Politics, Religion and Social media
The recent election in Pakistan is over but the bitterness
it created in its wake has refused to die down, leaving behind a highly charged
and polarized society. Ideally public should now calm down and let the new
incumbents take over and plan to execute their manifesto, promised during a
prolonged hectic campaign. However, politics is still so mired in controversies
that the blame game with an aim to pull the rug is on.
Unfortunately, this polarization has affected even mature
educated people, who are seen becoming emotional on social media for their
favorite leaders; leading to bitterness and use of filthy language unbecoming
of their status and dignity. Often this leads to heated debates, using
derogatory comments against opposite political parties and their leaders.
Politics is part of our life and as an educated class we
must discuss and share ideas and issues of national interest but this should be
done with logic and arguments without throwing acerbic remarks which at times hurt our
own friends and relatives with different political affiliations.
At times politics can be a ruthless power game with no
consideration for morality. This is happening right now when we see some
parties trying to use religious card to stokes religious/ sectarian hatred for
political point scoring.
Like in the past, recent election results also indicate that
nation has rejected religious parties including those who are known for their
involvement in religious and sectarian killing. In an attempt of mainstreaming
of banned outfits, state removed the legal barriers and allowed some of them to
participate in the election.
From outcome of election, It seems our public is more
sensible than our state.
However now in a scramble to win the power, parties are
feeling no qualm to appease extremist outfits while blaming opponents of having
soft corners for non-Muslims. Thus, they are trying to be more pious and
devoted for the cause of Islam.
Each one is blaming others as being sympathetic to
non-Muslims. They have no idea that this amounts to playing with a fire which
has the potential to engulf the whole nation. If situation spirals out of
control we might fall back into the deep abyss of extremism and bigotry from
which we have been striving hard to come out for more than a decade.
Unfortunately, It seems this narrative is selling, as public
is seen to be swept up in religious frenzy and political differences are
metamorphosing to slippery fields of extremist viewpoint. A spillover of
political tactics to rekindle religious hatred is being observed on social
media where many people have jumped in to post 'hate-material' against
non-Muslims.
Social media might become a battle ground for crusades with
the risk of pent up frustrations being let loose, war cries raised to win
divine blessings by attacking on hapless innocent people.
