Why Pakistan don’t want to arrest Hafiz Saeed?

Let me be absolutely clear – I have no sympathies for characters like Hafiz Saeed who have eroded the Pakistani society and have pushed us in a state of profound crisis. These fundamentalists have pushed us in a crisis that is complex, and multi-dimensional with facets that touch every aspect of our lives: our health and livelihood, the quality of our environment and our social relationships, our ideology, economy, and politics. It is a crisis of intellectual, moral, and spiritual dimensions; a crisis of a scale and urgency unprecedented in 63 years history of Pakistan.

Let me be very clear that we should cleanse our society of parasites like Hafiz Saeed – but we must do it for the right reason. We should NOT, and I repeat, NOT do this because India wants us to. Or because India has reportedly provided prima-facie evidence of his involvement in November 26th attacks on Mumbai. India is simply posturing and preparing to renege on the joint statement signed by the two prime ministers in Egypt in July 2009. When Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers met in Sharm el Sheik they agreed, according to the joint statement: “that dialogue is the only way forward. Action on terrorism should not be linked to the Composite Dialogue process and these should not be bracketed.”

Later this month, Foreign Ministers of both countries were expected to meet at the United Nations. But the renewed pressure from India is clear indicator that New Delhi is having second thoughts. We should make sure that India abides by the spirit of the agreement.

I write this column today because a very progressive friend – whose integrity I can never doubt told me jokingly that elements like Hafiz Saeed should be tolerated because they keep India in check. Pakistan has 500,000 plus strong army – we don’t need to bank on the imbeciles like Hafiz Saeed.

Unexplained Phenomenon :

Winning the hearts and minds of my progressive friends is a major milestone for the retrogressive forces whose success means decline of Pakistan’s cultural steam and human decency. Undoubtedly, India is a belligerent regional hegemony and we must protect Pakistan’s sovereignty, independence and dignity. But these wayward mullahs who have managed to drown the voices of reason and rationality are rapidly destroying our country. With Petro dollars supported tribal and Wahabi influence Pakistan’s social structures and behavior patterns have become so rigid that this country can no longer adapt to changing situations, it is unable to carry on the creative process of cultural evolution.

I am very concerned about Pakistan’s outlook because there is an eerie uniformity of opinion. Even those who are tolerant, progressive, democratic are willing to condone mullahs. Whereas growing civilizations display endless variety and versatility, those in the process of disintegration show uniformity and lack of inventiveness.

Unless Pakistan’s progressive and democratic forces are willing to take on the retrogressive elements we will concede our right to opinion, education and way of life that is unacceptable to the mullahs.

Fundamentalists will prohibit freedom of expression and use all coercive apparatus to crush opposition. Education will be discouraged and whatever little is allowed, will be subverted by distortion of curricula. You can argue what is new- it has always been the case? It is the intensity that will change. We are not talking about FATA or NWFP or the tribal areas. This monster is already in cosmopolitan cities like Karachi and Lahore.

My argument here should not be construed as anti-Islam. In this holy month of Ramazan, my fast and prayers are just as good as anyone else. When I wake up in the middle of the night for sahri or make sure to pray more regularly – I do it with my free volition. It is my personal and spiritual decision. No one is forcing me to follow any rules.

I want to simply point out that religious conviction and religious doctrine have contradictory effects. Some people are motivated by their religious beliefs to challenge oppressive social systems and oppressive relations in the world. At the same time, organized religion and much of religious doctrine is used to reinforce the oppression of the masses of people, to preach submission before the established authorities and their oppressive rule. In Pakistan, rulers have used religion to oppress masses- and we must not empower these mullahs to oppress us any further. As Lenin said, every reactionary order is in need of two functions, the hangman and the priest, and they go hand in hand and complement each other.

So unless you are ready to lock-up your sisters and daughters and throw away reason and rationality, you must fight back. Without an iota of doubt these monsters will destroy Pakistan to the point where you will not be able to recognize this country. It is not enough that Jamaat-e-Islami does not win votes- their ideology has hijacked our entire parliament- our entire nation. Unless you clean up your offices, your neighborhoods, and your educational institutions from these tyrannical imbeciles, Pakistan will not survive.

Stay on high alert! Don’t let proponents of past take over your beautiful cities like Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

Source: EaseNews.net