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“Pakistan is a blessing and a gift from Allah Almighty” is what everyone out of us has grown up listening. There is no denying of the fact that indeed we are a blessed and a fortunate nation to be gifted with such a beautiful, resource-rich and diverse piece of land. Whether it is the diverse nature of weathers or mountainous ranges to deserts, beauty is everywhere. However, despite being a resource and talent-rich country we are lagging behind the world by miles in almost every field. Whatever the reasons for our deplorable conditions are, the fact remains we are way behind the world.
Lack of development and opportunities has given birth to a long list of evils, out of these evils the most glaring one remains growing intolerance in the society. Somehow, intolerance is becoming our national psyche and behavior, and thus warrants our immediate attention. But before recommending any corrective measures, it is imperative not only to explore the reasons behind this menace but also the impact it has made or is making on the society as a whole. Intolerance can be categorized as individual, religious, political, sectarian and national.
Birth of intolerance in any society is not an overnight phenomenon. Instead over the years, a host of factors contributes towards its inception and fortification. Following factors may be attributed as contributing factors to frustration and intolerance in Pakistani society:-
- Lack of development and opportunities in the society.
- Joblessness thus making youth frustrated and losing faith in the system.
- The radicalization of the society by using religion negatively by few with vested interests.
- Political extremism.
- Exploitation of sectarian fault lines by hostile intelligence agencies.
- Lack of education leading to lack of respect for other’s views.
- Increased frustration and fake sense of ego and self-esteem propagated by social media.
- Lack of knowledge of religious teachings thus providing opportunities for religious exploitation by illiterate Mullahs.
- Lack of an effective mechanism to promote provincial and sectarian harmony.
Staying in denial mode of intolerant society is just like an idiot whom everyone except him considers idiot but he still considers himself as a wise person. Over the period of time intolerance has crept into our society so deep that we ourselves are unaware of the impacts it has made on our social and national fabric.
- Effects of intolerance on our society can be seen on daily basis on our roads where for no obvious reason people start fighting each other.
- Religious intolerance is evident from curbing and snubbing the rights of religious minorities.
- Our TV talk shows being aired across the world very well paint the state of affairs as to how intolerant nation we are. We as a society have gone so low that we have lost the ability to listen to the opinion of the other person with patience.
- Sectarian intolerance is yet another aspect which has made our religious bond a fragile one. Everybody out of us thinks of himself to be on right path and everybody else on an evil path.
- Short temperament is yet another outcome of intolerance in the society. Every individual seems to be so fed up and lacks the ability to bear another individual. The manifestation of same can be seen in terms of fights and even murders on petty issues.
As I mentioned earlier, intolerance is not an overnight phenomenon, rather it takes years and years for the national character to deteriorate and adopt this menace. Similarly, to rid the society of this evil combination of both short and long-term measures are required:-
- Short term solution can only be adopted and applied at an individual level, whereby until the time every individual will have to take on the responsibility to play his role in putting the things in right direction. Until the time we don’t start respecting opinion, ideas and above all the other person, we can’t bring a visible change.
- Long term solution will encompass bringing change in a systematic way. This will include, grooming at the homes, schools, universities, in short revisiting and rehashing complete education system.
- Our mosques can potentially play the most vital role. Imam Masjid, if educated (both religiously and worldly) can bring enormous changes in society in a noticeable timeframe. Our clerics need to promote religious harmony rather than hatred, bring people closer rather than disintegrating on basis of sects and beliefs. We need to understand and implement the true concept of an Islamic society, where every individual has the right to spend his life according to his beliefs.
- Political elite undoubtedly has to take a lead in putting the nation in the right direction. They can do so by setting personal examples, formulating and passing necessary laws to put the things right.
- Federation being the hub and pivot of nationalism needs to promote provincial harmony. This includes taking necessary steps to thwart attempts of hostile powers to sabotage national unity and harmony.
- The youth of any country is the driving force which promises a bright future for any country. To keep the youth-focused and motivated to play its part it is imperative to provide developmental opportunities so that they progress in their lives thus contributing to the development of the country. This will also minimize the brain drain from the country to the western world.
We can’t craft a cookie cutter solution for complex problems like intolerance. Rather a comprehensive response mechanism, utilizing all available resources and addressing even minutest of details need to be triggered and articulated with national and individual resolve. This is the only way we can overcome the evil of intolerance. May Allah Almighty grant us the courage to play our role to best of our abilities in the betterment of our motherland and may we make Pakistan one of the greatest nations on earth. Aameen!
