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A momentous decision was reached last week by Pakistani Supreme Court, which has been approved by the United States, Asia Bibi, on the death roll, awaiting a decision on her plea.
It was a moment of triumph for Pakistan, a victory for the nation over the bigoted, hate mongering zealots who have used the blasphemy tool mercilessly over the years. But the developments that ensured that despite the commendable judicial stand, there is much that needs to be done in the resurgence of religious extremism at home.
Asia Bibi (L) in 2017
Not only do they have a countless number of non-Muslim citizens charged with their lives, but those who have not been killed or who have not been killed, or who have been killed.
Their attackers, the self-proclaimed defenders of prophethood, were too often hailed as true martyrs of Islam, when they executed their grave turned into shrines. A box in point, Mumtaz Qadri, form Punjab governor Salman Taseer's bodyguard, who was born in Islamabad for supporting Assia Bibi's cause.
Such was the fear of the wrath unleashed by the blasphemy brigade that the PPP government refrained from executing Qadri for killing Taseer. That task fell to Nawaz Sharif's government, which uncharacteristically, ordered the execution. Qadri's subsequent sainthood has been decreed by such organizations as the Tehrik-e-Labaik-Pakistan was a disturbing development. Yet, it was tactfully ignored.
All. All…,, When, when anyone when anyone when anyone when anyone when anyone when anyone when anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone proph anyone. Prophethood. This heading may be used in the context of prophylaxis or any blasphemous words or actions, which are usually made by local authorities.
Several thousand Islamist hardliners protested as Pakistan's pivotal ruling in the country's most notorious blasphemy case.
The growth in numbers of self-righteous zealots who are encouraged to take action in their hands. What is more alarming is the inevitable impact of such a narrative on the younger generation for whom lynching in the name of righteous Islam would become a norm.
In the wake of Asia's acquaintance with a video clip on social media in which a group of small children are seen hanging a doll named Assia and chanting slogans in the name of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). That Khadim Rizvi's foul mouthed tirades, inciting people to take to the streets.
But frankly this article is not so much about Pakistan's dreaded blasphemy law. It is about surrender to extremism, and, not realizing that the Faustian deal makes for the future of one's political wellbeing is going to have a greater impact on the country's stability, both political and economic than any threat from outside.
Call it appeasement or strategic retreat, but it is surrender, especially when each backward step only strengthens the extremists in an environment where fear reigns supreme. This is not progress nor political wisdom. Have we learned a lesson from allowing Mullah Fazlullah the space to take over Swat and establishing his writ?
Weakness of government, lack of political will and procrastination based on the fear of retaliation on the political status of notables from the area actually emboldened the Fazlullah faction to rapidly gain traction.
As a result, it has been reported that it has had a negative impact on human rights.
A video taken from an undated handout video released by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) shows its head Mullah Fazlullah, center, at an undisclosed location at Pak-Afghan border
Are we not repeating the same mistake with the TLP? It could actually be a very serious organization, the fifth largest party in the country. It has gained political legitimacy, but resorts to lawlessness and violence. When it came to the end of the last year, it was being inadvertently supported by the PTI.
And now it is the same PTI, after being on the receiving end of the fury of the TLP, succumbed to its demands by signing a pathetic agreement, which technically leaves the main protagonist, Assia in the lurch.
The TLP is clearly arguing for blood and the demand for government control. Even if the PTI tries to wriggle out of this one by putting the onus on the judiciary for the conditions set in the agreement it faces a bigger dilemma. To stand by the truth and do what is morally right or bear the brunt of the religion of crippling powers have been nurtured and abetted by the establishment in one way or another. Please note that the TLP's tirade had been directed at the army chief. This implies a threat to the military ranks.
For a nation, it was a collective moment of pride when Imran Khan delivered to the acquittal, vowing that he would not allow anyone to paralyze the state or disrupt the government. Even those in the opposition could not have faulted Khan's impassioned and firm stand against the TLP. At last last, there was a politician who had a stand against the rabid zealots.
Even if it seemed strange that the first thing not to mention the resignation demand for the PTI government by the TLP issued in the same breath as the targeting of the judiciary and the army chief. There is no doubt Khan is the blue-eyed boy of the establishment and has successfully avoided the judiciary's hammer so far.
Hence, his show of loyalty should not be surprised. But what then? For spite Khan's brave avowals his government was left to eat his words after he was sent to China and his party was left scrambling to defuse the crisis.
No other legislation has had such a devastating impact that it has been misused ever since it was conceived. And it is expected that it would continue to exercise the same insidious leverage for countless others unless the wind is taken out of its sails. The million-dollar question is how that would ever happen in a country where the most powerful civilian government is going to be able to deal with this issue.
But for now, the PTI must show the moral courage to stand by the Supreme Court's decision and provide the judiciary the highest security. It is also important to respect and safeguard the situation, especially after suffering and imprisonment for many years. Moreover, it is necessary to have a strategy to deal with the aftermath in case.
With all due respect, it is the least Pakistan can do for the poor woman.
