WITH Muharram due to start next week, the authorities have already begun annual exercises to ensure that the mourning period — particularly the first 10 days of the month — passes peacefully. The provincial governments have chalked out plans to maintain peace, issuing codes of conduct, and calling in military and paramilitary units where required. These precautions are necessary due to Pakistan’s history of communal violence, particularly the past four decades or so, which witnessed the rise of violent sectarian groups in the country. These outfits seek to hit ‘soft’ targets — majalis, mourning processions, mosques etc — to widen communal fissures. Sectarian violence has decreased over the past few months, with the last major attack occurring in Islamabad in February, when terrorists stormed a Shia mosque during Friday prayers. While the banned TTP — which is Pakistan’s most active terrorist group — has changed its strategy and now mostly targets state functionaries and security forces, other violent actors, such as the local branch of IS and its allied groups, are overtly sectarian in nature. Therefore, the state must remain vigilant and foil the plans of such groups to stir sectarian hatred.

The state has to secure countless majalis and processions across Pakistan during Muharram and Safar as part of its constitutional mandate to protect citizens’ lives. No lethargy can be brooked in this regard. Yet ulema and civil society also have a duty to ensure an atmosphere of sectarian harmony and peace. No preacher should be allowed to denigrate any sect or its beliefs, and the state must demonstrate zero tolerance for hate speech. In this regard, cyberspace presents a major challenge. While constantly policing the internet undermines digital rights, those who spread communal hatred and exhort others to violence through social media must face the law. In the days of yore, communal disturbances were largely localised. Today, through irresponsible use of social media, even isolated incidents can spread havoc nationwide. Working together, the state, the clergy and the people must maintain unity so that this solemn period is observed peacefully. There can be no space for hatemongers and violent elements to divide people along confessional lines. And in case of any contingencies, the state must move quickly to keep the peace.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026