Female Education’s lot takes a Cancerious growth in the Vicinity

By: Khurshid Khan

“ 80 girls students left school and I like to listen a good news of 20 more to reach the number to 100”, Said Maulana Fazlullah on FM channel last night.

Maulana Fazlullah , son in law of Sufi Muhammad and a curse of God in the Nekpikhel area of Swat, started his campaign against T.V, V.C.R and other electronic devices, which he considers a main source of Fahashi, a favorite vague terminology of the clergy. A self declared custodian of the religion, Maulana Fazlullah instigates the simple headed Pukhtoons of the area to burn, T.V, V.C.R,C.Ds and Computers, as these are the means of going to hell in the hereafter. Maulana Fazlullah’s words getting influence not only in Nekpikhel but in Babozai and Maturizai too. People in these areas burnt the electronic devices, music instruments. People are also instigated to burn toys, as these are Idols (buts). Government’s vaccination campaigns like Polio, Titanus are encountered and declared as conspiracy of the west and Jews to make the Muslim women unfertile. Community based organizations are warned to stop their developmental works. Maulana Fazlullah uses horse for journey and try to convince people to use Islamic conveyance i.e., Horse.

A new launched campaign against female education is very painful. People of the area are slowly and gradually following the instructions of the clergy and this unforgivable act is penetrating like Cancer. The Government is silent, Why? Perhaps the situations like, Waziristan, Bajawar and Khyber Agency is to created in Swat. Sufi Muhammad led a so-called Shariat Movement in Dir, Bunair and Swat and a bloody and chaotic situation was witnessed in 1994.

Swat flourished and there was peace, tranquility and Shanti during the Buddhist and State eras. The sensible people of Swat are of the view that the root causes for this dilemma are corruption, nepotism, favoritism, delaying justice and the inefficiency of govt.’s departments and institutions. The Mullahs are getting support of the masses as they claim that they are being punished by God for their misdeeds. So in this way they are trying to divert their attention from the aforesaid harsh realities. According to the government initiatives to raise the literacy ratio especially in female slot of the country and to achieve the purpose, the government is giving incentives in shape of books, oil to students while furniture and other relevant materials to the primary schools for girls. Contrary to this the government has given a free hand to the so-called clergies who declare female education as something heinous and unIslamic. For this purpose he is using the FM channels fulfilling his nefarious designs more effectively.

The sensible and humanists question the government policy regarding loudspeakers and FM channels not implemented here in Swat. If this situation continued, the people would be compelled to think that the clergy ran a state within a state or there is some hidden hand, which guide and dictate the clergy.