Sir Thomas has always been slaked for his celebrated work
utopia, as it is a work which is based on his figment of imagination, and like
Plato’s Republic it has nothing to do with world of reality. Both of the works
are rich in imaginative ideals of the authors. Yet if critically examined,
there are certain things which reflect the reality of life. One of the striking
line in Utopia reads,” you first make the thieves and then punish
them” this is indeed true in
case of Pakistan, where it has been a case to nurse an ideology, support the
same, patronize it , or turn a deaf ear to a problem which seemingly goes
against the public interest and state writ. But later at a certain stage show
reaction and start crack down on them. The two examples reflect the same
approach in the recent history of Pakistan. Fazullah or Imamderai mullah ,head of militant group from Swat valley of KPK, and Ghulam Rasool, or Choto ,head of the Choto gang. The background stories of both the
culprits have much in common as far as the approach of the government towards
them is concerned, and therein we can see an befitting applicability of the
view enshrined in the Utopia.
Fazullah was a simple mendicant, and a mullah who would run
affairs of a small mosque at the village opposite to the Fizagat Park. The
tendency towards militancy was dormant in his person, but he lacking the
wherewithal would not voice it. He, in order to realize his ambition of
becoming the amir swat , embarked upon a multi-pronged
strategy. The first plank of his strategy was start sermon on FM channel and
acquire public support for his cause. This act of him was widely hailed by the
residents of the area and he was sky rocketed to the firmament of eminence in
the eyes of all in the locality. With each passing day his audience grow, same
his reputation.
The next stage of his strategy was to construct a strong
building called Markaz, which was
used for the purpose of public gatherings and giving Darshan like Akbar the
great. People generously contributed to the
realization of the project both in men and money and the women donated
their jewelry. The next stage of the show was his Friday public appearance, he
would used to meet with visitors from all around the area on Friday, and the
visitor would pay homage to him.
The man, next, started a elimination of the means of
entertainment such as TVs, CDs and their ilk and called the venture and a war against the social evils, people voluntarily
brought their gadgets and were burnt in public places. With each passing day he
was gathering strength and public support across the valley. Interestingly none
of his action was noticed nor at least condemned by the administration of the
area.
The next plank of the strategy was informal military
exercises making use of small guns and other locally available weapons. People
thronged his markz and participated
in these exercises. It was a sort of recruitment and military training, there
was none to take notice of his acts and sense gravity of the situations.
Having gained support of enough militants, a sort of patrolling
of the area was started and in most of the areas the militants replaced the
policemen. This stage was followed by police targeting, open beheading, and amputation.
Having let him gather enough power and influence, establish informal kingship,
the state finally sprung into action and a heavy operation was launched against
him, which needs no description.
A similar case is that of the head of the Choto gang, Ghulam
Rasool, popularly known as Choto. It is strange to think that how a man
gathered such power, accumulated such advanced weapons and challenging the writ
of the government without any fear. Was Choto along with his gang brought into the island by Alladin at midnight, and when we woke up
saw him with such power and weapons? He has been involved in murders, extortions
and kidnappings for long, but the reaction of the state was perhaps pappu
yar tang nakar. It were finally the action by security forces with
heavy weapons to do the thing which, if was noticed in time, could be dealt
with by few police constables of a local police station with conventional
weapons.
By casting a critical glance at both the cases in hand and
most others, it is evident that such elements are given grace period to grow in
power and influence, and when they become enough
powerful to be dealt with, the action is started. We can befittingly fall in
with Utopia that “You first make the thieves and then punish them.”
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