Source/Credit: The News | Pakistan
By The News | February 6, 2011
The European Union and other Western countries have called for linking the foreign aid given to Pakistan with its anti-extremism measures. This financial assistance also includes the investments in different projects, including power plants.
A delegation of these countries will meet the men at the helm of affairs in Pakistan after February 10 and convey the details of its plan. It is feared that the American aid coming under the Kerry-Lugar legislation may also be affected and can be suspended. Different delegates have given a hint of these points to the country’s political leadership, but now a comprehensive message might be conveyed to the government in the meeting on February 10.
The Kerry-Lugar law gives $1.5 billion in economic aid a year for five years to Pakistan and is renewable for another five years. Its purpose has been described in the media as a bill “for the people and for the democratic government to help democracy flourish”.
The EU, Western countries and US diplomats have showed a deep concern on the “growing fanaticism” in Pakistan, especially in Punjab after the murder of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer. They have also expressed concern over insufficient measures taken by the government to control this menace, and mentioned in front of “our politicians that it (government) has failed to control the rising religious intolerance”.
The foreign diplomats have talked to important personalities, including Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and expressed their grave concern over the situation. It was conveyed to the Punjab government that it had failed to control extremists after the assassination of Salmaan Taseer and that the fanatics were being allowed to display banners and posters in favour of the killer.
It is pertinent to mention here that after the brutal murder of the former Punjab governor, the extremists had a free hand in Punjab and banners were displayed on roads in favour of the killer, Malik Mumtaz Qadri. Wall-chalking was also done and the fanatics were free to hold seminars, rallies and bring out processions in favour of the killer. The Punjab government did not take notice of such activities.
Some days back, an envoy of a country which has been investing millions of dollars in the power sector in the province met Punjab’s top hierarchy and conveyed his country’s concern. The envoy conveyed to the Punjab management that they felt insecure in the province due to the growing fanaticism, and that a free hand to extremist elements might lead to suspension of investment in the province.
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Analysts and officials said Punjab’s extreme poverty, as well as lack of education, makes people in the region more vulnerable to the lure of militancy. The militants in Punjab had a good infrastructure on the ground, with many organizations involved in various feuds, including sectarian violence. These militants are overwhelmingly members of banned organizations and all extremist organizations in Punjab are against religious minorities. In addition to media onslaught devoid of any ‘code of conduct’, the scope of violent behavior has widened manifold with drastically serious repercussions. Ironically, it is a common practice of the popular Urdu right wing media and it’s televangelist anchors and analysts to agitate against minorities.
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