Why Pakistan Produces Jihadists?
By Ayaz Ahmed Khan
Los Angeles, CA
The article by Sadananad Dehume in the Wall Street Journal is propagandist and dis-informatory. Pakistan was not created in the name of Islam, or for the spread of Islam. In his historic address to the first session of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in August 1947, the founder of Pakistan categorically stated, "You are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques, or to any other place of worship in the state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed, that has nothing to do with the business of the state".
Liaquat Ali Khan, first prime minister was clear that Pakistan will never be allowed to become a theocracy. The mullahs have been rejected and defeated in every general election. In the present Parliament the Islamists are less than three percent.
During the decades of the 50's, 60's and 70's Pakistanis were liberal by nature. In mid-70's PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto tried to create a wedge in the PNA movement by offers and policies like side-lining the Ahamadis, and banning liquor, while he himself drank openly and promoted violence by his Gestapo Federal Security Force. Zia-ul-Haq preached extremism and religiosity for political gain.
Pakistan never had an expansionist foreign policy. The present PPP coalition government is liberal and secular. Terrorism in Pakistan has come from outside. It is the fallout of the Palestine conflict, Indian military occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian atrocities and killings of over one hundred thousand Kashmiri men, women, and children. Terrorism here is the fallout of the Soviet occupation and later NATO occupation of Afghanistan. The Wall Street article is superficial, and is an attempt to malign Pakistan and its people by discrediting the Pakistani nation and PPP government that appear firmly committed to put an end to religious intolerance and violence.
