Get the latest news and updates from Dawn
THE recent outcry by Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding an unspecified state policy to raise private militias for local protection against terrorists has sparked controversy. Many have accused the maulana of disrespecting those who have sacrificed their lives to protect the homeland.
However, the broader context of his remarks deserves scrutiny: why do states encourage local populations in conflict zones to stand up against violent actors? Take the example of Pakistan. Successive governments have used this tactic —from the then East Pakistan to Balochistan and KP. The core question, and perhaps the crux of the maulana’s argument, is why this policy has failed in most cases.
Known for his sharp political timing, the maulana deliberately chose a platform near Lahore, the political heartland of Punjab, to ensure that his message reached key decision-makers. Yet, his objections to local state-backed civilian militias are far from isolated. Across KP and Balochistan, particularly in the southern districts, from Lakki Marwat to Dera Ismail Khan (the maulana’s core constituency), the locals are attempting to form self-defence militias against terrorist groups like the banned TTP and Hafiz Gul Bahadur’s faction. Tribal elders and political leaders have voiced even stronger criticism of security failures by the state — most recently seen in the Quetta sit-ins organised by the families of slain police personnel.
