Economy & Law Topic: World grain market situation after Russia’s grain export ban Tajik president urges public to stock up on food more
Eurasia China to invest $1bln in petrochemical projects in Iran Iran-China connection more
Politics Opinion: Serbia cannot deny historical facts. By Agim Zogaj Triumph of the Will of Freedom more
Science Switzerland''s biggest solar energy park comes on Stream Soft Technologies more
Interview An interview with Parvez Asad Shaikh on Wikileaks, Afghanistan & a possible way ahead Afghanistan is shrouded in the rhetoric of the ‘war on terror’ more
You are here: Home >> Eurasia >> Lahore: a report by Hamid Khan about the bloody suicide-attack on the shrine of Shaykh Al-Hudschwiri
15.07.2010 Lahore: a report by Hamid Khan about the bloody suicide-attack on the shrine of Shaykh Al-Hudschwiri
Murder in Data Darbar
LAHORE (gm) – David Trimble once said that ‘The dark shadow we seem to see in the distance, is not really a mountain ahead, but the shadow of the mountain behind - a shadow from the past, thrown forward, into our future. It is a dark sludge of historical sectarianism. We can leave it behind us if we wish.’ Implying that change is possible: ‘We can leave it behind us if we wish:’ he refers to ‘a dark sludge’ that has mired peace efforts, in Northern Ireland, in recent history. But is such a gem of wisdom an apt summation of what troubles Pakistan recently? – Indeed, is it applicable at all?
advertisement
Described as being the biggest attack on a Sufi shrine, since militant attacks began, in 2001, the atrocity to have taken place at Data Darbar, Lahore, has increased the need for more security, at Sufi shrines, within the city – and across the country. Though no individual or group has, as yet, claimed responsibility, it is suspected that this attack is a continuing trend, by militants, to target Islamic sects – and other minority groups. Would the foregoing paradigm, – Mr. Trimble’s quote –, then apply to a ‘sectarian’ issue, perpetuated, fomented by militants for the sole aim of disrupting the state apparatus and, weaving within it, an insurmountable insecurity – a state of fear?
So, Friday, July 2, 2010: forty two dead, in a suicide bombing that was as horrific, as it was well planned. How, despite some tight security in Lahore recently, did such an atrocity take place? The first suicide bomber struck in an underground area, where visitors can rest or cleanse themselves for prayer; the second, after the first, above ground, a little distance from the Mosque; both using ball bearings to maximise the impact of the blasts.
To whom, to what does the civilian population refer? – Who is to blame? – Is it the state: Interior Ministry? – Or is it the Army’s effort to root out militancy in the north-west that’s having deadly repercussions in other parts of the country? – Or is it the US presence, – and their concomitant policies –, in Afghanistan, which is widely held as being the compulsion, behind the recent spate of bombings, throughout Pakistan? – The attacks shall, according to some correspondents, most certainly, feed anti-American sentiment, already prevalent in the country.
It is also thought, in some circles, that elements within the Indian Research & Analysis Wing – better known as “RAW” -, India’s foreign intelligence service, had, initially, endorsed a plan to cause a sectarian rift, between the two dominant sects: the Sunni and Shia: in order to foment mistrust and, subsequent, instability. They’re also suspected of intending to influence the Chinese region of Xinjiang in the same way. But what or who is behind it? – Is it militancy or the act of a foreign agent or, a foreign element, utilising the status quo in the country, in order fulfil a covert agenda?
Salim Raza, whose duty, that day, was to guard the entry gate at the Darbar, equipped with a scanner, did detect a suspicious looking man in attire that would render him a typical Sunni – or one of the followers of Dawat-e-Islami, a spiritual Sunni outfit, steadfast adherents of the way of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Blessing of Allah be upon him and Peace); the man that Salim saw wore a green turban, white robes, a shawl, and was carrying a bag. Salim gave chase but, very unfortunately, – and just moments later –, the bomber detonated his explosives.
A spokesperson for the Tehrik-i-Taliban, Pakistan: Azam Tariq: told the AFP, from an undisclosed location that, the attacks are a foreign design and, that the TTP do not attack public places but, rather, army, police and other state personnel. He condemned, on behalf of the TTP, this attack, whilst making clear what their targets are.
Tariq Rahman, in his essay: Pluralism and Intolerance in Pakistani Society: says that ‘Pluralism does not consist in being merely diverse. A diverse society of mutually antagonistic groups may be a ticking time bomb. Its polarised factions may hate each other so much that sooner or later the society may break up in a low-intensity or open civil war.’ Though this may seem an extreme rendering of the bleak results of intolerance, the societal pluralism – or factionalism – manifest in Pakistani society, is forced to the surface because of events such as those of Friday. Is there truly ‘intolerance’ within the country – or are those less equipped to understand others’ differences, merely reminded from time to time, that such difference exists?
The disintegration of the Mughal Empire, then the concomitant colonial rule that followed, did much to cause fear, frustration and disillusionment, amongst the Muslims of the Subcontinent; some, such as Syed Ahmed, of Rae Bareilly (1786-1831), responded militantly, but were defeated; others, such as Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (1817-1898), learnt English and enabled themselves to become junior partners in the colonial system – and in the exercise of power. Still, others, blaming themselves for their loss of power and prestige, tried to purify Islam by adhering to newfound ideologies – and ideologues: thus forming groupings – or sects. Are we able to source whatever problems we face, retrospectively pondering upon the past?
Renowned for his significant contribution to the spread of Islam in the Subcontinent, Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery, aka: Data Sahib, was born around 990CE in Ghazni, Afghanistan; he passed away in Lahore, in 1077CE. His treatise on Tasawwuf – Sufism – is a core text within the realms of Islamic Mysticism, and looks at the methods of the Sufis of the past. Called Kashf Al Mahjub – or, Unveiling the Veiled – it is an apt title for a book, dealing with such an esoteric subject; so, considering that, one is compelled to ask: will we have a revelation to the mystery, of who was behind Friday’s unfortunate events?
Globalia 8th Edition
Online Subscription
more background articles, analysis and interviews
full access to the archive
>> order now!
Downloads
Click here in order to download the latest edition of GlobaliaMagazine in pdf-format.
Hardly anything new
KAIRO. Only a selected few were allowed to attend US-President Obamas' speech in the university in Cairo.
