At least 89 per cent people in Pakistan  feel that suicide bombings and violence against civilians is unjustified, a survey has revealed.

Islamabad, Sept 11/Nationalturk- As Pakistan is struggling to overcome bombings and violence unleashed by Taliban militants,  89 per cent of country’s population, according to new survey, feel that suicide bombings and violence against civilians is unjustified.

A new survey conducted by ‘Pew Research Center’ has found that as many as 89% of Pakistanis currently believe suicide bombings or other acts of violence targeting civilians are “never justified”. Another two percent stated they sometimes can be justified, while one percent stated they are “often” justified.

The  ‘Pew Research Center’ conducted the survey in 11 Muslim countries in March-April this year. The survey conducted face-to-face interviews of 8989 Muslims from March 3 to April 7, 2013 in  Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Palestinian territories, Senegal, Tunisia and Turkey.

“Across 11 Muslim, a median of 67% say they are somewhat or very concerned about Islamic extremism. In five countries – Pakistan, Jordan, Tunisia, Turkey and Indonesia – Muslim worries about extremism have increased in the past year,” the survey revealed.

Referring to Pakistan, where Taliban suicide bombings and blasts have become more routine,

Pew reports that overwhelming majority have negative views of suicide bombing.

 “About 89 per cent people in Pakistan opined that suicide bombings and violence against civilians is never justified. Similarly in Indonesia 81% people, Nigeria  78% and Tunisia  77% population felt suicide bombings or other acts of violence that target civilians are never justified,” the survey reports.

It further states that  at present an estimated 67% of Pakistanis are concerned about the threat of Islamic extremism, which was  58% in 2012.

Support for Hizbollah has declined

The Pew survey also conducted public opinion in Muslim countries on various Islamist  militant groups operating across the world.

“The Taliban are viewed negatively by a median of 51% of Muslims in the 11 countries where public opinion was conducted. Hizbollah and Hamas fare little better,” the Pew report said.

However, it said Hizbollah’s support has fallen in key Middle Eastern countries, including a 38 percentage point drop in favorable views among Egyptian Muslims since 2007 due to its role in turmoil in Syria.

Hizbollah fighters have been fighting alongside Bashar-al-Assad forces in Syria against rebels.  Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrullah has also openly extended support to regime.

In Palestine, 43% are in favour of the group with 49% against it.

In Pakistan,  72% recorded no opinion. 13% said they were not in favour of the group against a 15% who said they were.

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News

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