[Opinion] Talibanization of politics in Pakistan

by Kreemjon

Talibanization refers to a process adopted by a group that practices repressive politics based on repressive religious beliefs and thoughts. These groups think that whatever they are doing is right and whoever tries to stop, criticize, and protest against them can be subjected to terrorism.

The founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah (R.A) had envisioned the path for a democratic republic of Pakistan, in his speech on the 11th August to the members of the Constituent Assembly “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the State… We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State… I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in due course Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State.”

Pakistan deviated from the vision of its Quaid on 12^th March 1949, by adopting the Objective Resolution proposed by the Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan which modified envisioned path of Pakistan by introducing principles for the future constitution of Pakistan.  It was proclaimed that the future constitution of Pakistan would not be modeled entirely on a European pattern, but on the ideology and democratic faith of Islam. This provided a space for those who interpret the Islamic principles according to their particular ideology/interpretation. Sectarian thoughts were legally allowed to enter into the state affairs in another guiding principle of the  objective resolution; the principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice, as enunciated by Islam, here it is also allowing Mullah to impose their interpretation that Muslims shall be enabled to order their lives in the individual and collective spheres in accordance with the teachings of Islam as set out in the Holly Quran and Sunnah.

Only the political parties are not responsible for failure of the democratic governments but  the different elements including religious  parties, the military and the bureaucracy have also contributed to this failure,  who ventured to rule this country. These special interest groups, during the years of experimenting by different parties, have emerged and deeply embedded themselves in the fundamental pillars of the state now they are strong enough to dictate and control the affairs of the state of Pakistan.

The religious parties have been strengthened during the weak democratic governments and dictatorships, who had to rely on non democratic powers to run their governments. For the first time these religious parties, led by hypo crate mullahs took the streets and crippled the most popular democratic government of Pakistan under the charismatic leadership of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1977,pressing him on declaring Ahmadis/Qadianis  as non-muslims. This gave them the confidence and a sense of gaining enough power to exercise their ideologies.

The longest spell of dictatorship/martial law of General Zia ul Haq, was in fact the darkest days for Pakistan when he  toppled the democratic government with the help of these Mullahs. He further went to gain their support by introducing Islamic clauses and punishments, bringing amendments to the first unanimously passed constitution of 1973. He gave space to the students of specific Madaris in different organizations and also encouraged to enter the ranks of Pakistan Army.  These religious elements got engaged in the US led Afghan Jihad. The state machinery was used to assist them in recruiting the religious students of Madaris, who had no career in job market, were armed and trained by the ISI and CIA to use them against the Soviets in Afghanistan. General Zia was ideologically very close to the Mullah, who cherished that time to their utmost pleasure. These Mullahs started polluting the educational institutions by including sectarian material of the” Devbandi “ and “Wahabi” ideologies in the  syllabus/curriculum right from pre-primary to the universities level .

The successive democratic governments have continued the policies using these religious elements to fulfill their objectives and to please their foreign masters or perhaps the special interest of these Mullas who have been receiving foreign grants to finance their training facilities and activities, as the funds given to these elements were never audited by the governments and they have gained immense powers with their well armed private armies. Some of them have been even financed by the drug mafias who had established their laboratories in Afghanistan and in the tribal areas of Pakistan.

The Non-party election of General Zia ul Haq called, the Majlis-e-Shoora,  was almost consisting of  these religious elements. This Majlis was named as Pakistan Muslim League, which was led by Mr. Muhammad Khan Joneju, but the elements succeeded to topple his government and Mr. Nawaz Sharif who is more close to the ideology of Zia Ul Haq, was made the leader of this party. His party has never publically criticized terrorism by their brothers in faith (Taliban).

Unfortunately, the political parties have been the most undemocratic in this country, the parties have been turned to be a family business and the party elections are mockery of democracy. Pakistan Peoples Party has been the victim of this family affair too. The founders of this party had parted their ways long ago and now after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the situation has gone from bad to worse. Mr. Zardari has occupied the party and the last of the people who shared ideology of social democracy with the ZA Bhutto have been sidelined or eliminated. These guys have been replaced by the personal friends of Mr. Zardari and his colleagues have no vision for Pakistan at all but have personal agendas of looting and plundering and making off shore properties, bringing in their sons and relatives to the party positions. This story is equally true for the Pakistan Muslim League (A to Z), the JUI, MQM and others.

The basic ethics of tolerance and respect of other’s opinion and allowing criticism have vanished and the governments tend to use state power against those who raise their voice against their wrong doings. The Talibanization of politics has been practicing by the current regime under the leadership of Mr. Zardari by subjecting his critics to state terrorism.

Today our nation is struck by intolerance,  injustice, nepotism and corruption. Lack of respect for others has taken control of our civil society  and we have forgotten the fundamental ethics of our faith, Islam, in pursuit of our personal goals.  We need to refer back to what our leader Quaid-e-Azam’s  speech of 11^th August quoted in the beginning of this article, which is crystal clear message with no ambiguity.

God Bless Pakistan and its people. Pakistan Payinda Baad.

Kreemjon is a pseudonym.