ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: Civil society activists have alleged that the continued occupation of the Model Children’s Library in the city reflects government’s unwillingness to stand up to bullies in the stand-off over the adjoining ‘unauthorised’ Madressah for girls.

Indeed, the situation bolsters the suspicion that its calls for “enlightened moderation” notwithstanding, the government was protective of sectarian forces rather than the victims of “their intimidation and arbitrary violence”, said Aasim Sajjad of the People’s Rights Movement (PRM) in a statement here Wednesday.

“Organised sectarianism in Pakistan is a product of Ziaul Haq’s 11-year dictatorship which cultivated sectarian forces to undermine more expansive and threatening forms of political and cultural expression,” he said.

“Only if and when patronage of right wing forces is halted will Pakistanis be safe,” he added.

Patras Joseph of the All-Pakistan Alliance of Katchi Abadis and the inter-faith organization, Qadam, accused the government of failing to live up to its basic responsibility of maintaining law and order in the land.

Thousands of children below 14 were members of the library which, he said, was one of the few places in the capital where young people could engage in constructive activities.

Authorities should have secured it before undertaking their potentially controversial actions against the Madressah, he added.

University students, professors, and other concerned citizens have also been critical of the government’s failure to protect the Model Children’s Library.