Measurement of Extremism Tendencies Scale Development and Validation

Abstract

Pakistan over the last one and half decade had been badly tangled into extremism. During 2013 it was viewed as one of the most hazardous country in the world and the largest city namely Karachi a major economic epicenterhad been evaluated as the 8th most dangerous city in the world to live. A series of violent attacks and predominant wave of extremist’s activities engulf the country into many dangers. A country based on approximately 200 million population was badly suffered from both internal and external security threats due to ever increasing militant groups and deep interference from external elements to promote such groups.Unfortunately, due to poor law and order situation militant groups were having safe havens in various parts of the country which paved the ground for what they were created and subsequently operated. A force which was previously created to engage Russia back in eighties popularizing the idea of jihad against them to protect Muslim brothers in Afghanistan gave birth to a dangerous force that now poses a serious threat not only Pakistan rather to the entire world. Inappropriately, a force driven through religion motivation and created to serve different national interests was left abandoned without any serious supervision at state level. A force which was trained in lines to show extreme aggression persisted to serve the purpose and ultimately made extremism an unfortunate reality for Pakistan. Extremist’s groups had regularly targeted various organizations i.e, sectarian killings, blasphemy incidents, suicidal bomb blast at mosques, shrines, government buildings, academic institutions and religious gatherings forced the citizens of this country to live constantly in a state of fear and uncertainty. Extremist’s organization really pushed law enforcement agencies including armed forces to a real war scenario. The country suffered in terms of huge blockade of foreign investment and sacrifices of precious lives both of innocent civilians as well as law enforcement agencies. The scenario warrant immediate attention of all concerned across the globe to play their role to curtail extremism at all fronts.