Pakistan, June 8 -- The extremism Pakistan faces today is rooted in Kharijism. This is not merely a temporary reaction to political events or social grievances. Kharijism represents a complete worldview, one that seeks to justify rebellion against the state in the name of religion. To address this challenge, we must first understand the argument on which it rests.

At the heart of the Kharijite narrative lies a simple claim: Pakistan is not an Islamic state, its system is un-Islamic, and therefore armed struggle is justified to replace it with a truly Islamic order. This claim does not hold up when examined through religious principles, constitutional interpretation, and ground realities. The question, therefore, is straightforward: what ...