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Fundamentalism & Pashtun culture
By Zar Ali Khan

It was the decade of 80s when the fundamentalist religious Islamist forces of Pakistan with strong support of the out side world including Saudia Arabis and Arab world launched so called Jehad(Unholy War) against erstwhile USSR forces who had entered into Afghanistan. The Mullah(Religious clerics) of Afghanistan were divided into 7 different groups by ISI. It was the era of Jihadi minded former dictator General Zia ul Haq of Pakistan Army who needed support of out side world to substantiate his unlawful control over his rule. He was lucky enough and meantime Afghan war started and for this purpose his support was also needed to world. International community for some greater cause closed eyes and let this man continue as dictator. Dictator Zia did not leave no stone unturned to hit the secular, progressive and democratic people of Pakistan. During his time religious Islamists were given free hand to get money from Saudia Arabia and other Muslim countries and started building mosques and religious seminaries in every nook and corner of Pakistan. Special focus was given to Pashtun areas and tribal belt where myriad numbers of the mosques and Madrassa were built. Students were encouraged to get admissions in such Madrassa and learnt lessons regarding unholy war. At same time such Madrassa were built in Punjab province as well. South Punjab was the ideal place for the establishment of Pakistan from where they could easily get people for war in Afghanistan. When former USSR forces were pulled out from Afghanistan in 1989 Pakistan ISI directed many Jihadi organizations of Pakistan to go to Kashmir and fight there against the Indian forces. Mureedki in Lahore, the metropolitan city of Punjab province was the center of Lashkar Tayyaba, a terrorist organization fighting in India and now in Afghanistan against the allied and Afghan forces. This organization is fully supported by Pakistan intelligence Agencies and is used for the subversive activities in India. Besides there are organizations like Tableeghi Jumat(Religious Preachers) whose center is situated in Lahore also. The main focus of this Jumat is on Pashtun. 17 retired generals/Officers of Pakistan ISI are sitting in this center and encourage the people to get ready for preaching in Pakistan and world. According to some sources more than 6 million Pashtun are attached with this Jumat. Similarly more number of Punjabis are also working in this organization. Apparently these people are peace loving and do not believe in fighting. But their continued preaching makes them fundamentalists and start talking of Jihad in their groups and discussion. There are other organizations who hire people for their nefarious designs. Tableeghi Jumat is opposed to the Pashtun culture and is busy working against the culture of Pashtun. They are promoting Arabization, an Arab culture on the name of religion Islam. They do not like Pashtun names and name their near and dear as Arabis. These religious people have entered into each and every pashtun house under a conspiracy of Pakistani establishment and ISI. These people are also against music and dub musicians as infidals and enemies of God. When in 2002 MMA a religious alliance of Pakistan religious Organizations won election and their government was formed in province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa they announced a ban on all cultural activities and the centers of culture were closed. In Peshawar a famous cultural center Dabgari was closed and Artists were ordered to either leave the profession or go abroad. The profession of culture was declared as unholy and unIslamic. Many secular and progressive people started hue and cry against it but to no avail. This scribe was among those who raised voice against the atrocities of religious people. Culture plays an important role in promotion of peace. Our region needs peace and artists can play role in peace promotion but in this area artists are discouraged. They are frightened and their families are forced to pressure the artists to leave the profession. Many artists of Pashtu language were forced either to leave country or go to Tableegh. Mangal Bagh a terrorist commander has arrested many singers of Pashto language and has sent them to Islamic preaching. Those who do not obey his order is persecuted and punished. Many women singers were arrested and killed by their own relatives and Islamist terrorists. In 2009 a famous singer in Swat was assassinated by Taliab. Similarly in Peshawar Aiman Odas was killed. The land has become very close over the artists in Pakhtunkhwa and FATA. On other side the life of artists has also turned strained for them. Their livelihood and earning issues have forced them to leave the profession. Only and only the peace could be promoted by promotion of culture and artists, singers can play the role. Zia the former dictator was the first man who worked against the peace and sowed the seed of enmity among people. His disciples in Tableeghi Jumat and all religious organizations are busy to discourage culture and people attached with culture. This is the reason we see an unrest in our area and the focus of Jihadi organizations is on dismantling of the cultural activities and promotion of Arabization which against peace and prosperity in Pashtun areas.