One may assume that provincial home ministers of Pakistan’ Sindh, KPK and Baluchistan would be rushing to Punjab to get the magical wand its law minster, Rana Sanaullah is holding. Rana surprised the entire Pakistan the other day by declaring that his government has fixed the nurseries of extremism and now no more madrasa in Punjab is involved in terrorism. Out of above 20,000 seminaries, his government found only 20 madrasas wherein students or faculty were involved in facilitating the terrorism. Is it another eye wash or attempt to fool the nation? A province wherein sectarian and extremist firebrands such as Molvee Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid and Hafiz Saeed of LeT/JuD freely roam around, make hate speeches, collect charity funds, attend funerals of ex-army generals, makes such claim means something is wrong somewhere.
As National Action Plan (NAP) mandates to proceed with madrasa reforms; from Rana’ view point, task is over — as none of Punjab’ madrasas is involved in terrorism, what’s the need to press on with reforms. He represents the same government who made mockery of justice in numerous riots and attacks on religious minorities in recent past. Now by closing the doors of any possible madrasa reforms, they intend to in fact promote terrorism provided it is exported outwards, not hit the province itself.
Statements from Rana and many of his kind just ridicule the intelligence of the nation; should be thrashed before reach air waves or appear in print media. But if we keep the distinction of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ Taliban to our hearts, fight against religious terrorism can’t be won. Over dose of sleeping pills being administered by Rana and his colleagues could be fatal for the nation!
MASOOD KHAN,
Saudi Arab, August 28.