Less than two years after
the Pakistani military drew down its counter-insurgency operations in
the picturesque Swat valley, Pakistan’s frontier region is once again
being rocked by suicide attacks and targeted killings. While
the country may appear to be locked in an entrenched conflict,
Pakistan’s civil society could hold the key for a sustainable, peaceful
future.
The World Organization for Resource Development and Education
(WORDE), a non-profit, educational organisation aiming to enhaance
communication and understanding between Muslim and non-Muslim
communities, recently completed a year-long study to understand the
capacity of Pakistan’s civil society for resolving conflict within its
borders. The WORDE team travelled to over 35 cities and villages – from
the Federally Administered Tribal Areas to interior Sindh – to interview
over 100 organisations countering radical narratives and fostering
social harmony.
Our research indicates that Pakistan’s civil society has the capacity
to promote peace and regional stability through five powerful
mechanisms.
First, activists are leading bold public awareness initiatives to
educate the population about the threat of radicalisation. Public
rallies, such as “Save Pakistan Conventions”, have galvanised the
population and forged unity against terrorism. In 2009, for example,
conservative Muslim parties teamed up with the Christian Progressive
Movement of Pakistan to hold a 25,000-man National Flag Day march in
Islamabad to demonstrate national solidarity against violent extremism.
Following examples from the Arab Spring, Pakistani youth are also
using new media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to promote peace –
often at great personal risk. Just last month, Malala Yousafzai, a
female teenage blogger and girls’ education activist, was shot by
militants in the Swat valley for speaking out against the Taliban.
Second, concerted efforts are underway across the country to empower
youth with alternatives to militancy. For example, schools such as the
Dar ul Uloom Okara in Southern Punjab organise intensive two-week
seminars on Qur’anic principles of peace and conflict resolution.
Others, like the Dar ul Uloom Bhera, conduct individually tailored
interventions for at-risk youth that refute the idea of violence in the
name of Islam. Where possible, large schools are also offering advanced
courses in English, sciences, mathematics and vocational training to
prepare students for professional careers after graduation.
Third, public statements are also a powerful mechanism to counter
violent ideologies. Since 9/11, dozens of fatwas, or non-binding
opinions by Islamic scholars, in Urdu and local languages have been
issued to denounce terrorism at the theological level. Given the high
number of targeted killings in Pakistan, however, many scholars are
hesitant to address the issue of extremism directly. Instead, they often
embed their anti-terror messages within speeches on broader social
issues.
Fourth, religious scholars are organising public lectures and debates
to deconstruct radical interpretations of Islam using the Qur’an,
stories of the Prophets and historical examples. In regions like
southern Punjab, where robust civil society networks exist, public
debates and lectures are held on a weekly basis. Those featuring
prominent speakers such as Syed Arshad Kazmi are televised or posted on
YouTube.
Fifth, Pakistani faith-based organisations are using their social
networks to distribute humanitarian assistance to impoverished
communities at risk of militancy. For example, the Jamia Subhaniyya
Rizvia, a school bordering the tribal regions, recently teamed up with
the military and social welfare organisations to distribute emergency
kits and over 30 tons of goods to internally displaced peoples in
terrorism-affected regions.
In short, there are many examples of Pakistani civil society’s
constructive efforts to create change, and Pakistan’s future hinges on
replicating and expanding these efforts across the country. However,
security and a lack of funding and resources prevent activists from
creating a sustained national movement.
Today, with the public outcry following the attack on Malala
Yousafzai and other peace activists, the international community –
especially the Pakistani diaspora – has been presented with a window of
opportunity to provide training in capacity-building, technical
assistance and material support to strengthen Pakistan’s civil society.
