Category Archives: History

On March 30 1953, TIME published an article called The Mad Mullahs on extremist sectarian violence that had erupted in Lahore. It places the blame squarely on the  activities of the ‘Ahraris’. In 1953 the term ‘Islamist’ had not yet been coined but the events that are described are almost identical to sectarian violence perpetrated by the ‘Punjab Taliban’ in Lahore last month. Nothing changes.

It was a minor revolution which swept this capital of the fertile Punjab province—a revolution engineered by fanatical mullahs against the Pakistan government. Five and a half years ago, when millions of frightened refugees were pouring into newly created Pakistan, the mullahs were the people’s leaders. They had a strong voice in the government. But when the country began establishing industries, hospitals, schools and banks, the mullahs protested that these innovations clashed with Islamic law. When Pakistani women shed their veils and emerged from purdah (complete seclusion in the home), the more fanatic mullahs were outraged. When the time came for Pakistan to draw up a constitution, the mullahs demanded that it be based on the Koran. (Result: Pakistan, a nation of 76 million, is still without a constitution.) The government of Prime Minister Kwaja Nazimuddin avoided an open clash with religious leaders, but paid less attention to their counsel.