‘Majority of Pakistanis are moderate’

Islamabad: People in Pakistan have a common tendency to use radical rhetoric when discussing other religions, sects, nations, and people, whereas when it comes to their practical behaviour, the majority of Pakistanis are still moderate. Dr David Hansen presented this analysis in a discussion held on his book “Radical Rhetoric-Moderate Behaviour” organised by Pak Institute for Peace Studies in Islamabad.

The majority of the Pakistanis do not have a specific lust for bloodshed and violence, however a huge majority wants to see Islamic legislation actually implemented in some form. For them, Shariah is seen as a system, which would provide them equality, justice, and freedoms, which they so far feel they have been denied.

Academia, intellectuals and civil society representatives also shared their thoughts on the research findings presented in the book.

Quaid-i-Azam University Associate Professor Shabana Fayyaz, said the book presents a real public perspective and reinforces the argument that the majority of Pakistanis are moderate. It highlights the view of ‘silent majority’, which is also a basic challenge for the Pakistani leaders as to how to mobilise this silent majority for a positive change.

PIPS Director Muhammad Amir Rana admired Hansen’s work and said it was still a big challenge for Western academia to perceive the things in Pakistani context. He said that we should not mix religious discourse with that of radicalism. At one level, radicalism is a debate of political science and may not be called as an ideological debate.

In his work Hansen explored how respondents perceive Islam, Shariah, and the radical dimension often associated with Islam in Pakistan. He investigates controversial themes related to the increasing portrayal of Pakistan as a radical state and Islam as an inevitable violent religion. Through the discussion of theoretical framework for the genesis and nurturing of radicalism in Pakistan, and careful analysis of his respondents’ perceptions, He concludes that the majority of Pakistanis do not have a ‘specific lust for bloodshed and violence’. Yet, they often portray others using radical rhetoric, something that is mainly attributed to other, non-religious factors, rather than an implicit violent Islam or any specific religious ideology alone. He challenges the notion of “Pakistan’s Islam as being inherently radical and dangerous” by drawing data gathered through ethnographic field experience in Pakistan.

More Details: Daily Times