پاکستان میں فرقہ پرستی اور تکفیری رجحان:وجوہات، اثرات اور حل

The Tendencies of Sectarianism in Pakistan: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

Abstract

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Though sectarianism and the violence carried out in its name have plagued the country since its inception but the divisive trend saw a systematic and unusual growth since 1980s. Sectarianism is generally taken to mean insistence on an exclusivist doctrine and attempts by its adherents to impose their version of faith on the rest of society by any means, violent included. Unfortunately, the engineered menace did not disappear with the defeat of Soviet Union and containment of Iran and took roots in society, exacerbating intolerance between rival religious groups to such an extent that one group considered the other as an apostate and recklessly declared it as such in public. It was in spite of the fact that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had proclaimed in unequivocal terms that difference of opinion (among jurists) was a blessing. One can find innumerable examples throughout Islamic history attesting to the fact how caliphs, successors, their followers and Imams of different schools of thought showed respect to each others’ opinions and none passed verdicts of apostasy against the other. This paper presents a contemporary analysis of sectarianism in Pakistan by contextualizing its causes, pointing out major fault-lines and assessing its impact on people at large with major focus on the resurgence and cancerous growth of the practice of Takfīr. The research recommends that an inter-confessional informed dialogue in a peaceful environment is the first and foremost step required to break the ice and teach tolerance to the many groups who perceive each other as sworn enemies. This first step may follow further actions to keep temperatures in check, build confidence and finally bring the sects’ representatives to accept an end to practice of Takfīr and establishment of an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence and tolerance.