A few months ago, I met with a senior Pakistani intelligence official in Washington, D.C. Such meetings are always off the record, but I received special permission to discuss one topic, a matter close to the hearts of millions of Pakistanis, including mine.
The official expressed serious concern over the rise of religious extremism in Pakistan. According to decision-makers, it has reached a point where decisive action against extremist individuals and organisations is unavoidable. Government circles now believe that if religious extremism is not addressed, Pakistan will struggle to achieve the developmental goals laid out by its policymakers.
The official shared a striking fact from recent intelligence recruitment drives. Thousands of young candidates applied for lower-ranking positions across the country, and the questionnaire included a question that revealed much about prevailing attitudes: “Was Mumtaz Qadri’s killing of Governor Salman Taseer justified?”
A staggering 95% of applicants responded, “Absolutely justified.”
To put this into context, Mumtaz Qadri was a police commando assigned to protect Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer. Nearly 14 years ago, Qadri shot and killed Taseer, claiming that the governor had committed blasphemy by supporting a Christian woman accused of committing blasphemy. Notably, other commandos on duty did not intervene.
If Pakistan’s government truly commits to combating religious extremism, it would be a decisive and wise step towards national progress, a step the country can no longer afford to delay
Though this event occurred years ago, its implications remain deeply significant. After Qadri’s execution, some extremists even erected a shrine in Islamabad in his memory, while a few Pakistani clerics in the United States attempted to hold commemorative events.
What is particularly alarming is that even today, nearly 95% of young intelligence recruits consider Qadri’s actions justified. If such individuals are being entrusted with protecting public figures, what does it say about the state of security and ideological leanings within Pakistan’s institutions?
This troubling mindset may explain the government’s recent decision to adopt a hardline, zero-tolerance approach against extremist groups. Whether it is Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, clerics of the Lal Masjid, or other radical factions, authorities appear determined to curb extremism decisively.
Encouragingly, Pakistan’s media is slowly following suit. Newspapers, analysts, and TV anchors who previously avoided criticising religious extremism are now beginning to speak out, signalling a positive shift in public discourse.
Yet, Pakistan still ranks low on global religious freedom indexes, and the United States lists it as a “country of concern” regarding religious liberty. Minority communities continue to face systemic challenges, and the misuse of blasphemy laws remains a glaring issue. Defendants in such cases often struggle to find legal representation, and law enforcement frequently hesitates to act against perpetrators. Social attitudes towards non-Muslims demand urgent reform.
Addressing these challenges requires grassroots efforts to instil interfaith harmony and tolerance in the next generation. Schools and religious seminaries must teach respect for diversity alongside traditional education.
In short, if Pakistan’s government truly commits to combating religious extremism, it would be a decisive and wise step towards national progress, a step the country can no longer afford to delay.