THE recent martyrdom of Maulana Muhammad Idrees Jan, a respected religious scholar, former member of the provincial assembly and Sheikh-ul-Hadith from Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has once again raised painful questions about the province’s worsening law-and-order situation. According to reports, he was targeted in broad daylight. The attackers escaped and, as usual, early accounts described them as “unknown persons.” For the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, this phrase is no longer a routine legal expression. It has become a symbol of grieving families, failed investigations and a state unable to bring killers to justice.

Maulana Muhammad Idrees Jan was not merely a religious scholar. He was known as a compassionate teacher, dignified political figure, patriotic Pakistani and preacher of peace and moderation. He spoke of unity, restraint and loyalty to Pakistan. The tragedy is that a man who raised his voice against unrest became a victim of that very unrest. Thousands attended his funeral, offered prayers, shed tears and returned home. But the question remains: has this become the fate of our people—to carry coffins, hear condolence statements, wait a few days and then fall silent? After the incident, familiar statements of condemnation were issued. Those in power called it a cowardly act of terrorism, promised indiscriminate action and assured the public that the killers would soon be brought before the law. Yet public memory tells a different story. Such statements remain in the headlines........

© Pakistan Observer