How extremism is eating away at Pakistan’s very roots

Abbas Nasir
Jun 24, 2024 | 14:14 IST
Locals look at a spot where a Muslim mob burned a man over allegations of blasphemy in Madyan, Pakistan (Photo: AP)

An allegation of blasphemy is more than enough reason for mobs to take the law into their own hands and act as judge, jury and executioner

“Thank you, Mr Jinnah,” said one social media user under a video clip post, which went viral. The clip showed a mob comprising Hindu extremists ransacking and looting a Muslim’s shop in India, enraged because the shop owner shared a photo of his Eid qurbani on WhatsApp.

The obvious implication of the remark was that by creating Pakistan, Mr Jinnah created a safe haven for the Muslims of the subcontinent or they would have faced the same fate as the Indian Muslim shopkeeper, who was confronted for doing his religious duty.
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