Pakistan was founded as a home for the subcontinent’s Muslims but 77 years after independence it has become unsafe for almost every minority and sub-nationality. As someone posted on social media
“1947 we cannot live with Hindus
1953 we cannot live with Ahmadis
1971 we cannot live with Bengalis
1980 we cannot live with Shias
1990 we cannot live with Muhajirs
2000 we cannot live with Pashtuns
2024 Labbek sar tan sey juda”
The recent bout of sectarianism in Karachi that left two dead, and several injured occurred when a rally organised by Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat — a violent extremist group proscribed by the National Counter-Terrorism Authority in 2012 —passed by a local imambargah. The question that everyone is asking is why a banned group was allowed to take out a rally, that too on the eve of Chehlum, passing by some of the city’s most sensitive neighborhoods.”
As an editorial in Dawn queried, “when groups known to indulge in hate speech are given free rein, why does the state express shock when there is violence associated with their activities?” At the end of the day, it is the state’s responsibility to prevent hate groups from fanning flames of sectarianism. In conclusion the Dawn editorial called upon the state to make its intentions clear “hatemongers and communal troublemakers from any sect will not be allowed to spread their toxic message. Unless this is ensured, the state will only be fooling itself and the citizenry when it talks about maintaining harmony.”
