long-term strategies are required, and the fact that the government seems to be finally waking up to its responsibilities is welcome. What is important now is that we move beyond issuing statements and our state policy reflects a genuine desire and will to eradicate the menace of sectarianism once and for all. For too long, it is this will that has been missing.
pk.shafaqna.com
