SECTARIANISM IN PAKISTAN: CAUSES & REMEDIES

Abstract

In Pakistan, religion has been used as an effective ca by the religious, political and military elite for grabbing more and more power. General Zia-ul-Haq patronised and encouraged religious political parties to sustain his unlawful regim and perpetuate his power. Z. A. Bhutto also appeased these parties to win and retain their support. Leaders of religious rties themselves used religion as a means of getting politic power. It was due to this exploitation of religion that the problem of sectarianism emerged in Pakistan and has become now part of culture in Pakistan.

The menace of sectarianism is not new to Pakistan. Even before the creation of Pakistan, sectarian clashes used to happen off and on in Indo-Pakistan subcontinent. After the formation of Pakistan, there was harmony between Shi'ahs and Sunnis to some extent. However, the ‘divide and rule’ policy adopted by Zia-ul-Haq compounded the already existed sectarian divide. Other major developments that led to ctarian divide were Saur Revolution and the subsequent Soviet on intervention in Afghanistan, the emergence of Jihadi and militant organisations, Iranian Revolution and Iran-Iraq war.