Saturday, March 31, 2007
Pakistan in Trouble
A few days ago in Islamabad, Pakistan, an armed group of young burqa-clad women, carrying staves raided a private residence which they claimed was being used as a brothel. They proceded to kidnap the owner, her two daughters, and a six month old granddaughter. In the following dustup, they took two police officers captive, and are still holding these people.
This is not the first time these women and their male counterparts -- members of the Jamia Hafsa -- have taken the law into their own hands. Previously, they prevented the government from removing an illegally constructed masjid, and occupied a children's library. They have been threatening retail outlets that sell products they don't approve of, and may have shut some of them down.
According to the bbc, the administration is either reluctant or helpless to take action against the school's teachers and students.
I cannot imagine why a government would be reluctant to close down a school/mosque that takes the law into its own hands, even kidnapping members of the police force. Unless they feel the consequences would be dire... a coup, or widespread revolt. Which, I guess, is the same as saying they feel helpless to take action against them.
Either way, this growing militancy in Pakistan, is extremely troublesome. Talibanization in an of itself is dreadful. That militants who believe they need to enforce morality on greater society might take over Pakistan -- and it's nuclear weapons -- is a nightmare scenario.
While I have no love lost for Musharraf, we need to do whatever we can to help Pakistan shut down operations engaging in criminal behavior such as kidnapping and threatening people. ¶ 11:01 PM
This is not the first time these women and their male counterparts -- members of the Jamia Hafsa -- have taken the law into their own hands. Previously, they prevented the government from removing an illegally constructed masjid, and occupied a children's library. They have been threatening retail outlets that sell products they don't approve of, and may have shut some of them down.
According to the bbc, the administration is either reluctant or helpless to take action against the school's teachers and students.
I cannot imagine why a government would be reluctant to close down a school/mosque that takes the law into its own hands, even kidnapping members of the police force. Unless they feel the consequences would be dire... a coup, or widespread revolt. Which, I guess, is the same as saying they feel helpless to take action against them.
Either way, this growing militancy in Pakistan, is extremely troublesome. Talibanization in an of itself is dreadful. That militants who believe they need to enforce morality on greater society might take over Pakistan -- and it's nuclear weapons -- is a nightmare scenario.
While I have no love lost for Musharraf, we need to do whatever we can to help Pakistan shut down operations engaging in criminal behavior such as kidnapping and threatening people. ¶ 11:01 PM
