December 2005 
Year 12    No.113

Neighbours


Churches, schools attacked in Lahore

Pakistan’s infamous blasphemy law continues to be misused as an instrument of terror and violence frequently against the countries minuscule minorities but at times also against fellow Muslims. In the latest instance of this outrage, on November 11 an angry mob set ablaze three churches, Christian schools and the residence of the local bishop in Lahore. A mob went on the rampage in the city’s Sangla Hill locality after reports that Yousuf Masih, a Christian, had burnt a large number of copies of the holy book. The mob reportedly destroyed the houses of Yousuf Masih and his brother. Many Christians fled the area to avoid any untoward incidents.

Towards the end of his visit to the country in the last week of November, the archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams told the press that during his meeting with top leaders in the Pakistan government he had received indications that the blasphemy law would soon be suitably amended. Human rights groups in Pakistan have long demanded an end to the dubious legacy left behind by the late general, Zia-ul-Haq.

A jihad against the jihadis?

Is it merely for public consumption or is Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf beginning to get serious about curbing religious extremism in his country?

While addressing students from different universities of Punjab on November 28, the President made an impassioned plea to youths to "stop the people involved in spreading (religious) hatred and militancy and disturbing peace" in the country and abroad. "Whoever is spreading hatred, extremism and militancy needs to be stopped. We must forge unity and harmonise our society," he told university students who had gathered at Aiwan-i-Iqbal, Lahore, to take oath as volunteers. President Musharraf cautioned that Pakistan would not move forward if it did not command respect (of other nations).

Addressing a conference of local representatives also in Lahore on the same day, President Musharraf sought their help in stepping up the campaign against religious extremists.

But having been taught hatred in schools, can students really be expected to turn into crusaders against hate-mongers once they enter universities? For some time now historians, educators and social activists have been trying to explain to the Pakistani establishment that all talk of fighting Islamic extremism in the country would remain superficial until school textbooks are purged of all the negative portrayal of other religions and the country’s religious minorities.

The message, it seems, is slowly starting to sink in. As in other Islamic countries, Saudi Arabia included, the content of school textbooks is beginning to be put under the scanner for the first time. Meanwhile, in an attempt to tighten the noose on Islamic seminaries in Pakistan, President Musharraf promulgated an ordinance on December 2 prohibiting madrassas from teaching or publishing any literature that promotes militancy, and spreads sectarianism and religious hatred.

The ordinance, called ‘Societies Registration (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2005’, came into force with immediate effect in the Islamabad capital territory and was followed by similar ordinances being issued by the four provincial governments.

The amendment to the ordinance makes it mandatory for every madrassa, by whatever name it is called, to register with the government and to submit an annual report of its educational activities to the registrar of societies. All madrassas are required to register themselves before December 31.

Having already succeeded in winning over the largest union of seminaries, the Ittehad Tanzeemat Madaris Deeniah (ITMD), on the registration issue, with 8,200 madrassas – almost half the seminaries in the country – already registered, the government is hopeful of meeting the deadline and completing the process by December 31.

Waters thick as blood?

For those who may not know this, Punjab literally means the land of five waters (rivers). If it was Punjab that witnessed the worst kind of horrors during partition, it is the same Punjab on both sides of the Wagah border now to emerge as the most ardent champion of Indo-Pak amity. If the broader Indo-Pak peace process is working with four buttons – forward, pause, stop, rewind – the growing friendship between both politicians and the people of the two Punjabs seems to be functioning with a single button: fast forward!

In what for many devout Sikhs was the fulfilment of their lifelong ardas (prayer), for the first time ever Pakistan permitted a religious procession (Nagar Kirtan) of nearly 2,000 pilgrims to cross over from India via the border road at Wagah, west of Amritsar. Organised by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), the procession included a Rs 50-lakh gold palanquin to be installed at Guru Nanak’s birthplace in Pakistan. The marchers, who entered Pakistan on November 29 amid much religious fervour and bonhomie, were greeted by Punjab chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh and his counterpart from the other side, Pervaiz Ilahi.

The procession included 29 Punjab cabinet ministers and MLAs, former chief minister of Delhi Madan Lal Khurana along with 70 BJP councillors, MLAs and RSS members. They were greeted on the Pakistani side by people waving Indian and Pakistani flags as a goodwill gesture.


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