Appeasement of the extremists must stop, editorial
Daily Times
The
recently-held general elections in Pakistan saw an increase in the number of
religious extremist groups contesting the elections. Tehreek-e-Labbaik
Pakistan, led by cleric Khadim Rizvi, managed to win two provincial assembly
seats. Banned outfit Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) contested the polls from a
new platform called Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party despite its several candidates
being on the Fourth Schedule. Everything that was said about the repercussions
of ‘mainstreaming’ these terror groups fell on deaf ears.
As if involvement of these
groups in the elections was not enough, we now have political leaders cosying
up to the winning candidates from the extremist organisations. Appeasement of
such groups post-elections is hardly surprising, given that all three major
parties were in electoral alliance with sectarian organisation ASWJ in
different constituencies across the country.
Also read: What
about the minorities?
On Monday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI) leader Jahangir
Tareen — who is busy lobbying to get
independent candidates to join PTI — held a meeting with ASWJ leader and MPA-elect
Muavia Azam. Azam contested the election in independent capacity, but his
affiliation with the banned ASWJ is known to all. Earlier, PTI leader Chahudhry
Sarwar also held a meeting with the ASWJ leader, but a clarification was made
by PTI chief whip Shireen Mazari that the party would not enter into any
alliance with the extremist group. However, PTI leaders have not yet responded
to the criticism over Tareen’s meeting with the ASWJ member.
PTI is
not the only party that is in talks with the terror group. Pakistan Muslim
League — N (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah also met Muavia Azam to seek his
support. But according to his official Facebook page, Azam refused Sanaullah’s request
because he was already in contact with the PTI leadership.
Needless to say, alliance and seat
adjustments with groups involved in hate speech and terror activities do not
send the right message. PTI should realise that the people of Pakistan have given
it a heavy mandate and it comes with a lot of responsibility. By joining hands
with extremist elements, it will end up undermining its own position.
Candidates with terror links joining the PTI would certainly ask for favours in
return, and it is clear that their agenda is one of hate, division and bigotry.
The soon-to-be ruling party should not compromise on principles for a few
seats. *
Published
in Daily Times, August 1st 2018.
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