London, United Kingdom – Hundreds of people in Pakistan’s cities are turning to protest as religious extremism, government mismanagement and rising poverty spark a wave of unrest. The situation, experts say, is pushing the country into a new and dangerous chapter of its history.
Arif Aajakia, a human‑rights defender and Executive Director of the Asian Human Rights Forum, warned that the popular religious party Tehreek‑e‑Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and other militant groups such as Lashkar‑e‑Taiba were created and used by the Pakistan Army. “The army activates and deactivates these groups to keep control of the politics,” he said. The TLP’s recent clashes with state forces, along with large‑scale protests against inflation and food shortages, highlight a shaky grip on power.
Aajakia also disapproved of Pakistan’s handling of the Kashmir region. “For decades the army used religion to seduce Kashmiris,” he said, pointing out that India’s Jammu and Kashmir are now booming, while Pakistan‑occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) still lacks basic services. “Pakistan refuses to give its people real autonomy,” he added.
Amjad Ayub Mirza, a political analyst and activist from PoJK, echoed the criticism. He called the violent confrontation between the TLP and Punjab Police in Lahore a clear sign that Pakistan is fighting its own wars. Mirza said, “The unrest shows the deep crisis in our political and religious systems.” He pointed out that the state’s long habit of empowering hard‑liner groups has now backfired, as those same groups turn against the government.
Mirza slammed the military’s use of faith to manipulate society. “The army’s attempts to control the religion that people believe in has turned society into a breeding ground for hatred. The government’s inability to control these forces shows it has lost legitimacy,” he alleged.
He urged the world to pay attention, saying the Lahore disturbances only show a deeper collapse in Pakistan’s governance. “The chaos we see today is the inevitable consequence of decades of weaponising religion. Pakistan is imploding under its own contradictions,” he warned.
The story underscores growing instability in Pakistan, religious extremism, and straining relations with neighboring India over Kashmir. The situation also reflects the country’s weakened governance and repeated economic hardship. ()
Source: aninews
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