Countering Violent Religious Extremism in Pakistan: Enforcing Legal framework

Abstract

This paper examines the dynamics of Countering Violent Religious Extremism (CVRE) in Pakistan, with a focus on critical evaluation of legal framework for dealing with violent extremism and enforcement by police. It identifies gaps in the existing framework of laws and challenges in achieving the desired level of enforcement.

Adopting qualitative research methods, research reports, journal articles, academic and practitioners works, relevant police incident reports were studied and analyzed to synthesize clear understanding of the dynamics and facets of religious extremist violence in Pakistan and crystalize the debate on religion and violence. The major legislative Acts and the Anti-terrorism Act 1997 were examined to study and point out the forms of extremist violent conduct adequately covered or otherwise by the existing laws.

It argues, it’s imperative for Pakistan’s counterterrorism strategy to incorporate robust CVE and deradicalization measures. The existing legal framework includes several useful provisions to deal with religious extremism, yet it requires to be revisited to expand its reach and plugin the gaps. It further argues, over half a million police officers of Pakistan’s provincial and federal organizations are best placed to engage in a greater CVE role beyond the  conventional role of prevention and detection of religious violence, extending to surveillance of potential violent extremists, monitoring of cyberspace, community policing engagements for building resilience against radicalization, deradicalization programs and most importantly achieving the requisite degree of enforcement of the legal framework and regulatory mechanism for a lasting and long-term solution to the menace of terrorism.