THE extremist network now widely recognized as Fitnah al-Khawarij (FAK) formerly known as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) represents one of the gravest ideological and security threats to Pakistan’s peace, development and national cohesion.
Operating under a false veneer of religious legitimacy, FAK has systematically targeted the foundational pillars of Pakistani society: education, healthcare, infrastructure and civilian life. Their campaign of violence and propaganda undermines not only the state, but the values of Islam they falsely claim to uphold.
FAK’s duplicity is glaring. While professing to serve Islam, they have bombed mosques, murdered innocent Muslims and intimidated entire communities. These acts stand in stark contradiction to the teachings of the Last Prophet (PBUH), who championed peace, compassion and the sanctity of human life. True Islamic doctrine places knowledge, justice and mercy at its core principles consistently violated by FAK’s actions.
In regions like the KP, where the state restored relative calm after years of unrest, FAK reintroduced fear and regression. They attacked schools, targeted teachers and displaced thousands. Their objective is clear: to obstruct learning, suppress critical thought and prevent future generations from achieving independence through knowledge. Any group that fights education is inherently fighting against the future of the nation.
Beyond education, FAK has consistently undermined public health initiatives. Their attacks on polio workers and community health staff are not only inhumane but strategically aimed at keeping vulnerable populations in perpetual crisis. Their victims – often labourers, elders and children – highlight the indiscriminate nature of their brutality. These actions reveal that FAK is not only anti-state but also fundamentally anti-people.
The economic cost of FAK’s violence is profound. By extorting poor workers, threatening small contractors and destroying critical infrastructure, they have halted progress and development in already underprivileged areas. Their operations resemble those of a criminal cartel motivated not by belief, but by control, greed and coercion. Using religious language as a mask, they distort sacred values to legitimize terrorism and extortion.
Furthermore, their activities align suspiciously with the strategic objectives of Pakistan’s external adversaries. Every time the nation takes a step toward development through road-building, industrial investment or improved healthcare, FAK responds with violence. This pattern reflects an intent to destabilize and divide, not to reform or represent. No actor genuinely invested in Pakistan’s welfare would deliberately sabotage its growth.
Islam stands for harmony, truth and the protection of human dignity. FAK’s actions marked by hate, division and destruction are a betrayal of every Islamic value. They are not defenders of faith; they are saboteurs exploiting religion to pursue a violent and selfish agenda.
Dismantling FAK is not just a counter-extremism objective, it is a moral imperative and a patriotic duty. The future of Pakistan rests on unity, truth and resilience. By exposing the lies of FAK and confronting their terror, the nation affirms its commitment to peace, progress and the true spirit of Islam.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Rawalpindi.
