Pakistan slips on a slippery slope of religious militancy

The government is increasingly hiring madrasa graduates as teachers in the public sector.

- JAMES M. DORSEY

Pakistani political and military leaders have vowed to eradicate ultra-conservative religious extremism that drove a mob to torture, brutally lynch a Sri Lankan national, and burn his body in the eastern city of Sialkot. Some 900 cases have been filed with police and 235 people arrested in connection with the killing.

Let me make this clear: I have decided that from now we will not spare those who resort to violence in the name of religion, especially in the name of the Holy Prophet (PBUH),” Prime Minister Imran Khan said at a commemoration of Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana, a 48-year-old textile factory manager.

The mob accused Mr Diyawadana of removing a sticker of Tehreek-e-Lab baik Pakistan (TLP) or “I am Present Pakistan (TLP), a far-right militantly religious group, from machinery before a visit by foreigners.

Some reports claimed that a dispute between Mr Diyawadana and workers sparked the lynching. It was not clear whether the argument may be connected to the stickers.

The TLP condemned the Sialkot killing but has often turned unfounded blasphemy allegations into a violent crusade in a country where punishment for it is a mandatory death sentence.

Whatever sparked the killing, the government's response seemed aimed to project determination to tackle a festering problem. It is a claim that rings hollow, despite Mr Khan's strong words, in a country where government policies are inconsistent or appear to even encourage religious ultra-conservatism and intolerance.