After the recent wave of terror stuck the country in February as a result of which more than hundred civilians and law enforcement agencies officials were martyred there were renewed calls for change in the counter terror policy. The Armed forces and other law enforcement agencies are doing the needed, operation Zarb-e-Azb was largely successful and now the operation Radul-Fasad is in full swing. However what many critics believe is that long term peace cannot be ensured unless an alternative narrative is presented to counter the extremist ideology that has woven itself in our society’s fabric. For such an alternative narrative the role of religious leaders and Ulema is of paramount importance. The government till now had failed to properly engage them to come forth and present an alternative narrative to fight the extremist narrative that has now established deep roots.
In a speech in Jamia Naeemia in Lahore Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has called upon Ulema to play their effective role in promoting unity among society, besides effectively dispelling the false propaganda against real teachings of Islam. The Prime Minister has said that the PML-N government and Ulema would collectively foil all attempts, aimed at creating fissures in the society and with their joint efforts, strengthen peace in the country. He regretted that throughout the world, the real teachings of Islam were distorted but the Ulema and religious leaders had the panacea for such challenges by utilizing their pulpits to spread the true picture of religion. In these efforts, he said the role of Ulema was crucial. In 2013, when the PML-N was given mandate to run affairs of the government, it was his objective to secure lives of people and bring about lasting peace, he added. The Prime Minister said the government resolved that all the political forces were taken on board, while personnel of army and police tackled the challenge with bravery and sacrifices whereas people manifested unity to face the menace.
Though lone attacks occurred in the country which were facilitated by sympathizers of certain elements, he noted and said the state was looking after them and would bring them to justice. Terrorists had no race and religion; he said and questioned whether the blood of Mufti Naeemi or hundreds of others would go waste. The Prime Minister, lauding role of late Mufti Sarfraz Naeemi, said such religious leaders had worked for the unity of nation through their untiring efforts and teachings. Allama Dr Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi, a renowned religious scholar of the country and principal of the Jamia Naeemia, was martyred, in a suicide attack at his seminary’s office in Lahore back in 2009. Late Sarfraz Ahmed Naeem was a well known for his moderate and anti-terrorist views and this was precisely why he was targeted.
The Prime Minister’s speech is a welcome sign and we can only hope that this speech will turn into a well defined strategy and not just fizzle out, like many have done in the past. The war against terrorism has been long and painful and the end is still far from sight. To capitalize on the gains in the war against terror on the battlefield a war of thoughts and ideologies is perhaps even more important. The government must convert words into action, as we are already way behind on this ideological front.
There has been little progress in the battlefield of ideologies.
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