Flogging the Issue
By Khalid A.
London, UK
Conspiracy theorists are having a field day, pointing out flaws in the Swat video and claiming it was not a genuine one. However they are ducking the main issue. The fact of the matter is that the Taliban, the Ulema and their Islamist supporters are all unanimous that such punishments will be carried out, once Sharia is in full force. So the authenticity of the said video is irrelevant.
The Pakistani nation and especially the womenfolk have to decide whether they are ready for a system entailing such punishments for the mere 'crime' of going outdoors. If so, we cannot have leaders like Benazir Bhutto, nor women social workers or professionals. Even a towering personality like Rabia Basri would be acceptable to the slogan mongers of Sharia.
