The Specter Of Intolerance: Understanding Religious Violence in Pakistan (original) (raw)

Radicalism in Ali Jinnah's Land, Religion or Group Matters

This article examines the issue of radicalism in Pakistan, often identified as the "Land of Ali Jinnah," reflecting the values and vision of its founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Radicalism has been a deep-seated issue in Pakistan, with debates over whether religious or group factors play a more critical role in strengthening radical movements in the country. This article examines the historical development of radicalism in Pakistan, analyzes the factors that influence the spread of radical ideology, and considers the implications of this view on regional and global stability. Through a comprehensive analytical approach, it explores the role of religion as a central element in radicalism in Pakistan, highlighting the role of incorrect or extreme religious understandings in motivating individuals to engage in radical activity. It also examines how group factors such as economic inequality, political discontent and ethnic tensions are essential in strengthening radical movements in Pakistan. The result is that some extremist thinking is based on some of the conservative madrassa education curricula, and some people who lack access to education are, therefore, easily duped and pitted by vested interests. The importance of understanding the balance between religion and group factors in the context of radicalism in Pakistan is that prevention and countermeasures can be more effective. This investigation provides greater insight into the complexity of the issue. It provides a basis for formulating better strategies to address radicalism in the country, which will positively impact regional and global peace and stability.

National Identity Formation in Pakistan: Analysis of the Anti-Secular Narrative

Soon after its declaration as an Islamic Republic in 1956, Islamists have experienced numerous ups and downs in Pakistan. Islamists not only try to maintain the status quo of the Islamic state but also endeavour to expand the scope of sharia. Despite insignificant achievements in elections, Islamists have mostly been able to dictate civilian and military governments in matters of national identity. One of the greatest challenges for the promotion of pluralism is the Islamists’ anti-secular narrative, which holds significant backing from both the civil and the military elites. The goal of this paper is to analyse such narrative with reference to Pakistan’s continuous struggle for national identity. ‘The analyses propose that anti-secular voices are occupying centre stage in Pakistan, leaving little room for diverse opinions. Anti-secular groups use violence as a tool to silence any opposition against their ideology for Pakistan, which is evident by regular attacks on not only the religious minorities but also the moderate or liberal Muslim thinkers. The conflict over national identity between extremists and moderates is also one of the main causes of rising violent extremism in Pakistan.

DECOLONIZATION AND NATION-BUILDING IN PAKISTAN: ISLAM OR SECULARISM?

In this paper, arguing against the depiction of Pakistani nationalism and anti-colonial struggle as a secular movement, I have made an attempt to show how religion had an important role to play in the nation building of Indian Muslims. I have discussed how Pakistan was created after a post-colonial struggle based on an Islamically motivated mobilization against non-Muslims-both the colonizers and Hindus. In the later part of the paper, I have examined how that the political elite that led the anticolonial struggle initially used Islam to mobilize the masses, but once it came to power, it chose a secular and monolingual nation-state model with excuse of maximizing their national security and improving the socioeconomic status of their Muslim constituencies. This choice of a secular and monolingual nation-state model has resulted in recurrent challenges of increasing magnitude to the state in the form of Islamist and ethnic separatist movements. I conclude by arguing that the contradiction between the goals of the original mobilization that established the state and policies of its post-independence leaders and governments is a major structural source of instability and violence in the long run.

Secularism and Pakistan

The secularism debate has taken off in recent days. An increasingly diverse group of people drawn from almost all walks of life have begun to agitate for a secular state. The violence against religious minorities as well as sectarian minorities has convinced many people that secularism in Pakistan is the only option left.

Role of Religion in State Discourse: A Reappraisal of Islamization in Pakistan

2018

1. Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Wahadat Road Science College, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, GC Women University, Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan PAPER INFO ABSTRACT Received: February 03, 2018 Accepted: June 24, 2018 Online: June 30, 2018 Role of religion in state discourse is an old age phenomenon for the politicians. Constitutional secularism solved some issues yet the significance of religion in human perception cannot be minimized. For Pakistan’s constitutional development, the main question was not only about the acceptability of the role of Islam but also the kind of Islam to be established and extent of its influence into state system. The use of Islam as a political force with varying intensity has remained a frequent practice in Pakistan by civilian leadership as well as the military rulers. Their objectives behind that practice were, to acquire legitimacy, to strengthen their political positions and to ...

The Politics of Religious Extremism in Pakistan: An Analysis

Review of Economics and Development Studies

In this study, the connection between Islamic values and country policies has been carefully connected to the foundations that create political legitimating and the basic nature of a country. Islam performs a crucial part in the social fabric of Pakistan and has been integrated as the guiding concept for the constitutional procedure and governmental systems of the country but at the same time produced implicit stress for their future improvements. Various government authorities have used religious beliefs for their quest for governmental authenticity and power. This has consequently brought about politicization of spiritual explanation in Pakistan demonstrated in the form of sectarian disputes, persecution of spiritual unprivileged or disempowerment of certain spiritual organizations and management. Whereas controversy about interpreting religious identity continues pervading the Pakistani community, it is observed that large parts of the Pakistani inhabitants follow pluralistic typ...