What is ominous is that the extremists who still operate in our midst continue to be able to send out such messages. Security at the site of the rally was — for obvious reasons — high. But no amount of security precaution seems to be sufficient to stop suicide bombers. Hence, we need to see what we can do to improve security. Something seems to be amiss. Sniffer dogs, devices able to detect explosives and expert personnel are all needed. Perhaps, what we require is expertise hired from abroad to work out what should be done. It is also essential that we review the working of our intelligence apparatus, and find ways to improve its efficiency. Given that the responsibility for this attack — which has taken an unforgivable toll on life and inflicted suffering — has been taken by the Taliban, the effort of negotiating with them seems to be futile. What adds to the disastrous nature of such attacks is that they also serve to detach political leaders from the people. Politics and democracy depend on a regular flow of contacts between leaders and the electorate; on the face-to-face interaction between them and the delivery of messages that comes through this process. There has already been a drastic reduction in public meetings. If we allow this to continue, the bombers will have won by pushing back parties into the relative safety of their offices and this cannot be allowed.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 29th, 2012.
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those standing in front of the fire, bear the brunt of it. And we run after a revolutionary who has no plan at all, turning blind eye to those who stand there for what we want.
and what about the scores of ANP activists firing blind folded at the Mardan polling station to scare the voters away?? and winning the election because of that?? by force and scaring people?
@Mirza: Can you throw some light on, why isn't MQM being targeted ? It too calls itself a liberal. Is there a hidden truce as "enemy of your enemy is a friend".
In Pakistan only the nationalist, liberal and secular parties are targeted by the fanatic terrorists. They parties are in their violent way of life and believe in live and let live, a major threat to the terrorist ideology. It is not surprising that these secular parties loved by electorate are targeted by the terrorists who hate all democratic forces. The important question to ask is why only ANP and PPP are the usual target of these terrorists? Why are all the rightwing parties who are allied with fanatics safely hold their meetings? Yet these terrorists and their touts keep badmouthing the above parties. What a shame, that OBL has supporters in Pakistan but but the most popular parties not safe.