Factors of Extremism

Religious, sectarian and ethnic extremism are violent in nature whereas, class and gender extremism are less violent but are a cause of marginal instability in society. Thirteen factors which contributed to the permeation of extremism in Pakistani society over a period of more than six decades are as follows:

1. Use of religion for political purposes.
2. Preaching of intolerance and hate from various mosques and religious schools.
3. Social backwardness and frustration.
4. Illiteracy and ignorance.
5. Under-development and poverty.
6. Absence of rule of law.
7. Absence of reasoning and rational approach.
8. Unemployment and frustration among the youths.
9. Lack of a viable democratic process.
10. State’s failure to curb extremist and militant groups.
11. Patronization of religious militant groups by the military establishment since the days of General Zia-ul-Haq.
12. Proliferation of drugs and weapons.
13. Lack of tolerance and moderation.