The recent attack on Shias’Imambargah in Kabul on chehlum killing over 35 persons was a grave reminder of the grown and growing sectarianism that has been eating into the vitals of Muslim ummah for quite sometime now. Unfortunately, both Pakistan and Afghanistan have been victims of sectarian violence .Whether it is religious fanaticism among different sects of Muslims or excesses committed on religious minorities,extremism is an evil.
Let us admit that people living on both sides of the Durand Line weren’t intolerant to the extent they are today .Our religious bigwigs have failed to create an atmosphere of religious tolerance .Had they pulled their weight in the matter and supported the powers that be in crushing the lunatic fringe,things would not have come to such a pass today.It is a pity that they harboured the lunatic fringe in their ranks and whenever any government in this country came down with a heavy hand on the religious extremists, it were the men in the cloth who came to their rescue and were instrumental in getting them off the hook.
Granted that the Jews and the Hindus know the religious differences amongst the Muslims and which is exploited by them more often than not but isn’t it a fact that the Muslims are to a great extent themselves responsible for the mutually internecine animosity by becoming a pawn in their hands? Who are these suicide bombers?Aren’t they Muslims who kill their fellow Muslims?
The religious chieftains had better rise to the occasion.They should not only give a wide berth to the extremist elements of their parties but should also not protect them when the law of the land is invoked against them.
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