Mazari lambastes own govt for ‘appeasement’ to non-state actors

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari on Sunday criticized her own govt’s strategy of appeasement to “avoid bloodshed” saying that it sends a dangerous message to non-state actors and undermines the concept of democratic peaceful protest.

Sharing her thoughts on the three-day riots across the country against a Supreme Court verdict acquitting Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who had been on death row in a blasphemy case, and the resultant agreement between the government and the protesters, Mazari said history shows that appeasement never works.

“It is unfortunate we don’t study history – appeasement historically never works as Chamberlain’s Munich appeasement towards Nazis showed. Appeasement to avoid “bloodshed” in a war-weary Europe led to massive bloodshed & destruction in the form of WW II,” she posted in a series of tweets.

“Appeasement to “avoid bloodshed” sends a dangerous msg to non-state actors & undermines the very concept of democratic peaceful protest. The State has to enforce Rule of Law, Constitution & stand by state institutions esp when they are targeted. #IStandWithSupremeCourt.

Appeasement to "avoid bloodshed" sends a dangerous msg to non-state actors & undermines the very concept of democratic peaceful protest. The State has to enforce Rule of Law, Constitution & stand by state institutions esp when they are targeted. #IStandWithSupremeCourt https://t.co/nWPOvbEcDS

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) November 4, 2018

Mazari’s comments come in the wake of three-day long demonstrations that paralysed the country from October 31 to November 2, as religious parties protested against the Supreme Court’s judgment by blocking roads and disrupting traffic in major cities.