It's official: Pakistan's government has gone crazy. Only a few weeks ago on September 7, my post tried to find some hope in the disintegrating nation, but it just keeps going from bad to worse. A day does not pass without some governmental folly. Friday was declared a holiday so that rabble-rousing fanatics could incite the crowds to further violence. It was hypocritically promoted as a "Day of Love for the Prophet Muhammad". About 20 people died as a consequence and 200 or so were injured. Security services, as always are used a cannon fodder. Perhaps it's President Zardari's interpretation of "divide and rule". Now it's the turn of the Railways Minister, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, to add more madness. He has publicly offered a $100,000 ransom for the head of the maker of the anti-Mohammed film: Innocence of Muslims, or as he put it:
"I announce today that this blasphemer who has abused the holy prophet, if somebody will kill him, I will give that person a prize of $100,000."
This is a government with a nuclear capacity and we all know that irresponsibility and nukes do not make for a good combination. At this rate the future is looking very bleak!
Not surprising! Imagine what society would become if everybody started to take offense and subsequent "action" against contemptuous individuals who attempt to debase religion. The heterogeneity of religious beliefs or beliefs of any kind for that matter, should be the very reason for exercising tolerance, which Pakistan severely lacks.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, to offer ransom for killing the one who created the video is murderous simply because it encourages Pakistanis to develop a viscious mindset. Imagine a scenario where a poor man who is unable to feed his family accepts this as a perfect opportunity to avail some money. Even if he doesn't find the culprit, who is to say that he will not kill his own people in the process? This is quite likely considering that the whole idea of this is to stage a contest to see who gets to him first. In urdu, we call such society and people "Jahil".