Print 
PDF
It is about time Pakistan’s democrats had a revolution of their own, writes Gulmina Bilal Ahmad (right), one that takes the “filth of extremism” out of the country’s civic life.
Following the assassinations of Salmaan Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s secular liberals are feeling beleaguered.
But the country’s “progressive elements” have an obligation to mobilize and openly confront Islamist extremists, writes Ahmad, a prominent civil society activist.
“The response and condemnation should not be muted and with mincing words, as has happened before,” she argues:
It should be shown to these radicals that the Pakistani nation will no longer stand this innocent bloodshed. The Pakistani minorities are part of this nation and will not be left alone in this hour of need. Islam is a religion of peace and coexistence and this hijacking of religion by such extremist elements will no longer be tolerated.
Gulmina Bilal Ahmad heads Individualland, a web-based political advocacy group supported by the National Endowment for Democracy.
