HOW CAN THE SURGE OF SECTARIAN INTOLERANCE IN PAKISTAN BE TACKLED? BRIDGING THE WIDENING DIVIDE

Abstract

Problem and aim of the study: This article deals with the causes of the scary rise of sectarian Intolerance, violence, and prejudices in Pakistan. This article also investigates that how sectarian intolerance causes violence in society and what strategies should imply to curtail sectarianism from society? 
 Research methods: The research is qualitative, and applies the inductive and deductive methodology to the collected data. The data has been derived from the South Asian Terrorism Portal and to analyze the authenticity the author has collected the shared information from published articles, researches, and government official website that provide the statistics about violence and terrorism.
 Main findings: The study concludes by arguing the dire need for the promulgation and dissemination of inclusive thoughts for attaining a tolerant society free from sectarian intolerance because the implications of sectarian violence are a great threat to the peace process in the country.
 Application of the study: This study has significant implications from both a theoretical and a realistic perspective. The present study would be useful for policy-makers, to curtail the sectarianism in State. Therefore, the banning of sectarian speeches, sectarian literature, has been strongly suggested. The government should place a moratorium on the printing of sectarian literature for sectarian unity. The study also has tried to make realize to the state actors, including security forces and intelligence agencies, to avoid blame foreign involvement in sectarian polarization and why they ignore the fault lines destabilizing Pakistan's social fabric since Pakistan's inception. Therefore, the study would doubtlessly help decrease unpleasant incidents and reduce religious fanaticism.
 Originality and novelty of the study: This is the fact that in the existing literature the least attention has been given to sectarianism in Pakistan. The present study aims to deals with the social, religious, and political aspects of sectarian violence. Therefore, this is the first study that has investigated sectarian violence by exploring the issue of sectarianism from a social, religious, and political perspective.