Terrorism tactics

The amendment in the 1997 anti-terrorism law, tabled in the Senate, aims to make our country a safer place. Whether or not the proposed measures, which include tighter travel restrictions on the leaders of banned groups and tougher financial controls on their assets will work, depends on the degree of enthusiasm with which they are enforced. The problem with dealing with terrorists in the past has not been one of laws that enable the security apparatus to go after them but the readiness to show the commitment needed for this.

As a result, groups banned eight years ago continue to operate freely across Punjab. Some have been involved in various acts of violence. The new anti-terrorism bill allows those arrested to be held without charge for 90 days. Much, however, will depend on the success of police and other agencies in lining up evidence against them. It is this failure that has in the past allowed suspects to walk free. There is also the suspicion that some in the force may have sympathies with the militants. During the 1990s, accounts had emerged of how some sectarian organisations had deliberately worked to persuade senior police officials to join their ranks, in the hope of escaping action in the event of arrest. It appears this dangerous nexus remain intact.

Measures aimed at tackling terrorism must go beyond the matter of drafting laws. It is also vital that an overall picture be kept in mind. We need steps to uplift police capacities and the introduction of community-based approaches to detect militant activity. Other means need to be found to deal with a problem that remains the biggest threat to our nation. A more far-reaching strategy to deal with terrorism then needs to be drawn up, keeping in view also the factors that fuel it. Until this happens there can be no real assurance that we will see a decline in militancy no matter how tough anti-terrorism laws may be.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2010.