Licence to kill (THE NEWS, 13-3-13)
The recent tragedy at Badami Bagh has once again portrayed the widespread intolerance in Pakistan. A photo shared on many social networking sites, in which a violent hooligan is burning a washing machine as if it were the main culprit, says it all. When drone attacks kill our people we rightly protest but when we smash and burn innocents and their belongings, we invoke religion.
The recent tragedy at Badami Bagh has once again portrayed the widespread intolerance in Pakistan. A photo shared on many social networking sites, in which a violent hooligan is burning a washing machine as if it were the main culprit, says it all. When drone attacks kill our people we rightly protest but when we smash and burn innocents and their belongings, we invoke religion.
Who gives ordinary people the licence to kill and burn? We burn schools in the name of Islam; we forbid girls’ education and we impede minorities’ right of existence – that too in the name of Islam. The disgusting behaviour exhibited by many in the vandalism at Joseph Colony has nothing to do with the victims’ views and ideas. We need to conduct some real self-assessment as to where we stand as a nation. It is high time the concepts of brotherhood, enlightened society and tolerance are strengthened.
AMIR IRKAM
Lahore
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