A Call from the Pulpit

Like all the rural areas of Pakistan, District Swat which is famous not only in Pakistan but all over the globe for its scenic beauty, has been ignored regarding development and provision of modern infrastructure by the provincial or central government. However, the never yielding inhabitants of this beautiful terrain have carried on in life through their unending struggle and hard work. The basic and most important communication sources of modern era, the road networks either have been ignored or turned a deaf ear to by the provincial and federal government alike since the merger of Swat State to Pakistan. The deteriorating condition of the hospitals and the wheel and deal between the doctors and pharmaceutical companies representatives have enraged and left the impoverished people in desperation and utter desolation. The overwhelming nepotism, alarming fee hike in educational and other governmental institutions has left the justice-starved citizens of Swat in an eternal abyss of corruption and inequity. The despicable and the never-ending court trials have made the public restless and paranoid. The skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and immense inflation has vaporized the trust and belief of the people in the government. The rampant abductions, daylight murders and robberies and the indolent nature of the local police and other law enforcing agencies have backfired so severely that the people has to answer the call of a person who himself is meagerly educated and does not know the true sense and significance of justice and equality.

Maulana Fazlullah who is also the son-in-law of the former Shariat Movement chairperson, Sufi Muhammad, is born in Swat and educated in a Madrassa (Religious Seminary) in Dir District, came to lime light when he started his personal FM Radio station from Imam Derai (a small village in the fertile plains of upper Swat). The radio regularly broadcasted the religious preaching and elucidation of the Holy Quran by the Maulana. The novice cleric received staggering response from the mostly uneducated housewives and peasants who sacredly listened to every sermon and lecture of the Mullah with innocence and naïve sensibility. Every word and line the cleric uttered was considered as the true appreciation and elucidation of the Word of God. When the cleric said that listening to music was an immoral and irreligious act, the people shunned tape recorders. When the cleric said that watching and keeping television in the house will incur God’s wrath, the simple people burned their television sets in the daylight to express their love and trust on every word the Mullah spoke. When the Mullah asked for charity to build a religious seminary, everyone magnanimously aided and to such an extent that the women who are considered extremely fond of jewelry and gold, gave all their jewels in charity to the cleric to earn the love and favour of God.

This mounting fame and eminence intoxicated massively, he started intervention in the disputes and problems of the public, and people started coming to his seminary in processions to seek justice and resolve their disputes and controversies. Due to the social insecurity, corruption, plunder, looting, opportunism and rampant disorder in the society, the people welcomed the Mullah as a Messiah who will absolve them of all their problems and tribulations. Slowly and gradually, the cleric concentrated a huge crowd of cutthroat followers and raised his own security and law-enforcing body to deal wit public problems. Anonymous letters were dispatched to all the music, Cds, cinemas and video shop owners in Swat to stop their despicable and unethical business. The barbers were ordered to stop shaving off the beards of their customers and those who refused to comply were threatened of grave consequences. The threats were not mere shallow threats and some mulish and aggressive owners fell pray to the vagary of the cleric and his subordinates when their shops and business centers were blown to smithereens.

The cleric has enacted his private court of law and even has punished some criminals involved in car jackin in front of a thousand spectators in a ground. Some alleged murderers have received death sentences, fortunately not acted upon yet. Several other are on the death row waiting for their gruesome fates. Co-education has become a taboo in Swat and school going girls have received strict orders to wear veils and comply with the Islamic values of segregation and morality. Ladies cannot go for shopping and cannot visit the marketplaces. The volunteer security forces of the cleric visit the markets and marts and inspect the shops, its items and their prices in a gross violation of the prevailing writ of law. Several government and law enforcing personnel have received decapitation sentences in the public. The life and property of the people is no more secure due to the recurring suicide attacks and ambushes on government personnel. A state has been enacted within a sovereign and independent state; and the government and its law enforcement agencies are silent spectators and bystanders without taking any result-oriented and prompt step to curb and contain the worsening situation and atmosphere.

Due to the laxity and sloppy reaction of the government, the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the government has no other choice except a military operation, which will certainly plunge the picturesque valley of Swat into a blood bath and chaos. The innocent and impoverished residents of Swat have now to endure the repercussions of the irresponsible and inconsiderate policies and strategies of the contemporary government. The blindfolded reaction of the government has provided innumerable opportunities to foreign secret intelligentsia to interfere and aggravate the deteriorating situation further.

Due to a handful of miscreants, who could have been apprehended in a wink of an eye, the whole population of Swat particularly and Pakistan generally have started suffering. Many an innocent lives have been lost and wasted for nothing. Many a children have been orphaned and many wives widows. The businesses in the locale have plummeted due to the hovering clouds of civil war and military operation. If the government now take the much-anticipated action, starts the operation and handle the aggravating situation, then who will compensate and sustain those who have lost their near and dear ones? Who will adopt the orphans; and who will shoulder the unfortunate and hapless families? Who will recover the sole bread earners of the impoverished families? These are some daunting questions, which will haunt the minds and spirits of thoughtful and thinking people of Pakistan forever.