The confluence of international, regional and domestic geo-political factors during the late 70’s and 80’s unleashed destructive ethnic and religious forces giving rise to religious extremism in Pakistan. The repercussions are felt more today as they affect the social fabric of the entire society while heightening the insecurity, particularly of minority sects in Pakistan.

While one cannot absolve one sect of all the charges and indict the other, the current spate of killings glaringly point towards one group taking charge, claiming the politico-religious territory to itself despite the stringent measures taken up by the government. In the last few months, numbers of people have been killed in the name of religion. After the massacre in Quetta, which took at least 47 innocent lives in a mosque; another ghastly act took place in Karachi where more Shiites lives were taken with impunity. Though it is too early to establish any link, the brutal murder of the former president of banned sectarian organization Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan and member parliament Maulana Azam Tariq is another act of religious extremism.

Clearly, the extremist elements are in a minority but they have robust network and have the power to wreak havoc in the peaceful lives of their countrymen and women. One fails to understand as to which brand of Islam they are propagating which has not only tarnished Pakistan’s image abroad but has also brought an otherwise peaceful religion, to be viewed in negative light.

The state has played an important role in patronizing these elements to counter opposition and to achieve its interests on several fronts. Today, however, despite the fact that all the extremist organizations are banned, sectarianism continues to exact its toll. The government is ultimately ostracized in this regard on having failed to prevent the rise of sectarianism; to root out the cause behind these dastardly acts. It nonetheless took important steps but how far they have been effective is questionable.

Banning the sectarian organizations has not brought about the desired results. Hence, we need to ask whether it is the failure of our security institutions or agencies. Does it have anything to do with a flaw in our policy at the external front vis a vis our neighbors? For a long time, Iran and Saudi Arabia were thought to have aided the respective Shia and Sunni militant outfits in Pakistan, such that according to a popular view, they brought their proxy war within our own boundaries. However, in the current scenario, things seem to have changed to such an extent that there has been a relaxation of tensions. Keeping that in view, we need to find out whether it is still our brotherly Muslim countries that are aiding and abetting the militant outfits to further their version of Islam or whether the criminal factions have found other means of sustenance.

Keeping the current spate of killings in view, there is also a need to question the role of ulema of our times. Now that the MMA (Muttahida Majlisa-e-Amal) is sitting in the government, it is pertinent that the alliance of various religious parties takes action in curbing the spread of sectarianism rather then raising hue and cry on non-issues. If it is in their agenda to work towards making Pakistan a true Islamic state, then it should be their top priority to help government round up all extremist elements, for creating a peaceful environment in the country where people of different faiths as well as sects can practice their religion without any fear. These in essence constitute an internal threat to our security, which Pakistan cannot afford to overlook for long.

The act of killings and reprisals has assumed fanatical proportions in our country. Indeed it is a vicious cycle with no end in sight. What happened in the past, the concessions and capitulation by our leaders to the religious parties that have such extremist elements in their cadres, has done considerable damage but the question is, how long we are going to act as silent, apathetic spectators in the face of these gory incidents. In our case, sectarianism is a clear manifestation of growing religious extremism in Pakistan. The dialectics of sectarianism in our country has revolved around mobilization of group identity but an identity that is not based solely on protecting one’s faith but one that has geo-political motives, masked behind the façade of religion.

 It seems as if this is the underlying factor almost everywhere, where there are instances of conflict based on religion; be it a conflict between two sects within a particular religion or clash between two separate religions. Whether it is the gruesome murder of Muslims in Indian Gujarat by Hindu zealots, the inhumane treatment of the Palestinians, the suicide killings in the Middle East, the Indian aggression in Kashmir or the terrorist attacks in Northern Ireland, it is not the menace that plagues one society alone, it exists almost everywhere; having varied forms and manifestations.