Mubarak Baloch
It was sunset time after the sun faded behind the Sassi-Punhu fame Pabb Jabbal known as Khirthar Range Mountains when devotees of Sufi saint Lal Shahabz Qalandar just finished with Maghrib prayers in the courtyard of the shrine. Many were still immersed in Zikir while eulogising the saint and paying their respects to him. In this aura and serenity a suicide blast ripped through the assembly of people. The scene turned into mayhem and chaos with people screaming and running helter-skelter to take shelter whereas the local people rushed to evacuate the injured and remove the dead bodies. Over seventy five devotees embraced martyrdom and a large number of others hurt many of them seriously. It was Thursday-Friday night when people reach the shrine in large number and pay homage to this 13th century Sufi saint. Local population being peaceful and of Sufi bent of mind never witnessed such a horrific scene where people are killed in large number. The gory incident horrendously sent entire Sindh rather entire country into the state of grief and anguish. The so-called Islamic State, the MiddleEast based militant group claimed responsibility of this dastardly attack. People of Sindh, the cradle of mysticism – land of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sachal Sarmast and Lal Shabaz Qalandar, have innocent but genuine questions as to what the Islamic State is and what enmity has it avenged by killing innocent people who were imbibing the nectar of mysticism.
Syed Muhammad Usman Marwandi famous with the alias of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, was born in Marwand travelled to Iraq, Iran and subsequently settled at Sehwan, a small town reverently known as Sehwan Sharif located on the right bank of mighty River Indus. The saint in fact preached the Sufism with love and affection hurting no anyone. He busied himself in mysticism and peacefully promoted the mystic notes in entire territory. In view of love, affection and respect people paid him he wished to be buried in Sehwan. It was the era when south Asia was under the rule of Ghaznavids and Ghurids. The Sindh known for pacifism hasn’t ever experienced the bloodshed of this enormity. Everyman was having blood streaked clothes on body after the attack. Rescue teams from elsewhere could not reach incident site immediately due to long distance factor. Small health facilities in Sehwan Sharif and nearby rural health centres fell short of the capacity when the injured were rushed in there. Armed forces rescue teams including PAF C-130 aircraft airlifted some injured people from Nawab Shah airport to Karachi. The questions: why there are no hospitals with paraphernalia to cater for the emergency situations, why there was no sufficient security cover at the shrine, why there is dearth of airstrips with night landing of helicopters or aircraft so that rescue operations could have gone smooth might appear to be pertinent but the most important question is how to address the reasons causing people to go erratic and embark upon killing spree.
It is a ‘cold war’ spectre still haunting Pakistan. Patronage to Jihadi cadre was global then which subsequently led to demise of USSR. Afterwards the genie of Jihad let loose its lethality while spoiling Afghanistan situation reached America and gradually touched other world capitals. The brutishness of the Jihad has metamorphosed and is now being used as policy tools by some of the world powers. A quick look at the Syrian crisis and battle theatres running in Yemen are few examples corroborating to this fact. But in this part of world Jihadis are working as proxy. It is like an octopus. And the rulers here didn’t have any exit strategy after the Jihadi culture did away with the union of former USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). Certainly, a part of population went erratic over a period of time in Pakistan. While the vigilance and hunts of LEAs (Law Enforcement Agencies), judicial punitive sentences, military courts etc are correct steps in right direction but there is need to narrow down the space these militants have been managing in the society. For this to happen there is need to conceive a mega ‘socio-economic programme’ designed to make school education attractive overshadowing seminary culture wherein parents may prefer school over Madrissa for their children, arts and culture with creative activities may be promoted, religious scholars be incorporated to preach inter-faith harmony, job market be made vibrant to suck in the youth, and transparent governance should be ensured at all administrative tiers strengthening public trust. Our political leadership has always remained mired in corruption to the extent that public trust stands badly dented rendering the youth despondent. This despondency is in fact one of the major aspects exploited by the extremists. Under this mega ‘socio-economic programme’ state must endeavour to endear the youth and reciprocity will certainly follow.
Besides, the porosity of our borders is being misused by crossers. Despite, the huge length and difficult terrain along country’s border with Afghanistan efforts may be made to efficiently manage the border and make every entry and exit transparent and accounted for. Refuges of any hue and nationality living in Pakistan should be registered and their stay be subject to their bona fide behaviour. A mechanism may be evolved and introduced in which the common man realises as being stakeholder in the state. The big challenge here is the honesty, candour and transparency in the behaviour of the bureaucracy and the institutions it runs. Same goes true for political leadership here. Capability of judiciary to deliver is also no less important.
Bad governance is our major issue rendering the populace disappointed and dejected. The dejected lot either feels withdrawn or finds solace in the so-called orations of the clergy. The latter is ready to fight proxy war in lieu of something gratifying. State behaviour emanates from the performance of bureaucracy, political leadership, judiciary etc. Transparent and dependable performance of such state appendages upholding the spirit of meritocracy becomes a source of inspiration for the public. The latter would obviously behave in a manner to emulate the enviable behaviour of the state. In our case it is the ‘behaviour of state functionaries’ which matters a lot. These state functionaries must mould themselves and exhibit some enviably honest behaviour before it is too late.
