The punishing verdict (Pakistan)

by NADEEM F. PARACHA

Good news: Only 10 per cent Pakistanis recently surveyed by a leading US research group have any liking for the Taliban. What’s more, a mere nine per cent exhibited sympathy for Al-Qaeda. So, does this mean that we are finally moving towards being a more rational, humanist, tolerant and moderate society?

Hold your horses. Or shall I say camels. Because the same survey finds broad support for harsh punishments: 78 per cent favour death for those who leave Islam; 80 per cent favour whippings and cutting off hands for crimes like theft and robbery; and 83 per cent favour stoning adulterers to death.

Dawn for more