Extremist Narratives of Political Islam in Pakistan in/after 1980s
Abstract
This article discusses factors of extremism in Pakistan which emerged in result of the misuse of political Islam concept during 1980s. This concept of political Islam was hijacked and manipulated by political parties, extremist religious groups, and military establishment. This article makes the situation analysis in local and regional contexts. It also highlights current shifts in the extremist ideologies from Deobandi to Barelvi school of thought with the alleged supported of the military establishment. Military establishment and political parties always tried to have their vested interests fulfilled through religiously extremist groups in the country. The religious groups, too, tried to heap the benefits for themselves underhand. The strange nexus between the two kept on worsening the situation as both sides used the ignorant or the innocent pubic nefariously. With practice approach, this paper presents theories of change and their potential intervention design to help understand stakeholders the misuse of political Islam in Pakistan. Such understanding may help the masses of Pakistan in developing the ways to counter the propagated concept of political Islam.
Authors
Muhammad Akram
Research Associate, Center for Justice and Peace building Eastern Mennonite University, USA
Keywords
Political Islam, Muslims, Pakistan, Violent Extremism, Religious