Introduction
As the topic of my research is concerned with the role of religion on Pakistani society and its impacts on the psychology of its inhabitants, how they perceive religion, as a guideline or they misuse it and manipulate it. Either they are using religion as a candle of way or they are manipulating it by misinterpretation. I also would like to highlight some historical examples related since the inception of Pakistan and which will enlighten different ways by which religion was misinterpreted and misused by the masses and some extremists. The theme focused on in this paper will be the impacts of Islamization. I will attempt to focus on the impacts of such policies on the mindset of Pakistani people.
Political use of religion by Muslim League
Prior to the inception of Pakistan, when Pakistan was fighting the war of independence, religion was also misused by some Political groups. Muslim league is one of such groups. At firs Muslim league adopted this ideology that religion must be treated as a separate field and it should not be merged with politics, politics and religion are two different aspects of life. According to the Muslim league’s ideology religion should not have any say in politics and we are not fighting for a country which is based on religion. We only want to have a peace of land where every religion and every nation is respected either it is Muslim, Hindu or Christian. But quite after 1938 a sudden change occurred in the ideology of Muslim League. Now it began to say that religion and politics are two interrelated fields of life and both cannot be separated. Now Muslim League was of the opinion that we are struggling for a Muslim homeland which will be basically a Muslim state and we are struggling for it only to provide the Muslim Minority a separate peace of land where Muslim can practice their religion freely and without the interference of any foreign actor, where they can save their history and their historical heritage and culture. But it also adopted this policy that all other religion will also be respected and all Non-Muslims will be treated equally like Muslims.
Inception of Pakistan referring to the influence of religion on people
The ideology behind the creation of Pakistan which is misperceived by the people also reflects the reality that how Pakistani people are impressed by the religion and how they misused the religion. Two nation theory which was based on the concept that Hindu and Muslims are two different nations. These both nations do not have any similarity in any sphere of life, their customs and traditional values are quite contrary to each other, their history and historical heritage is also do not match, their heroes are quite different, so these both nations no longer can live together. These differences were causing great hatred between both nations and in spite of spending a long period of time together, the both nations cannot promote harmony and mutual cooperation with each other. So the best solution of this problem was suggested by intellectuals to establish separate homelands for both nations. But this ideology was misperceived by the Pakistani people and they began to raise a slogan that a separate homeland is going to be established only on the name of God and non-Muslims will not be allowed in it. According to their perception it will be purely a Muslim state and there will be no space for the believers of another religion. So such kinds of people manipulated the name of religion and also the ideology of Pakistan.
General psychology of Pakistani people
General psychology of Pakistani people is that we are very emotional and we drag religion in every matter. We do not accept things open-mindedly and think narrowly. Whenever there is any debate we must link it with religion. So this narrow-mindedness led us to the misuse of religion. And our bad actions and wrong doings have obscured our religion. Most of us are uneducated so our simple mindset can be easily manipulated.
Manipulation of religion in the reign of Zia
Zia ruled under martial law from 1977 to 1985. In this time, Pakistan experienced a new policy approach: bringing the country’s laws into conformity with shariah. The main reason for this was Zia’s strengthening of his regime by denouncing the work of his predecessors. The secession of East Pakistan (1971) had a psychologically disconcerting effect on the people. Serious doubts were raised about the Two Nation Theory, Pakistan’s ideology and statehood; an “identity crisis” emerged. A new quest for national identity – caused by the defeat by India – tended to reaffirm Islam as a national source of salvation in the 1970s and 1980s, the two decades identified with Islamization in Pakistan.Islamists recognized this opportunity and pointed out that East Pakistan was lost because our leaders betrayed the cause of Islam; this loss was not the result of Islam’s failure to keep the country together, but that of our rulers’ un-Islamic policies and conduct. 1971 thus became a rallying point for many Pakistanis, to “go back” to Islam as an ideological cure. This is what Zia capitalized on.
Effects of Zia policies
America’s strategic goals were satisfied (in relation to Afghanistan) and Pakistan retained control over the western border through jihadi groups, not to mention Zia retained complete authority. This was a time when Pakistan emerged as a front-line state, fighting as America’s proxy in the war to contain communism in Afghanistan.
Emergence of militancy
The Soviet occupation not only strengthened the turn towards Islamization, but helped consolidate it. Islamists not only fought for the adoption of the shariah in Pakistan, but also recruited fighters for the jihad. The inspiration to change Pakistan into a religious state was reinforced by the Afghan war.
Religious Extremism
Religious rigidity set in, modernist concepts such as the love marriages were declared blasphemous, and resistance was contained with public flogging, mass arrests, and muzzled press. The simple mindsets of uneducated Pakistanis with little exposure to the developed world were easy to manipulate. Young men willingly fought for a greater good that they could now identify themselves with.
Manipulation of cause
This thinking was promoted by the Zia regime in public gatherings glorifying the Islamist cause, declaring that Pakistan was built in the name of Islam, and anyone who identified themselves as Pakistani was duty-bound to ‘rescue’ the nation. This was another method employed to cement Zia’s power. Civil opposition movements had popped up, challenging his claim to authority. To the people, Zia was presented as ‘the bringer of light’, preaching the mantra of Muslim unity. Despite his extensive use of the media as a propaganda machine, many were left thinking, “Whom does Zia represent?”
Sectarian Violence
The legacy of the Zia era can be clearly discerned in the heightened Islamic sectarian sentiment that emerged in Pakistan and by the impact of the Afghan conflict with its jihad mentality and huge supplies of weapons. The connection between sectarian and jihadi groups, regional and international organizations, which has grown dramatically in the last few years, was first established during the Afghan conflict. Drug use and availability increased exponentially, since opium was the main source of funding for the war. Opium was also covertly introduced to the lower classes to pacify them. The introduction of zakah, ‘ushr and the enforcement of other shariah laws have brought to the surface the old doctrinal differences between Shiites and Sunnis. The question of which interpretation of Islamic law should form the basis of public policy became a major source of conflict both between Sunni and Shiite clergy and also among different schools of Sunnis. These controversies have caused frequent violent incidents, including sectarian riots and the assassination of several prominent Sunni and Shiite scholars. Sectarian politics has also given rise to militant organizations.
Intolerance
Intolerance for other religious groups, such as Sikhs, began to spread. Many were accused of being spies by political activists, who were quick to label ‘traitors’. The same people, who, before Partition, had lived amongst the Pakistanis as brothers, were now seen as ‘kaafirs’ (disbelievers). A punishment was declared for associating with non-believers, and anyone thought to do so faced severe social reaction.
Enhancement of gender role and undermining the women’s
Another social consequence that cannot be ignored is the enhancement of gender roles. The interpretation of Islam used as the basis of the shariah laws was orthodox, and often, the role of women was undermined and misinterpreted. Women in Zia’s Pakistan found themselves increasingly pushed back, veiled behind high brick walls and shrouds of cloth, all for their own ‘protection’. Laws such as the Hudood Ordinance were often misused as tools of repression, with “hundreds of incidents where a woman subjected to rape, or even gang rape, was eventually accused of Zina” (NCSW). Respect for elders, equality of wife and husband – these were social characteristics that were subordinated where strict Islamic beliefs came into play. Though this culture was, to some degree, in place before Zia’s time, Islamization caused it to transform into mutated Islamic beliefs, legitimized by the government.
Political effects of Islamization
What were the political effects of Islamization? Many viewed these policies as Zia’s “search for legitimacy” in order to keep “dissident political forces at bay”. The severe orthodoxy of the Islamization laws often led to injustice, causing the public to lose confidence in political leaders as ‘politics’ became synonymous with ‘corruption’. Zia’s initial promise of elections after 90 days, and repeated promises thereafter became a joke. It was clear that behind the façade of ‘protecting the state’ Zia wanted nothing more than to retain power.
At the same time, Pakistan’s ties with the United States were increasingly strengthened, as funds and supplies slipped over the Afghan border for the war effort. Aid had been set at $3000 million over five years, bolstering Pakistan’s security and reducing the military imbalance with India. All in all, we see that Zia’s Islamization policies caused a fundamental shift in the lives of ordinary Pakistanis. Society was irreversibly altered as fundamentalism spread through the masses. Zia’s legacy was one that injured Pakistan, leaving heightened sectarianism, rampant use of narcotics, & the spread of militant violence.
Post Zia regime and emergence of militants
As I have mentioned earlier that during Zia reign many militant groups began to appear. Pakistan had to bear the cost of Zia policies at very high expense. In the tribal areas of Pakistan different ethnic and religious groups were raising head and then with the passage of time these groups got strengthened and till now playing leading role in promoting terrorist activities in the region. So we can blame Mr. Zia for the present scenario of Pakistan politics. Zia made the Islam more complicated bounded it up as it is with languages, lineages, sects and local and re Pakistan played a critical role in the 1979 war of Afghanistan and risked its own stability. Unfortunately the government failed to address the after effects of the war and did not realize the future destruction it may bring to their land. The recent wave of growing religious extremism in our country can be attributed to Mr. Zia’s policies.
How terrorists use name of Islam in propagating their ideas
Terrorist use name of Islam in propagating their ideas in different ways. For this purpose they use such devices which can have deep impacts on the psychology of their targets. Religion is such thing which is respected by everyone. Especially illiterate and ignorant people prove easy catch due to the ignorance of real spirit of religion. So these militants and terrorist groups use different kinds of psychological devices which I m going to highlight here.
Brain washing is one of these ways. Simple and illiterate people can be easily brainwashed in the name of religion. Terrorists usually target selected people and to target these selected people they use innocent and ignorant people which are usually teen agers. Terrorist select such kind of people because at this stage of life emotions are very high and they can be easily convinced. Firs they present their target as the enemy of religion and anti-islam. After this they proceed to the second step and inspire these teenager/suicide attackers that if you sacrifice your lives in the name of religion then God will bless u with heaven. For inspiration they even recite fake Ahadis and verses. By this way they can easily convince the poor people. They also use the internet, they create Jihadi websites, they use the mosques to spread their message during prayer times, they also collect donations and contributions (chanda) for their organizations, they use CDs to spread their message, they publish pamphlets and posters and place them in the markets, they also use wall-chalking near schools, colleges, madrassas and universities. In short, the methods that they use are considered to be cost effective and relatively cheap. The idea is not to come and use the mainstream media, but to target the conservative section of the society.
Conclusion
Pakistani leadership especially Zia’s has left no doubts in terms of proving that our leadership is actually paralyzed and follows the instructions from the so called Super Power. Now the question before us is: How Pakistan’s support for U.S-led war on terrorism gave rise to religious extremism in the country? What problems we as a nation are facing due to this religious extremism? What should be the policy of the government to control it? Before discussing these questions at length it is indispensable to discuss the background of this curse and how it originated and got its roots in Pakistan. Today we are getting the taste of our own medicine in the form of terrorism. Back in 1979, millions of Jihadi’s were trained in Pakistan to achieve U.S. interests of containing Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Soon after the war ended these Jihadi’s were left ruined by their Masters. All hell broke loose when these Mujahideen were tagged as ‘Terrorist’ all of a sudden after 9/11. The reaction from these Jehadi’s was thus quite evident. Whenever people are used and deprived of their basic rights they tend to be attracted towards the extremes of revolt. In Pakistan majority is deprived of basic necessities and prosperous life. It is quite easy to trap people who are already frustrated and looking for an explanation for their grievances. What is demanded contemporarily is a new breed of intellectuals capable to guide the people to a meaningful change. Awareness about the true concept of Jihad and the difference between Jihad and terrorism is necessary. It is not sufficient to ban these organizations. To eliminate them the root cause should be addressed for the complete propagation of violence from the society.
