Every time he used to see a religious inscription painted or plastered across the back of a vehicle, a friend of mine used to say that the owner of the vehicle had doubts about his faith.

“Alhamdulillah, I am a Muslim and a Pakistani.” How often does one come across statements such as this? But what does such a declaration really mean in a country where more than 95 per cent of the population is Muslim – and, of course, Pakistani?

Why do we keep hearing it over and over again? Do most Pakistanis have doubts about their religious and patriotic inclinations? Whom are they talking to?

It is Pakistanis talking to Pakistanis. So then why the constant reminders about them being Muslims and Pakistanis? The reasons are rather simple. Our’s is a country where there is no one cohesive understanding of faith or culture.

Though there is nothing wrong in being a diverse society (in fact the diversity should be celebrated), the problem starts when the state and certain intellectual and religious circles begin to shape and enforce a single concept of “correct religion” and “true patriotism.”

When this supposedly correct version of religious belief and nationalism is given constant currency and propagation, an overriding social psyche starts to develop in which anyone criticising or even debating this version automatically becomes suspect and is likely to be accused of being “anti-Islam” and (thus)  “anti-Pakistan.”

This psyche has not only hindered the development of the culture of holding informed discourses, it has also given birth to a mind-set that explains the act of mud-slinging as “debate,” and which encourages the floating of bizarre conspiracy theories as a way to actually fatten one’s credentials as a “political analyst”, “religious scholar” and “economic expert.”

Thus, even when a view is aired, especially if it is a learned, insightful and well informed opinion, the person is subconsciously bound to also apologetically explain his Muslimness and Pakistaniat – as if trying to speak one’s mind is a no-go-area and can bring the involved person’s religious and patriotic beliefs into question.

Constant declarations such as, “After all we are all Muslims …” have become mantras of apologia without which a person is exposed to all kinds of accusations by the  keepers of faith and nationalism who can be found in great numbers across large sections of the society, media and the ‘establishment.’

But the progressive and the less religiously demonstrative politicians, journalists and intellectuals are not the only ones forced by this psyche to constantly announce their faith and patriotism.

Artistes, cultural figures and the common man too – especially when they are given a public platform like, for example, television -  find themselves subconsciously and almost instinctively invoking the words, “Islam,” and “Pakistan,” even while talking about a totally secular and unrelated topic.

It is as if each one of them feels that while in front of a camera, more than anything else, it is their religious and patriotic credentials that are being judged.

One can expect this from an actress, a pop star, politicians, cooking show host and common people. The psychological pressure to do so is such that they are bound to add a statement like, “Akhir hum Muslaman aur Pakistani hain” (After all, we are Muslims and Pakistanis), to whatever they may be saying.

This is actually them answering an invisible and unsaid, but nonetheless, forceful question: “Declare your faith?” As if not answering this question can get them accused of being “un-Islamic” and “un-patriotic.”

This is a sad state of affairs. It smells of an elusive and unspoken form of fascism imposed in the name of faith and patriotism. The situation gets even worse when such declarations are ironically not expected from people who perhaps make the biggest mockery of faith and nationalism. These are certain politico-religious figures, conservative personalities and most televangelists.

They seem to be free to distort faith and history, clutter minds with crackpot conspiracy theories, mock intelligence and rationality, and sometimes even instigate hatred and violence – yet not a single question is asked of them.

Nobody is judging their credentials in this respect. Maybe because their declarations in matters of faith and patriotism come in the shape of loud reactionary ranting, hare-brained theories and their “Islamic way of dressing.” As if being a good Muslim and a concerned Pakistani only amounts to being loud, exhibitionistic and self-righteous.

After all, isn’t it true that though the mindset I am talking about is always quick to call an actress “fahash” (obscene), a secular politician “anti-Islam,” a liberal “pro-West,” and an objective/progressive political analyst “anti-Pakistan,” it never bothers to question preachers, fanatics, TV personalities and those televangelists who openly peddle faith and patriotism through hate speeches, reactionary insinuations, reckless conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated gossip?

Think about it.

And by the way, I too must declare: I am a Muslim and a Pakistani. Just in case.

The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.