11/18/13

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Pakistan's First Independent Weekly Paper | June 11-17, 2010 | Vol. XXII, No. 17

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Archives June 11-17, 2010 | Vol. XXII, No. 17

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Arsalan Raja questions the general public about the Times Square bomb plot ith jihadists working with impunity and the media giving them supportive coverage, it is not surprising that people are becoming increasingly anti-West. "Times Square Bomb Plot: Another CIA Conspiracy Against Pakistan," reads a banner at a rally organised by the Jamaati-Islami. There are those who see Faisal Shahzad as a puppet of the Zionists or an Indian agent out to malign Pakistan. Newspapers and TV channels, immediately after Faisal Shahzad's capture, clamoured that this was just another scheme to destabilise Pakistan and deprive it of its nuclear assets. At first, the Americans said there was not enough evidence to the hypothesis that Faisal was linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or that he was trained in North Waziristan, while it was also not clear whether he acted alone or was on a holy mission to cleanse the world of infidels. The investigation, though not substantiated yet, as reported in the Western media, says that some individuals have been arrested for providing him with logistical support, as he got training in FATA and also received financial assistance after returning to the US. What does the common man have to say about Faisal Shahzad, the Bridgeport University graduate, son of a retired PAF officer and US citizen? Khalid, a passer-by on the Mall Road, opined, "Can you not see that US drones are killing innocent Muslims in FATA? Muslims are being bombed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kashmir and Palestine. This was a reaction against the barbaric policies of America. Jihad is part and parcel of our belief, which is incomplete till we are ready to totally adapt ourselves according to Islamic teachings." But one of Khalid's companions, Asghar, softened his stance, saying, "Islam does not permit killing innocent people."
A JUI rally

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"But who are the innocent? Who decides into which category a human being fits?" I asked. "It is simple. Those who believe in God and follow the prophet (PBUH) to purify their lives are innocent," replied Asghar. I asked them if they thought that Faisal was right in doing what he did. They felt that it was a reaction which might be illegal, "but our sympathies are with our Muslim brethren." Reactions like these point to hatred for the West in our society. The West and its cultural influences are increasingly portrayed as an enemy of, and a threat to Islam by nostalgic PanIslamists. Salim, a college student, has the perspective, that in our current situation Muslims are desperate for a "renaissance". Every tactic used to forward the "Muslim" agenda and counter all pervasive Western intervention is justified. Such a mindset should not be a surprise when elements in the media voice on a regular basis that the government should fight against 'Hindu infidels', and people like Hafiz Saeed and groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba want President Obama to take their advice and embrace Islam. Then there are many talk show hosts who try to provide justifications for the acts of the Taliban. How brainwashing has made people confused can be gauged by the response Ejaz gave, initially criticising Faisal, stating, "We are at the receiving end because of their (jihadists) wrong doings." He also cited the Turkish model as the way forward. But when I asked about the relation between the state policies, "strategic depth" and jihad, he took a u-turn and justified nourishing the militant outfits. "They are necessary to counter the 'Indian moves'. Time has also proved that we were right in our decision to bury the Soviets in Afghanistan." However, not all Pakistanis agree with this point of view. "The majority is either a victim of jihadist rhetoric or is criminally silent. There are many who do not condone acts committed by groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba or individuals like Faisal. The reason for the majority leaning towards an anti-West mindset is the billions of dollars invested in seminaries. There is dynamite stored in every nook and corner of the country," says Ajmal, a rickshaw driver at a tea-stall late at night. This is reminiscent of a recent report by 'Radio Free Europe' in which a quotation from an interview (June 2000) of Alija Izetbegovic, ex-president of Bosnia Herzegovina, is given. "They would not give money for factories. They would only support building mosques." Alija was replying to the question as to why he did not use the assistance from the Middle East to build factories or infrastructure. The former Bosnian president also said that Saudi Arabia poured in one billion USD between 1992 and 1998 for 'Islamic activities'. In a way, the Bosnian episode was a result of the "successful" experiment in Pakistan that started in the 1980s and is now continuing in an uncontrolled manner. No wonder the clerics, during a three-day meeting at Jamia Ashrafia in Lahore, did not declare the suicide attacks as un-Islamic. The same "pro-Riyadh" Jamia Ashrafia called for an acceptance of the "just demands" presented by Fazlullah of Swat, with our media adding "Maulana" to his name. Just before the Swat operation, I came across a college lecturer, whose brother is serving in the army, who felt that the Taliban should not have slaughtered the Polish engineer, not because it was a crime against humanity but for some other reason.
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"They are the best option for the nation. The move would be used to malign them." And as the Swat operation was underway, he informed a like-minded audience, "No one should worry. Maulana (Fazlullah) is all right. Rehman (Malik) has a habit of disseminating disinformation." You can imagine what kind of education this man is imparting to the poor students. "The day is not far when the Ummah will unite under a single banner. We will crush the Jews and the Hindus, as they can never withstand the pure message of Islam," says Mehmood, a recent graduate of Punjab University, where he was groomed by the Islami Jamiat Talaba. "The situation would be completely different during the final clash between the West and the East," he further elaborated. "Then do you criticise Samuel P Huntington for his clash of civilisation theory? The founders of the Muslim Brotherhood had preached the same much before the American scholar," I asked him. But he didn't bother to reply and decided in favour of a 30-minute lecture with no clue what he was aiming at. I have omitted some of his inappropriate remarks about Jewish females, although he claims to be a custodian of morality. Speaking to a variety of people in the streets of Lahore, it is obvious that generally everyone is confused about their relationship with the past, and their role in the present. However, a vast majority of Pakistanis are astounded at the criminal act of Faisal, and many urbanites think that he has disgraced the country. Long measures are required to clear the confusion prevailing in the country. The first step might be to cleanse the media of jihadists who are shy of condemning violence against innocent civilians. The education sector needs the same treatment.

Arsalan Raja is a reporter based in Lahore

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