NOVANEWS
By Sajjad Shaukat
No doubt, peace dialogue with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has been showing positive
results in wake of ceasefire, maintained by TTP and the government. Both sides seem to exercise
restraint, and show patience to comply with the truce. Public feels relief, hoping that talks with
the militants will bring peace in the country.
Some media anchors and politicians were saying that fortunately, no suicide bombings and fresh
attacks on civilian installations and the Security Forces occurred. But, a high-intensity remote-
controlled blast in Islamabad’s fruit market on April 9, this year left 24 people dead and dozens
injured. Like the government high officials, TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid also issued a
condemnation and stated it was Haram (Illegitimate) to attack innocent people in public places.
Earlier, taking note of the terror-attack in the District Court of Islamabad which killed 11 people
including an additional session judge on March 4, 2014 coupled with assault on the anti-polio
workers in the Khyber Agency, both the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan have repeatedly said that peace talks and violent acts of terrorism
cannot go side by side. Sympathizing with families of victims of terrorism, both the leaders
pledged to continue talks with TTP to restore peace.
However, anti-Army statements by the Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and the Railway Minister
Khawaja Saad Rafique on indictment of former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Pervez Musharraf
spoke volumes of avenging vendetta of politicians against Army as an institution. The acrimony
of their provocative assertions and mischievous pledges to prosecute Gen. Musharraf without
belittling Army seem malicious. The duplicity of thought creates confusion when political
leaders state that the ultimate aim of prosecuting Musharraf is to deter Army from any future
Taking cognizance of the biased criticism of Army, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif
said on April 7, “Pakistan Army upholds the sanctity of all institutions and will resolutely
preserve its own dignity and institutional pride.” He regretted the timing of the campaign to
“malign the military as an institution,” and added, “Country is faced with multiple internal and
external challenges. Gen. Raheel elaborated, “Drawing its strength from national support, with
its characteristic coherence and resilience, Pakistan Army has contributed immensely towards
national security and nation building and will continue to deliver on its mission.”
Almost all the leaders of the mainstream political parties and segments of society favoured the
statement of army chief, remarking that the ruling party was undermining military’s institutional
morale, and was ignoring its sacrifices during the ongoing war against terrorism.
The army leadership is also believed to be upset over the release of TTP prisoners by the
government. The security establishment believes that it is too early to release such prisoners.
In this regard, defence analyst Gen. (R) Talat Masood stated, “The army leadership is under
immense pressure from within the institution over the way peace talks are being conducted by
the government with the Taliban…it gives the impression that the military is a weak institution
and cannot confront militants, though, in reality that is not the case.”
In fact, trial of Gen. Pervez Musharraf and the Army are two separate things. So government
must not target Army as an institution under the pretext of Musharraf’s trial.
It is notable that TTP have been acting upon a dual strategy, as sometimes, it accept
responsibility for its terror-attacks, but sometimes, it deny the same. But contradictory statements
of its spokesmen prove that this militant outfit is behind several subversive acts which still
continue at various places. In this respect, TTP has refused that it was behind the recent attacks,
but it accepted responsibility when Taliban insurgents targeted the Rangers, Police and anti-polio
workers in Karachi in wake of the peace talks. Similarly, Taliban had claimed responsibility
for the brutal massacre of 23 personnel of the Frontier Constabulary who were abducted from
Mohmand Agency, four years ago and later shifted to Afghanistan.
It is mentionable that TTP had condemned the brutal assault on the church in Peshawar.
But, afterwards, its spokesman had remarked that it was in accordance with Sharia (Islamic
Jurisprudence) which indicated that the group was behind that ruthless attack. So, ambivalent
statements of the TTP-led Taliban have endorsed that it has been playing double game.
Undoubtedly, in our country, the victims of terror attacks and suicide bombings have been
innocent men, women and children. Their families mourn and raise a question asking for what
crime their loved ones were punished in a way—that the scattered pieces of their dead bodies
were assimilated to bury. Regrettably, those entities which try to justify terrorism and suicide
bombings in the name of Islam are misguiding the people, while these brutal acts are clearly
against the teachings of Islam.
In Islamic faith the term “Fatwa” is a religious verdict which is used for obtaining legal opinion
from a qualified Islamic jurist or Mufti on issues pertaining to the Islamic law. Fatwa generally
contains details of scholar’s (Mufti’s) reasoning, typically in response to a particular case, and
is considered binding precedent for all Muslims and religious scholars. Thus Fatwa is respected
interpretation of Sharia, and becomes a religious ruling for the followers. Those violating the
Fatwa certainly fall in the category of betrayal and extravagance or acts of infidelity.
While, TTP militants have been using suicide bombing as their main weapon against their own
country by targeting innocent civilians, women and children, Armed Forces and government
functionaries, markets, schools, parks, mosques, churches, temples, shrines, bus stops, railway
stations, passengers’ trains and so on. Majority of persons in Pakistan has confused, as they can
not absorb the psychological shock created by terrorists through their criminal acts of suicide
bombing. The media analysts and general observers around the world are bewildered, as suicide
bombers called themselves the followers of Islam.
In this context, Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti (Mufti-e-Azam),Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah
al-Sheikh issued a Fatwa asserting that suicide attacks are illegal and illegitimate (Haram). He
explained, “Such acts fall under the category of crime and suicide bombers or attackers are
destined to go to Hell…they represent an adversary of Islam and enemy of Muslims and they
commit crimes against humanity, while misguiding other Muslims, especially the innocent
youth. Denouncing terrorism as un-Islamic, he pointed out that terrorists’ activities are part of a
conspiracy to defame Islam and destroy Muslims.
In this respect, the media including other political and religious entities must impress upon TTP
militants to follow the religious decree of Sheikh Abdul Aziz. Particularly, TV talk shows must
be held, highlighting the main points of Mufti-e-Azam’s Fatwa by suggesting to TTP militants
that instead of disregarding their faith they must learn from his ruling and positively change their
conduct. They must indicate that suicide bombings are denounced by the entire Muslim world.
Islam teaches tolerance and rejects extremism. TTP commanders must revisit their tactics of
using suicide bombing and rationalizing their power motives, if they are sincere in their efforts
to bring peace in Pakistan. They must also extend an apology to the nation for killing innocent
Muslims and seek Allah’s pardon.
Besides, dialogue with TTP is a splendid idea, but is an intricate process which envisages cool
temperament and shrewd posture. A comprehensive strategy requires handling different stages of
Government must exercise prudence in accommodating TTP viewpoint and meeting their
demands, while the prestige and image of Armed Forces must be maintained at all cost, and
nothing should be agreed without paying due regard to Army’s interests.
The political leadership must own the Armed Forces and avoid their criticism as institution—
recently initiated by some ministers. All efforts must be made to improve civil-military relations.
Confused pledges and evasive statements mislead the public, adding to their worries.
Politics of playing revengeful games must be stopped, while decisions must be made in the larger
interest of country. Point scoring through media statements gives birth to grievances and inner
grumblings which lead to confrontation and conflict.
The country needs good governance to settle serious issues like law and order, inflation, price
hike, poverty, corruption, energy crisis, sectarian violence, terrorism etc. Let us pay attention to
these issues and make fair decisions to improve the life of general public.
Despite all of this, TTP has been following dual tactics. Hence, dialogue with TTP contains a
complicated process. So, the government must show wisdom. Instead of following the policy of
appeasement towards the Taliban, it must also pay attention on the religious verdict of Sheikh
Abdul Aziz
