“Private and Individual Jihad should be Criminalised” – Senator Afrasiab Khattak

“Jihad has always remained a state institution and thus any sort of individual and private jihad should be criminalised by the State,” said Senator Afrasiab Khattak, ANP’s central and senior leader, whilst addressing a seminar at FIRD’s Secretariat.

The seminar was arranged with the title “Perspectives – Countering Radicalisation and Extremism” at FIRD Secretariat as part of its focus on Pakistan as well its continued executive lecture series.

Mr. Umar Mahmood, fellow FIRD, hosted the event and opened with the introduction of FIRD, welcoming Senator Khattak for gracing the Forum. Mr. Javed Akhunzada, General Secretary ANP UK, paid homage to Senator Khattak and his struggles for democracy. Longtime activists like Senator Khattak had spent prolonged periods of jail in eras of dictatorships whilst rallying for democracy and liberalism. He also appreciated the fact that it was due to Senator Khattak’s work and efforts as a member of parliamentary committee that the Parliament was able to pass the 18^th amendment for democratic reforms in the country. Additionally, ANP always stood firm against terrorists and is still standing, because the party has been taught of peace preached by Ghaffar Khan and Ghani Khan.

Senator Khattak put special emphasis on the history of terrorism and said that it was the 70’s Afghan jihad that laid foundations of modern day terrorism in the region, where a number of negative trends grew under the provision of the “big powers” of the West. He went on to say that the revival of Arab Islamic Nationalism, after the defeat of Arab World by Israel, in the 70’s and led by Wahhabis, Salafis and Takfiris also played a major part in spreading violence and maligning the name of Islam as they hijacked the religion. The Madrassas were highlighted as the cause for these terrorists. It was extremely important for a counter narrative to be established to deradicalise the affected. Senator Khattak was also critical of the West, especially the US, for financing the religious seminaries on the Af-Pak border and producing Jihadists to fight in Afghanistan. It was Zia’s dictatorial regime, although he wasn’t alone, that put the last nail in the coffin in terms of radicalisation and used Islam to further the Western agenda as well as his own. He praised the Pakistani army for its current operation, Zarb e Azb, in the FATA region for targeting the militant factories and getting positive results out of this operation. In his final remarks Mr Khattak was of the view that as Jihad is a primarily a state Institution and could be initiated or called off by a Muslim state, individuals should not be allowed to wage Jihad, and if they do, it should be criminalised. A consequence of the Cold War was the privatisation of Jihad and fostering of radicals. If the state does not take enough measures to counter radicalisation, Pakistan faces the danger of reverting back into the Zia era.

FIRD Chairman Toaha Qureshi MBE appreciated Mr Khattak’s political struggle and his party’s quest for peace and non-violence. However, Mr Qureshi called for a stop to scapegoating the Madrassas, or the Islamic seminaries, as according to the British experience, most individuals involved in extremism or radicalism were either professionals or young students at private academic institutions. Therefore, there is genuine frustration and anger that is fuelling radicalisation. Echoing the words of Senator Khattak, Mr Qureshi referred to his experience running deradicalisation projects stating that deradicalisation was imperative and facilitation needed to be enabled immediately with the support of the community and the state. Authentic scholars should be taken on board to clarify the position. He also called upon the world policy makers to devise effective policies and strategies to address problems faced by Pashtuns on both sides of the border. Tackling the core issues of extremism and radicalisation was needed rather than treating the effects, the causes needed to be looked at. Finally, he stated that his book titled “Mera Jihad” is a counter narrative to the current take on Jihad which reclaims the word Jihad, taking it back to its origins and true meaning – the book was later presented to Senator Khattak.

During the question answer session, Senator Khattak spoke on Pakistan’s negative image abroad, saying that a number of factors, such as anti-Pakistan elements and the government’s own actions, contribute to this image of the country and thus overseas Pakistanis should do their best to propagate a positive image of their country abroad. Mr Qureshi also said that it was pertinent to lead by actions, highlighting the good things taking place.

Mr Talha Qureshi, added that tagging common Muslims as terrorists would be wrong as Jihad, since the Soviet War, has become an outsourced business, with agencies and states primarily involved in funding, financing and promoting Jihad and not the common and ordinary Muslim.

The event was attended by researchers, community members, students and activists including Javed Sheikh, Saad Mahmood, Rana Khan, Rehman Sheikh and Akram Kaimkhani, who concluded the session with his vote of thanks to FIRD, Mr Afrasiab Khattak and Mr Toaha Qureshi MBE.