Sectarian landscape, Madrasas and Militancy in Punjab

Abstract

In Punjab more than 50% people are traditional Ahl-e-Sunnat or Brelvis. They are mystical and ritualistic and show extreme reverence and respect for Holy Prophet and saints. Second in number are Deobandis, a sub-sect of Ahl-eSunnat who challenge the mystical and ritualistic views of traditional Sunnis. However both follow fiqah of Imam Abu Hanifa. Third in term of population are Ahl-e-Tashi who follow the fiqah of Imam Ja’fir Sadiq. Fourth in number are Ahl-e-Hadith, another sub-sect of Ahl-e-Sunnat, who do not follow any specific fiqah and are dubbed as ghairmuqqallid or Wahabisby others. Ahl-e-Hadith are slightly less than Ahl-e-Tashi in the province. Sect based violence in Punjab was high in 1980s when Sunni-oriented ASS had armed clashes with Ahl-e-Tashi’s SMP. Iranian revolution, Soviet invasion in Afghanistan and enforcement of martial law in Pakistan created a nexus of factors wherein interests of various domestic and foreign players clashed with each other. Military government with the assistance of oil rich Gulf States promoted a particular sect while Iran assisted their rivals. Since then the issue of sectarianism assumed prominence in internal security paradigm. Side by side mushrooming of madrasas also took place. Regulated by madrasa boards established on sectarian basis, these madrasas promote sectarianism both by default and by design. Though Brelvis have more madrasas than those of all others yet theirs are less in ratio than their population. Deobandis are the only sect who has phenomenally more madrasas than their ratio of population. Some of the madrasas of these sects are suspected to have links with militancy in one form or other. Most of such madrasas are being run by Deobandis while very few by other three sects. Each of these sects has their khateebs, who through fiery speeches spread hatred against rival sects and fan sectarianism. An astonishing number of such khateebs belongs to Deobandi sect, followed by Ahl-e-Hadith, Brelvis and Ahl-e-Tashi respectively.