Author: IANS
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: October 28, 2001
A Pakistani mother, her face shrouded
in a dupatta, weeps inconsolably as her neighbours huddle around.
Her only son has gone, leaving behind
a note saying he is joining the jehad in Afghanistan, SADA reports. The
scene is repeated over and over in many areas here, as members of numerous
religious outfits go from door to door trying to persuade young men to
join the 'holy war' in neighbouring Afghanistan. The strongest recruitment
drive is on in Karachi's congested central district, where the majority
of the families are middle income, mainly ethnic Mohajirs - those who migrated
to Pakistan after the '47 partition of the Indian subcontinent.
This area is also a stronghold of
the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, a powerful ethnic party representing Mohajirs,
whose young militants conducted an insurgency against the government in
the mid-90s. Many of the young men being recruited by religious organisations
are college educated. But rising unemployment in Pakistan's biggest dry
over the past decade has contributed to a growing sense of deprivation
and alienation, say analysts. This makes young restless men ideal candidates.
The prospects of martyrdom offer
eternal salvation. 'Following the launch of the US-led attacks against
Afghanistan, various groups of bearded men would come up to us at the Lal
Masjid after every prayer session to inquire about those willing to take
part in the jehad in Afghanistan. Some convinced people to go to there,
explains Zubair, a motor mechanic. 'However, you can't call them harsh
or insistent.'
The walls in this part of the city
are covered with anti-US and pro-Taliban graffiti. Cloth banners on the
same theme are draped across walls and billboards. Dozens of young men
have joined religious organisations and left their homes for the jehad.
Many will not return. But not everyone is convinced. 'Even if this is a
holy war, each individual has the right to decide whether or not to participate.
The jehadis have no right to push people into war,' declares Moazzam, a
housewife in her late 40s. She says recruiters for religious organisations
have visited her home twice recently. 'They asked about my young sons.
But I lied and said that they were not here.'
But Gul Rehman, a student at the
Shipowners' Government College, is prepared for jehad. 'I am willing to
participate in both the armed struggle in Kashmir and against Western conspiracies
to topple the model Islamic Taliban government.' - IANS
