At the altar of extremism

By Mushfiq Murshed
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2009

LAST month’s first death anniversary commemoration of Benazir Bhutto did not do her justice. Some of the eulogies were focused on her political career and others on her personal life.

As expected several commentators dwelt on conspiracy theories pertaining to her tragic death. Maudlin hyperboles about her eventful life marked most of the reminiscences.

A more befitting tribute to the first woman leader of an Islamic state would have been the affirmation of a resolve to reverse the deplorable state of women in the country through empowerment, central to which is the eradication of illiteracy. Education and vocational training backed by micro-credit financing are indispensable for alleviating gender discrimination within the country and which stems from primitive tribal codes, economic deprivation, commodification of women and the distortion of religion

This is undoubtedly an uphill task as the existing public education system in Pakistan is wholly inadequate and is said to be one of the worst in Asia. The claimed literacy rate of 56 per cent, out of which only 36 per cent are women, is also considered to be based on bloated figures as this includes, according to analysts citing UN reports, “people who can handle little more than a signature”. This deplorable state of affairs is further compounded by threats from militants and semi-literate clerics whose purpose is to perpetuate the subjugation of women.

According to one assessment, 40,000 girls may be deprived of education in Swat due to a ban proclaimed by the Taliban. Shah Duran, a deputy of Maulana Fazlullah, has given a Jan 15, 2008 deadline following which, it has been threatened, all schools, government or private, who have enrolled girls will be bombed. This is a declaration of war and is the continuation of the trend that has destroyed, according to the Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE), more than 100 of the 429 primary schools for girls in the area.

Once again, not only is the writ of the state being seriously challenged but also the fundamental rights accorded to all citizens by the Pakistani constitution. For instance, Article 34 of the constitution states: “Steps shall be taken to ensure full participation of women in all spheres of national life.” Article 38(d) stipulates: “The state shall provide basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, housing, education, and medical relief, for all such citizens, irrespective of sex, caste, creed or race…” and Article 25 (2) affirms: “There shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex alone.”

These inalienable rights provided to women under the provisions of the constitution are being flagrantly violated by self-appointed clerics who have also arrogated to themselves the authority to implement, through violent means, their skewed interpretation of Islam based on a mix of Quranic verses that have been quoted out of context, tribal customs and traditions. The socio-economic regression of women, constituting 50 per cent of the population, is the outcome of these distortions and has to be addressed on a war footing as one of the fronts in the fight against extremist violence.

Despite this, there is talk of the ANP-led NWFP government’s willingness to negotiate and possibly capitulate to the demands of the militants to impose their distorted concept of Sharia. This would not only relegate the women of Swat to a pariah status but it would also deal a devastating blow to all hopes of progress and modernity in the light of actual religious teachings. Furthermore the appeasement of extremism would only embolden similar outfits to emulate militants in Swat on a national level.

The reason behind the NWFP government’s desire to re-evaluate their stance regarding the Swat fiasco may stem from the threats to and attacks on the upper echelon of the ANP coupled with what seems to be the failure of the military presence in the area to defuse the situation. It has been over one year since the military offensive was initiated in Swat. Though at one point the militants appeared to be on the retreat, they have, since then, regrouped and returned.

The resilience of Maulana Fazlullah and his cronies suggests that there are other forces at play. The army operations in Swat have not been successful in disrupting their access to weapons and funds. Their latest edict and threat regarding girl’s schools further indicates that their confidence in the implementation of these threats has not faltered. This, in turn, demonstrates that they are even more firmly entrenched with little inclination towards compromise.

Negotiations should always be undertaken from a position of strength. This was reached with the initial military successes but was squandered. No concerted efforts were made to win hearts and minds through reconstruction and rehabilitation. As a result of this neglect, the militants have re-emerged and have unleashed a reign of terror in which women have become the primary victims through a denial of the rights guaranteed to them by the constitution as well as the tenets of Islam. Government efforts to win back their freedom as citizens would have been the most befitting tribute that could have been paid to the memory of Benazir Bhutto.

The writer is editor-in-chief of Criterion Quarterly.

mushfiq.murshed@gmail.com
At the altar of extremism (DAWN)