Extremism danger
THE focus on the fight against terrorism by the military and other security forces tends to overshadow another crucial aspect of the war: the need to clamp down on those individuals, institutions and groups that promote extremist religious thought in the first place. So while the stepped-up military operation in the northwest is a reminder of the consensus against terrorism that was formed in the aftermath of the Peshawar school attack last month, more action is still needed against those who promote divisiveness and hate. In this context, it is a welcome sign that some action is now being taken in towns and cities, and the government is finally waking up to the fact that a large number of mosques use the pulpit to preach their narrative of extremism and intolerance. Resultantly, the past month has seen a number of news items about clerics and prayer leaders being booked for contravening the amplifier act, or the rule that mosque public address systems be used for nothing but the call to prayer and the Friday sermon.
Many people have been booked and shops have been shut down over the dissemination of extremist ideas. For instance, it was reported yesterday that over the preceding two days, the Islamabad Capital Territory police had booked 12 prayer leaders for violating the loudspeaker ban. Before that, as many other clerics, including the deputy prayer leader of Islamabad’s Lal Masjid, were booked for the same transgression. But despite these measures, it is pertinent — indeed, imperative — to ask the government about its long-term plan. Being ‘booked’ refers merely to the registration of a complaint; over the weeks past, dozens of people have been booked. Are investigations under way? Is the government hoping to arrest the thousands who promote extremism and put them behind bars? Or is this just a cosmetic procedure aimed at mollifying those who have directly or indirectly suffered over the years at the hands of extremists? If the fight against extremism is to have any chance of success, it must be multipronged and above all, well-thought-out and cohesive.
Efforts such as those outlined above are indeed a first step, but no more than that. They need to be buttressed by a long-term plan and strong measures to counter the poisonous narrative of the extremists, who must be isolated from those who preach peaceful religious values. Unfortunately, that is as yet not in evidence, notwithstanding the consensus against terrorism. Where is the effort to strengthen the judicial process, for example? To empower investigators and prosecutors and to protect judges and witnesses? In fact, to create a system that can deter the extremist mindset evident across the country? As the operation against the militants intensifies, radical mosques and seminaries will push back. The state must diversify its arsenal to take them on.
Iranian official’s visit
OVER the past few decades, the Iran-Pakistan relationship has seen its ups and downs. While there has been much talk of ‘warm, brotherly’ ties, suspicions and certain irritants have prevented the bilateral relationship from maturing beyond niceties. However, with regular engagements between officials from both sides, as well as the implementation of practical steps that can help alleviate concerns in both Tehran and Islamabad, bilateral ties can improve significantly. In this regard, the recent visit of Aaqai Ali Awsat Hashemi, the governor of the Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchestan, which borders Balochistan, to Pakistan, is a welcome development. Heading a delegation, Mr Hashemi visited Quetta and Karachi as both sides discussed a number of security and economic issues. It is significant that the official said that “non-state actors” were responsible for attacks on Iranian border posts. While smuggling, human trafficking and the illicit drug trade are major areas of concern, it is militancy in the border areas that has proven to be one of the major irritants souring bilateral relations.
Militancy is a problem on both sides of the border. Last year, Iranian border guards were kidnapped and allegedly brought to Pakistani territory. Iranian officials were then quoted as saying that they would pursue militants inside Pakistan, which certainly didn’t help matters. The death of a Pakistani FC trooper reportedly from cross-border shelling further vitiated the atmosphere. However, the engagements of officials from both sides indicate there is a will to resolve these contentious issues. Since terrorism is a common problem, Islamabad and Tehran must cooperate in order to neutralise insurgents working to destabilise both countries’ territory. As Pakistan carries out its crackdown against militancy, the ‘non-state actors’ pinpointed by the Iranians also need to be dealt with.
Not only do such elements destabilise Pakistan internally, they also make things difficult for the country by carrying out cross-border forays. Regular meetings between security officials can coordinate action against terrorists, drug smugglers as well as other criminals operating in the border area. It is hoped such official encounters continue and that both capitals work constructively to build on the relationship. Other than security concerns, trade also need to be focused on, as was highlighted in the recent meetings, while progress on the Iran-Pakistan pipeline would give bilateral relations an additional boost. And the proposed visit to Pakistan by President Hassan Rouhani, as indicated by the Sistan governor, would go a long way in improving ties.
Cricket record
THE world record-breaking century scored by South Africa’s ODI skipper AB de Villiers recently against the West Indies has left critics searching for superlatives and statisticians scratching their heads. Besides being a breathtaking spectacle for all those who had the privilege to witness it, De Villiers’ 31-ball century also underlined the remarkable change that the game of cricket has undergone since the advent of Twenty20 cricket. Ranked as the best batsman in world cricket today along with Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, De Villiers plundered several records in his epic innings including that of the fastest half-century off just 16 balls and the most number of sixes (16) hit by a player in a single innings.
Back in 1996, when Pakistan’s dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi had set the record for the fastest hundred off just 37 balls against Sri Lanka, the pundits believed the mark would never be eclipsed. However, with cricket’s shortest format of T20 gaining ground, it is no shock that Afridi’s world record has been bettered twice in the last 12 months — first by New Zealand’s Corey Anderson who scored a 36-ball hundred in January last year, also against the West Indies, and now by De Villiers. Such hitting and batting innovations are a far cry from the traditional format of the game which remains the Tests. In Test matches, which have been played for nearly 150 years now, the hallmark of a good batsman is his sound defence and wristy ground shots which were thrown out of the window by De Villiers last Sunday.
When the concept of limited-overs cricket first took shape in the early 1970s, it was disliked by the purists who dubbed it ‘slam-bang cricket’ or ‘the pyjama games’ due to its reckless brand and coloured clothing. However, those features are the highlights of today’s game of cricket and a sure-fire draw for crowds all over. Who knows, with the ICC World Cup 2015 just round the corner, there may well be another player waiting to upstage De Villiers.
Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2015.