An Islamic Emirate in Pakistan: Sooner than later?

Jagdish Pathak

It is not that an extremist religious outfit, created and used, by the Pakistan establishment brought the entire State of Pakistan on its knees through its more than one mobilization. The Tehreek e- Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Frankenstein created by the Pak establishment proved too hot for its creators.

Religion and politics blended in the thickets of Pakistan society. Middle, lower-middle, and poor citizenry of this impoverished nation of more than 22 billion mouths has been often fed with the legit or illegit dreams of ‘Jannat’, ‘jihad’, ‘freely available virgins’ rather than the diet of humanity and prosperity. Mullahs were often extremely poor before the entry of 70’s petrol dollars in the entire sub-continent. Their livelihood was dependent on the local mosque collections by the followers. The situation has changed of late. These Mullahs became affluent now because billions of US dollars began flowing in the 80’s period through Pakistan to groom ‘mujahids’ for a jihad against the Soviets.

A large part of these American dollars went into the coffers of these Mullahs to run their newly created jihadi workshops. The dictator of Pakistan became a white knight overnight in the eyes of the West. But, he was clever to know that his Islamic Emirate dream will become reality one day in Pakistan. He sowed the seeds and now the crop is ready for the bloody harvest.

Present day mullah community in Pakistan is not only affluent with several of their children sired through more than one wife and are undergoing western education in Europe, the UK, Canada, Australia and the US. However, the façade of austerity and piety is maintained for poor lot who hope that ‘Allah’ will help them in getting heat in the hearth in current depreciating currency and exorbitant inflationary pressure. The current dispensation of Imran Khan is popularly known as allegedly ‘selected’ government! Selected by the powerful Pakistan establishment which is turning regressive and pretending to be more religious than others. One can often see the PM of Pakistan often carrying rosary in hands in every optical opportunity and unabashedly declaring his love for the prophet!! This is not to fool who knows his background but the blindly religious poor peasantry of Pakistan.

The religious sects of ‘Deobandi’ and ‘Barelvi’ are major groups among the population of Pakistan ‘Sunni’ following with some more but in minority. Afghan Taliban belong to the Deobandi sect and also Jamat Islami and Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Deobandi influence is largely among the Pashtun tribes and some Punjabis. Its influence is mostly limited to the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KPK) and its borderland in Punjab and Balochistan. However, Barelvi influence is pervasive in the thickly populated province of Punjab and the province of Sind. Almost 60-70% of the Pakistan army, and its paramilitary recruitment is from Punjab province and the majority of recruits coming from Barelvi influence.

With this backdrop, why this recent violence perpetrated by TLP was not responded to by the writ of the state? Writ of the state will take a back seat if the Pakistan establishment will face Barelvi agitation. The reason is obvious, Pakistan security forces will not mind killing and firing on Sindhis or Baloch or even Pashtuns, but would be the last one to take arms up on Barelvi Punjabi agitators.

TLP is the creation of the Pakistan army to keep tabs on any political dispensation and succeeded tremendously on every occasion. Pakistan state is passing through an extreme economic phase because of international pressures on its economy from various important quarters. Pakistan establishment knows full well that armed take over is out of the question now like before due to amendment in the constitution and US legislations for aids. Pakistan army can only maintain control on entire system if these Mullahs can become top temporal leaders like what happened when the Iran revolution culminated with Mullahs occupying topmost position and still kept some kind of democracy. Army is all-pervasive in Iran and it is same in Pakistan. Mullah community will give façade of Islam and keep this community and its followers happy. It appears now slowly clear that Pakistan’s democracy farce will come to end sooner than later. It will be now watched how TTP will fight it out for its own domain in KPK and tribal belt where Barelvi sect is an anathema.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/thirdeyenarrative/an-islamic-emirate-in-pakistan-sooner-than-later/