Adil Najam
Pakistan is in tears today. Yet again.
70+ people are dead in Wah today, as yet another cursed suicide bomber targets Pakistan and Pakistanis. The Tehrik-i-Taliban has taken responsibility for them. Only two days ago, 32 people were killed in a suicide attack on a hospital in the northern town of Dera Ismail Khan. Meanwhile incursions and attacks into Pakistani territory by American forces continue and fighting between militants and Pakistani forces rages in Bajur and other areas, killing even more.
In what continues to be war on and in Pakistan, Pakistanis continue to die. Pakistan continues to cry.
Some will call it the largest legacy of the Musharraf years. Some will read unstated messages within this murder and mayhem by these killers. Others will see it as the price in dead bodies that Pakistan pays in the War on Terror. Yet others will remind us that this is reaping what Gen. Zia-ul-haq sowed. There will be, I am sure, plenty more pontifications too – ranging from the absurd to the absurdly profound.
All I know is that today, yet again, Pakistanis die. Pakistan continues to cry.
Why must this murder and mayhem continue? I ask. When will it end? These, of course, are absurd questions themselves. Because we all know the answers. It will continue for as long as we let the killers kill and support their murders with our silence. Silence, of course, also kills. And some are condemned to cry silently.
Usman, please check up teh meaning of “secular”. MOST Muslims in the world and through history are secular. Meaning that they take Islam VERY SERIOUSLY as a personal matter but not as a political tool. Certainly all of the Mughals were secular as were most of the Ummaiyad dynasty. In fact, at teh height of its power in Andulusia the Muslim government was entirely secular. It has NOTHING to do with the strength of one’s faith. It has to do with how much of one’s personal faith is allowed to interfere in otehr people’s lives. That’s all.
There is a certain silliness in teh Pakistani mullah mentality that lies about teh meaning of “secularism” (also of “liberalism”) to say that it means lack of faith or no faith, etc. I am secular and I am a VERY GOOD PRACTICING MUSLIM. You or anyone else has no right to tell me whether I am or am not a good Muslim. We will let Allah decide that on the Day of Judgement, and I am confident that I will be triumphant then and those advocating the killing of innocent people in the name of God and Prophet will rot in Hell.
“Please note that Pakistan was created in the name of Islam.”
Really? Then why were Mullahs so opposed to Pakistan’s creation?
Few examples;
Maududi: Napakistan
Fazlu’s father Mufti Mehmood: Gunnah (sin)
@Masood:
“As a secular Muslim, I object to this.”
There is no such thing like “secular Muslim”. Being a Muslim by definition means having unshakeable faith in Allah(SWT) and His Prophet (PBUH).
“Please keep your sharia, your bible, your veda for those who willingly accept them. We atheists have as much right to live in Pakistan as anyone else.”
Your words are clearly blasphemous.
Please note that Pakistan was created in the name of Islam. Atheists may live in this country but they cannot demand equal rights.
“all of Pakistan will have shariat; nothing wrong with this ofcourse, if it was good enough for the rasool (pbuh) it will be good enough for us; ”
As a secular Muslim, I object to this.
Please keep your sharia, your bible, your veda for those who willingly accept them. We atheists have as much right to live in Pakistan as anyone else.
The Taliban are not only operating on the NWF border. Now we are seeing peoples from that area migrating to cities like Karachi which they think are safer, but only marginally so.
And guess what, the taliban is following the migration , they are moving into cities like Karachi too.
Soon the taliban will have followers of their “true” Islam in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore etc.
The barber and music shops here will close too, clean shaved individuals will be start to keep their beards, and the girls must learn to live at home.
The response for the government will be as it always is; further local deals with them, but in the end for the sake of peace, all of Pakistan will have shariat; nothing wrong with this ofcourse, if it was good enough for the rasool (pbuh) it will be good enough for us; still I suspect that there will be a lot more crying before we reach this wonderful utopia.