Gone are the days when we used to dream about progressive Pakistan. Nowadays, it has become just nothing more than a myth. The nightmare of fundamentalism and religious sponsored passion of extremism has substituted the glorious thoughts of Pakistan, beyond the crisis because the roots of religious extremism are now of great significance and one cannot decline its existence terming it as a problem. Rather, at current juncture it can only be beaten with the help of fertile minds instead of barrel of a gun as this plight has been an incurable disease within the masses.

    The question of eradication of terrorism on the grounds of suppressing it with ammunition has been mostly justified after some of the major operations against terrorist outfits in different tribal areas but contrary to this, the progress of civilian institutions in order to gain objectives in war against terror seems to be of no use. The ruling elite, which are being governing the system are nevertheless an aftermath of religious chunk of vote bank but the major number of literate Pakistanis, who cast their vote against religious cum political parties are of view that they need a progressive and prosperous Pakistan- the one which is free from clashes over religious beliefs and enmities in the name of blasphemy.

Since long, it has been noticed that the surveillance of religious outfits in our country enjoys more liberty as compared to those political parties, which are following left-wing politics. Despite of being more dangerous for integrity of country, the religious organizations posses a self-claimed license to mislead the masses under the banner of religious teachings. This is the main reason behind the idea of state-sponsored religious extremism within the Pakistan as there seems no practical action against sympathizers of terrorist outfits, who are contributing actively in order to create soft-corner among people, specially dwelling in rural and remote areas of country.

It is the paucity of education and awareness, which allows such characteristics to work freely in these types of areas. In order to cure this situation, if authorities do not seem ready to ensure quality education in rural areas of the country, how they will be able to bell the cat for ruthless operation against religious cum political parties on civilian grounds?

        After witnessing prevailing circumstances, it would be not a misconception to believe that it is religious extremism, which is running in the veins of Pakistan. Beyond welfare activities by religious organizations, every activity sponsored by such parties is being perceived a pivotal characteristic of religion, which allows them to continue their work without any resistance, either from the camps of government or from people; they are looking for their assistance in the name of religion. The absence of check and balance for activities of religious cum political parties has created a mess. On the other hand, such potential is being wasted on the political workers in Sindh and Balochistan. How unlucky is the situation that in spite of bloody consequences in war against terror in almost last two decades, the government is failed to manage a regulatory for increasing back-door sympathies for terrorists in the country. In our routine life, how many examples of this anarchy we witness in our surroundings? Can we dare to challenge or question those activities?

The active participation of religious organizations in Pakistani politics can be perceived as model of reconciliation, based on the give and take formula between those political parties, who believe that the ruling over innocent Pakistanis is their copyright only. It is their compulsion but can’t we design a practical mechanism in order to hinder the ways of extremism within the system of this country?

Few days back, I came across a typical incident while sitting at a dialysis ward of Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), where a couple of teenagers were collecting money for their seminary (according to them), located somewhere in suburbs of Nawabshah. They both were not having any literature, written material of their madressah or permission from hospital administration. They further said that it is their routine to visit this place and other hospitals for collecting charity.

It was enough to wonder over the state of National Action Plan (NAP). Moreover, it is nothing veiled that the religious organizations used these madressahs for their personal means for many years and they have succeeded in this because of no regulatory for registration of seminaries. This has created sympathies for terrorist organizations in the minds of youth; Recently, the 1300 vacancies were announced in Special Security Unit (SSU) of Sindh Police via National Testing Services (NTS).

According to the sources, more than 120000 applications were submitted for these vacant positions in Sindh Police. There was a tremendous number of those youth, who are active members of banned outfits but at the same time, they applied for this post in such an important security institution. Can’t a mechanism be designed for scrutiny of candidates especially in such sensitive recruitments? It can be made but the question of will is more addressable. By this process, recruitment of any other Mumtaz Qadri can be prevented easily but unluckily, absence of seriousness towards war against terror practically is the main reason of suffering collectively by every Pakistani.Claiming results in war against terror on International forums by Pakistan is not enough to make ourselves comfortable mentally. Ruthless operation on practical grounds is must, which can only be dreamed.