Is it possible to be a genuine "liberal" in Pakistan? "Pseudo-Liberals", "libtards" and "sickulars" are words that I come across almost every time I try giving my two cents regarding any controversial topic on a public forum. As someone who has read liberalism, I proudly adhere to principles of this political philosophy which is founded on the principles of liberty and equality.
It supports freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, civil rights, gender-equality, democratic societies and secular government. Therefore, I am honestly confused why the word "liberal" has become an insult in Pakistani society. Every time anyone dares to disagree with the masses, they are called "liberal" as a way to mock or punish them for committing the crime of being vocal about their "liberal" ideas.
The word "liberal" is despised so much in Pakistan that last year, in November 2015, religious leaders in Pakistan called upon the Supreme Court to take suo moto action on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s statement where he called Pakistan "liberal."
I am sure by now you'd be guessing that maybe most Muslims have something against this political philosophy, maybe that's why they wouldn't spare even the premier of their country for merely stating how he wishes to see a "Liberal Pakistan"; however, this is not the case. What if I tell you that only last year, majority of Muslims living in Canada voted for political party following the same "liberal values" which their fellow Muslims in Pakistan can't stand? How about knowing the fact that Jamat-e-Islami Hind, an Islamic organization in India is one of the strongest advocates of secularism in their country, a system considered to be of "evil" and "kufr" by their counterparts sitting in Pakistan.
The confusion lies in our attitudes. A large number of Muslims, especially Muslims belonging to the religious right, aren't against liberalism. Most of them might not have even read its definition. They support liberal values in countries like India, European and American states where Muslims form a minority because in those states, it is liberals who speak against suppression of Muslims and growing Islamophobia. For example, an Indian liberal would acknowledge and condemn killings of Muslims in Gujarat, demolition of Babri Masjid, the beef ban and human rights violation carried out by Indian armed forces in Kashmir. That's something our people would love to see as not only would it allow them to use the victim card but would also support their agenda of propagating the negative image of India and Western society of how they're evil towards Muslims.
However, when a liberal in Pakistan wishes to create awareness about injustices in their country targeting minority groups like Ahmedis, Christians, Hindus and Shias, that’s something we don't appreciate. As a result, a liberal in India and Western countries is telling the truth, while a liberal in Pakistan following the same values is nothing more than a "pseudo-liberal" working on anti-Islamic agenda to "defame" Pakistan.
Liberals in Pakistan are often branded "Indian agents", "traitors" or "anti-Pakistan" or as Imran Khan once branded, “scum of this country.” Interestingly, Indian liberals are also called similar names by their masses. Pakistani right-wingers love Indian liberals (The “genuine liberals” in Pakistan reflecting the valid pictures of their society for their critique meant at their society's reformation) and Indian right wingers love Pakistani liberals (The pseudo liberals working on Jewish agenda in Pakistan).
So people who discuss harsh realities for social reformation are always at the receiving end of myopic folk. If you are speaking against Babri Masjid demolition in India you are "sickular" according to masses in India but a Pakistani with same "sickular" ideology is telling the truth when he talks about forced conversions of Hindus in Sindh. Similarly you are a "libtard" in Pakistan according to masses in Pakistan if you talk about mistreatment and discrimination with non-Muslims but same "libtard" sitting across the border shows the "true picture" when he talks about Gujarat riots.
The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau is Christian by religion in a Christian majority country. When he goes and joins Muslims for Fast and Eid Prayers, he is a "genuine liberal." However, when a Pakistani liberal like Jibran Nasir, who is a Muslim by religion in a Muslim majority country, joins Hindus in Holi, he is obviously a "pseudo liberal". Similarly any Indian Hindu who is working to revoke the beef ban is a true liberal but any Pakistani Muslim questioning Ehtiram-e-Ramzan ordinance which demands people to not eat publicly during Ramzan is a fake liberal working on U.S payroll.
As long as you're making efforts for equal rights of Muslims when they're in a minority, you're a "liberal" who should be commended for working towards equality and justice but if you dare propose the same rights for religious minority groups in a Muslim majority country, you're a "libtard" who is working on an anti-Islamic agenda.
Liberalism advocates equal rights, which means that under a proper liberal democratic government with secular laws, there would be one law for all citizens of the state irrespective of religion. In terms of rights, there is no difference between a Christian Canadian belonging to the majority or a Muslim Canadian belonging to the minority. This is the reason liberal values sound amusing when you're a minority because it is solely because of liberalism that you end up being an equal citizen of the state despite belonging to a religious group that doesn't form even 5% of the country's population.
However, implementing liberal democratic values and secular laws in a country where we, the Muslims, form a majority isn't acceptable simply because all those rights that we want as minority, we are not ready to give to others when we are the majority. Therefore, liberalism is wrong, as long as it is in Pakistan or any other Muslim-majority state.
The harsh reality is that our people love receiving the privilege of being equal citizens in Western countries and enjoy the liberty of freely practicing our faith, but we can't bear to give others the same status in our own countries. This is why, when it comes to Pakistan, a liberal or anyone advocating liberalism is seen as a threat, traitor, anti national and what not. In a proper liberal country all would be equal citizens, regardless of what religion they came from. It would mean a secular constitution according to which, not just Muslim but any Pakistani, be it Hindu, Christian, Ahmedi could lead the state which would mean the end of the supremacy of the religious right.
Being liberal is not a problem. Liberals in West are good guys as they highlight the ugliness of their society and stand against the growing Islamophobia. Problem is being a liberal in Pakistan and speaking for oppressed minorities like Ahmadis. Challenging the constitutional discrimination, making us face the ugly truth and bursting our “Everything is perfectly alright here” bubble is the problem.
The religious right, the Islamists, the masses, they don't hate liberals. They hate anyone posing as a threat to the status quo and religious superiority complex. Anyone not buying their holier than thou, self-righteous attitude, anyone identifying the social injustice and bigotry prevailing is apparently a "pseudo liberal" because how dare anyone show us the mirror!
