The vitriolic outpouring that has incessantly targeted ethnic Pakhtuns as a potential security threat has once again managed to tear apart the last vestiges of national unity. In a glaring spectacle of racial discrimination, an ongoing campaign by the Punjab police in the aftermath of the recent spate of terrorist attacks, public intelligence has been asked to be particularly vigilant against any person “appearing to be of Pakhtun or Afghan heritage”. An alleged anti-terrorism advisory, attributed to the MandiBahauddin police, is making rounds on the social media; being severely criticised for renewing communal hatred against Pakhtun citizens by associating them with terrorism at large.
Amid times when ethnic Pakhtuns and Afghans are becoming increasingly hostile towards the state for its failure to embrace them as fellow Pakistanis, this legislation would only serve to further exacerbate their racial oppression. Despite having come into force only to tighten the noose around militant strongholds, even the National Action Plan remains tarnished because of its alleged unfair implementation, especially along the ethnic lines. Alienating the Pakhtun communities and scapegoating them for the government’s misgivings, which, in turn, would compel many to challenge the Pakistani statehood in due time (if it has not already); the anti-terrorist drive has definitely not provided solace to the grief-stricken. A security report submitted last year indicated how at least 3,416 Afghans were deported to their “country of origin”. As if this marginalisation of the refugees was not distressing enough, a similar xenophobia also prevails the interactions pitting Pakhtun workers based in Punjab against the provincial law enforcement officials. While frequent raids on Pakhtun-dominated areas and their ad-hoc arrests have largely added to their distress on not yet gaining the trust of a country they call their home; the societal demonisation that appears hell-bent on taking the entire community to trial because of a crime committed by one does not ease their grievances either.
The self-defeating cycle of xenophobia that continues to spew venom at their ethnicities— perpetuating its own biases by depriving Pakhtuns of the very rights of survival and prosperity guaranteed to them by the country’s constitution—would only act to further divide this already divided nation. In a spectacular oblivion to the state-sponsored unacceptability of our own countrymen in our own country, we oft-lament the fear and the hatred braved by Pakistanis in the western countries. Given the persistence with which some of the Pakhtun nationalists have repeatedly shown their disregard for Pakistan, even going to the extent of facilitating militant outfits with both breeding grounds and volunteers to further their ill intentions, Pakistani authorities cannot be blamed for gearing up against the security threat. However, making use of this rationale in an extensive and grotesque criminalisation of Pakistani Pakhtuns cannot be tolerated by any civilised society. If we actually believe in undermining the vicious tentacles of terrorism, we can only do so with the entire country standing by our side. Ill-planned initiatives that would only increase the vulnerability of an already hostile population to militant recruiters should not be pursued in the name of security. Let us fight this menace threatening our lives and our liberties together, please
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