NorthOfNorth wrote on Jan 23
rd, 2016 at 10:00am:
Karnal wrote on Jan 20
th, 2016 at 11:04am:
wally1 wrote on Jan 20
th, 2016 at 8:46am:
The kid made his own decision and he shouldnt of cut off his hand, dont think prophet Mohamed would approve of this act.
Pakistan has not always been like this. This thinking is new. It's the result of the rich Saudi Wahabists funding madrasahs and religious outreach programs. Muslims on the subcontinent were traditionally flexible, not rigid in their thinking.
Was Pakistan was not always like this? From what I've read, the seeds, at least, of what it is now were sown directly after Partition.
From Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to Zia-ul-Haq, the country has descended from the high ideals of Jinnah (as an example of tolerance and equality for all Pakistanis) through agonising over 'what constitutes a Muslim' invariably driving the nation towards a hopelessly confused national psyche that has made it an easy victim of ultra hardline religious fundamentalism.
An excellent post, and one that sums up things far more succinctly than I ever could.
But this is not just about leadership, it’s also about development and the social change this brings with it. Imagine a Pakistani version of Pauline Hanson. She could be quite scary, I fear.
It’s also about geopolitics. Pakistan is emerging as an important player in the region. It provides the ports and shipping for Central Asia. As Pakistan’s economy grows, it will continue to look beyond its borders, and so it should. The tribes and ethnic groups that surround Pakistan are influential players in both organised crime and local Pakistani politics.
Pakistan houses millions of displaced people from the region. It has to think beyond its borders. Controlling the region’s weapons smuggling supply line is a handy tool. But Pakistan also has to control the gangs who run the Karachi ports, and then, the lawless mountain areas around Quetta.
What to do? I imagine praying to Allah is the solution of most Pakistani politicians.