In a nation boasting nuclear capabilities, a formidable military, and an extensive intelligence apparatus, the possibility of any form of intimidation to its writ seems implausible. However, a recent event defies all odds, revealing an occurrence that can only be described as a direct affront to the government's authority. A poignant example of this transpired in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Assistant Professor Sher Ali was coerced by religious clerics to renounce the evolutionary theory of English naturalist Charles Darwin, along with the endorsement of mixed-gender gatherings. Furthermore, he was compelled to declare the inferiority of women to men. This concession was not extracted under the duress of armed lawbreakers, but rather amidst a gathering of devout and dignified individuals known as ulema, who were present in the well-appointed office of the deputy commissioner of Bannu district.
This incident raises a perplexing query: how did the Deputy Commissioner of the Bannu district, a prominent figure within the local government, acquiesce to the demands of the clerics to compel the professor to disavow a government education policy that incorporates the theory of evolution into the curriculum? It was not only the religious clerics, but also the deputy commissioner who participated in forcing the professor to discredit and abandon an educational policy that had been endorsed and pursued by the government. The rationale provided by the local administration for this act of submission to the coercion of the group of ulema was to prevent a law-and-order disruption instigated by the teaching of a subject sanctioned by the government.
It highlights that any coercive entity can contest the authority of the government on any pretense, and rather than prioritizing the upholding of the rule of law at all costs, the government appears inclined to capitulate before such forces.
From a wider perspective, it constituted a repudiation not just of the Ministry of Education but also the entire framework of the Education Department, which had permitted the inclusion of a subject in the curriculum that is presently considered unacceptable by a segment of society wielding an influence surpassing the authority of the provincial government and its policies. The resounding silence from this government department, along with its officials and the country's academic community, has, in essence, provided unofficial endorsement to the challenge posed by the Bannu clerics to the government's authority.
SIFC’s Challenge Of ‘Halal Chicken and Men’ Given the government’s apparent indifference toward the enforcement of the rule of law in issues that do not directly impact it, the Bannu incident now leaves teachers to fend for themselves and protect their dignity before potentially enduring a similar ordeal.
Neither the Deputy Commissioner nor any other authority dared to question the legal basis for the clerics' demand to renounce the government's education policy. Law enforcement agencies of the country similarly failed to raise any objections. The vaunted principle of the rule of law, frequently emphasized by the nation’s highest civil and military leadership, now seems to be a fanciful notion with no real authority, easily flouted by anyone with the will and power to assert their own directives. This incident, unfortunately, did not set off any alarms among law enforcement agencies, legislators, or the general public, who perhaps perceived it as an isolated occurrence. There was a noticeable absence of debate or discourse in both print and electronic media on this matter, suggesting that they did not perceive any threat from this incident to the freedom of expression they cherish the most.
The clerics, acting out of their profound reverence and devotion to their religion, may not have considered, even for a moment, that their actions could be construed as a violation of the country's laws. For them, the principles of their faith hold far greater significance than the legal statutes, and any deviation from these principles is akin to an act of blasphemy. However, this raises the question: "Is Professor Sher Ali the sole individual in the nation teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution?"
In the absence of any legal repercussions for those responsible for this incident, all educators, also obligated by the curriculum to teach the same theory to their students, now confront a parallel threat that could materialize at any moment. Given the government’s apparent indifference toward the enforcement of the rule of law in issues that do not directly impact it, the Bannu incident now leaves teachers to fend for themselves and protect their dignity before potentially enduring a similar ordeal.
Hypothetically, if the teaching of Darwin's theory were to be deemed blasphemous, it would require the inclusion of a specific clause in the law to criminalize such acts, along with a legislative mandate to eliminate from the curriculum any scientific teachings that contradict religious beliefs.
This is the level of safeguard provided to those pivotal in building the nation with the knowledge and expertise required for the progress and development of the country. This is the degree of honor extended to the academic community, which instills respect and affection for the nation and its principles within its students. How can teachers anticipate respect and admiration from their students when they are openly and shamelessly degraded for fulfilling their legal obligations? What precedent does this incident establish for the younger generation, other than to hold the most cynical view of their educators and readily subject them to humiliation for any perceived deviation from their own beliefs?
The Challenge Of Inclusive Democracy In An Elite World Hypothetically, if the teaching of Darwin's theory were to be deemed blasphemous, it would require the inclusion of a specific clause in the law to criminalize such acts, along with a legislative mandate to eliminate from the curriculum any scientific teachings that contradict religious beliefs. In the absence of such a law, any form of retaliation or opposition, whether based on religious convictions or otherwise, would constitute a violation of the law.
How can teachers anticipate respect and admiration from their students when they are openly and shamelessly degraded for fulfilling their legal obligations? What precedent does this incident establish for the younger generation, other than to hold the most cynical view of their educators and readily subject them to humiliation for any perceived deviation from their own beliefs?
Unfortunately, the misuse of blasphemy laws by religious extremists has set a detrimental precedent in our country, with the recent incident in the Bannu district echoing the unjust extrajudicial measures taken against several individuals in the past accused of blasphemy without substantial evidence or proper investigation. Unless the principles of the rule of law are firmly enforced, such acts of lawlessness will persist, creating an environment of anarchy in which various forms of disorder may flourish.
Can Unarmed Entities Challenge The Writ Of The Government?
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29.10.2023
In a nation boasting nuclear capabilities, a formidable military, and an extensive intelligence apparatus, the possibility of any form of intimidation to its writ seems implausible. However, a recent event defies all odds, revealing an occurrence that can only be described as a direct affront to the government's authority. A poignant example of this transpired in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Assistant Professor Sher Ali was coerced by religious clerics to renounce the evolutionary theory of English naturalist Charles Darwin, along with the endorsement of mixed-gender gatherings. Furthermore, he was compelled to declare the inferiority of women to men. This concession was not extracted under the duress of armed lawbreakers, but rather amidst a gathering of devout and dignified individuals known as ulema, who were present in the well-appointed office of the deputy commissioner of Bannu district.
This incident raises a perplexing query: how did the Deputy Commissioner of the Bannu district, a prominent figure within the local government, acquiesce to the demands of the clerics to compel the professor to disavow a government education policy that incorporates the theory of evolution into the curriculum? It was not only the religious clerics, but also the deputy commissioner who participated in forcing the professor to discredit and abandon an educational policy that had been endorsed and pursued by the government. The rationale provided by the local administration for this act of submission to the coercion of the group of ulema was to prevent a law-and-order disruption instigated by the teaching of a subject sanctioned by the government.
It highlights that any coercive entity can contest the authority of the government on any pretense, and rather than prioritizing the........
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