No other political party in Pakistan flaunts itself as the ultimate custodian of secularism and non-violence so vigorously as the Awami National Party (ANP), the descendents of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement of Bacha Khan. So, last week when the ANP-led NWFP government signed a peace agreement with religious extremists in Swat, quite a few intellectual circles were more than disappointed; they were visibly annoyed.
How come the inheritors of secular politics of Bacha Khan, although there was hardly anything progressive or secular about him, were shaking hands with Maulana Sufi Muhammad, the vintage jihadist, they asked. If that was not good enough evidence of ANP coming into direct and unequivocal opposition to its past let them know that its commitment to non-violence is now increasingly viewed with scepticism and doubt. Under orders of Bacha Khan's grandson and great grandson the NWFP government has decided to arm some 30,000 villagers. These villagers are to be identified by the local police officers. Who then get these rifles one need not go into such polemics knowing what is commonly called the 'thana culture'.
Some years back as militancy gathered pace in the troubled north-west the phenomenon was attributed to free flow of weapons from the neighbouring Afghanistan. The standard expression was that the NWFP and adjoining areas were 'awash with Kalashnikovs', thanks to the war in Afghanistan. Given that for an average Pushtun rifle is the much-decorating ornament and also that gun-manufacturing is a going concern in some towns the per-capita weaponisation in the NWFP is the highest in Pakistan.
If more weapons could help quell militancy then by now the NWFP should have been a very peaceful place. But it is not. In fact, there is growing opinion, even in the United States where keeping weapons is legal in most of the states, that peace cannot be secured with weapons.
By asking the people to get rifles and protect themselves against criminal gangs on their own the NWFP government seems to be abdicating itself of this basic responsibility. It is a clear admission of its failure. However, more frustrating is the thought that while peaceful citizens would be reluctant to get rifles those who live and die with rifle would become more powerful.
In a society where there already exist private militias injecting more rifles obviously means encouraging this trend. It is very much possible that most of the newly armed riflemen would be pro-ANP when some other party would come to power in the province and their role would undergo a reversal. Is the ANP trying to build up its own militia?
It appears that the provincial government has failed, or made to fail, to comprehend the nature of the challenge it is pitted against. The militancy and extremism that are rampant in the province stem from a number of factors, including the historical struggle between religious and secularist factions, influx of Taliban from neighbouring Afghanistan and economic backwardness. It is the battle of minds and hearts of the people. To think of it merely has a law and order situation that can be taken care of by arming some 30,000 villagers is too naïve a proposition of any government. Possibly it is somebody else's brainchild who wants the province to be fully equipped to meet some future challenges.
The provincial government would do well to equip people with hope of peace and prosperity than rifles. NWFP needs extensive investment in socio-economic sectors; its educational institutions require to be strengthened and bureaucratic corruption eradicated. Sooner this idea of weaponising the otherwise socio-economically shattered people is abandoned the better, both for the people and their rulers.