The writer is a barrister and human rights activist and tweets @AlizehIHaider
It is not just Alamdar Road or Abbas Town; the whole country is doused in unspeakable grief and anguish over targeted attacks on its citizens. People’s lives have been torn to shreds all in a matter of seconds and we still await the state organs, including the government, army, law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies and the media to commit to a zero tolerance position against militancy. But sadly, what has ensued is a shameful finger-pointing contest among various state institutions and the federal and provincial governments.
An unabashed interior minister has blamed the Punjab government for patronising militant groups, such as the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), and deliberately not taking action against those terrorists whose names were provided to it. The Punjab government’s response has been to question why the onus should fall on it only and not the federal government. This is not only a weak statement, but also one that implicitly accepts that the charge against it is correct and that it indeed did not act upon the intelligence it was provided. The military and intelligence agencies, too, have long been criticised for fathering militant groups despite the destruction they have caused.
In a recent TV show, a victim of the Abbas Town tragedy asked Hamid Mir a very pertinent question: “Why do TV anchors and media persons invite heads of terrorist groups to their shows when their rightful place is behind bars?” Will any media group care to answer?
How do government officials, including then interior minister Rehman Malik, and intelligence agencies have the temerity to accept that they have information regarding attacks that have been planned and yet, fail to take any significant measures to avert them? Do we interpret this as criminal apathy or veiled acquiescence of the government and law enforcement agencies?
The single greatest reason for Pakistan’s inability to counter the spread of terrorism is the lack of political will to do so. It is time our politicians recognise that emotional sloganeering is simply not enough and that the era of cultivating generations of political loyalty by simply feeding people empty promises is over. Politicians must prove themselves worthy of being our leaders, rise above self-serving politics and steer the nation through these difficult times rather than finding cover under unholy alliances. To the military and its agencies, you have sworn allegiance to protect Pakistan and its people. Stand before the people and declare yourself as enemies of those who are enemies of the people of Pakistan. As for the media, we ask you to just this once, set aside the race for ratings and commit to taking a moral position and boycott all coverage of representatives of militant outfits. Do not allow them to use your resources to spread their message of hate and violence. To the judiciary and law enforcement agencies, it is up to you to ensure that there are no holes in the net with which these terrorists are hauled up. It breaks our courage to see terrorists being arrested and then set free on one pretext or the other.
Pakistan is not on the verge of unravelling; it is unravelling. The people of Pakistan beseech all state institutions and the media to respond to this crisis with a unified strategy and an unshakeable resolve to defeat militancy. It is now or never.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2013.
COMMENTS (12)
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@Sami
I totally agree. Pakistan needs more Islam and that too in it's purest form. Only that will end this misery in Pakistan. Inshallah, it will happen soon.
When the state (includes military, judiciary and media) and people do not stand with the victims of terror and Saudi Arabians and Americans are spreading radicalization in the society, the only way for shias to defend themselves, as per one of my friend, is to take up arms in hand and protect themselves and the law enforcement agencies of the state too.
The people of Pakistan beseech all state institutions and the media to respond to this crisis with a unified strategy and an unshakeable resolve to defeat militancy. It is now or never.
Sounds very nice, but is mostly not true.
Don't believe me?
Look at the turnout at any function in remembrance of Salman Taseer or Hazras of Quetta or any such victims and compare this with any rally raising funds for Mumtaz Qadri or in support of ASWJ or JUD. Militancy has more supporters amongst the 'People of Pakistan'.
They are not terrorists. They are freedom fighters that want to esabish a pure islamic state under shariah in Pakistan. Strategic assets of Pakistan like these tanzeems should be provided full moral, judicial and diplomatic support by the state.
The governent should solve the core issue of installing a pure islamic state with shariah laws. Not doing so will only lead to strengthening extremist activities.
"a victim of the Abbas Town tragedy asked Hamid Mir a very pertinent question: “Why do TV anchors and media persons invite heads of terrorist groups to their shows when their rightful place is behind bars?” The victims would not get an answer from the media or political leaders. It is an open secret that these extremist leaders are all set free by our courts. These terrorist organizations have deep roots among the rightwing political parties and make electoral alliances with them. SS of Pakistan had an open alliance with PML-N and Rana Sana still has direct contacts with them. The reason minorities, liberal women, Shia and other groups are targeted by these organizations is that they are not their voters and the lesser they are the better for them and their rightwing allies.
What matters is the inability to take action on both levels.
For how long are we asking for all these things Alizeh? seems like from the time immemorial, may be. A little decency from the politicians, a little realization from the Military, and a little justice from our Judiciary. Nothing changed. Is this too big to ask? When are we going to see our dreams come true? Ever? Looking on the interregnum since 1947, it seems impossible. Still the dreamers can not stop to dream, as they have no choice but little. Bravo Ms., you still have the courage to dream and wish. Though, In a way, it's good for our coming generation to live without dreams, only with harsh realities; no education, no health and no shelter. Because if they are educated, they will be able to differentiate between the right and the wrong, good and evil, Islamic and unislamic, democratic and monarchic. They will also ask for their so-called human and fundamental rights. That will be a disaster ma'm. For if they demand rights, it will mean that they have awaken and that will mean, they are no longer dreamers. Thanks to our politicians, military and judiciary that they are, head and toe, trying to protect us from that. Their duty is, to protect us, right? They are doing their duty, so well. Like they say, " God will never ask them about the hungry dogs on the shore of 'Dajla', since they have no river by that name in their territory". Marhaba.
This has been said before. Between now and never, it's the never that seems to win.
I have news for your dear Alizeh... and that is that a country that is in fact "unravelling" has no scope whatsoever to rebuild! You can beseech all whoever you like -- the military or the judiciary or anyone else... because at the end of the day it is the Pakistani people themselves by their act of omission and/or commission that have brought the situation to this pass. It is like "beseeching" a hard-core alcoholic not to drink again.... do you believe it will ever work? Think about it!
The politicians in government and opposition alike abrogated their responsibility by turning a very grave issue of mass murder in to a shameful drama of blame game and party political point scoring. Media current affairs programmes became the stage for this shameful display and complete absence of moral rectitude in media anchors and politicians alike. The media anchors while giving a chance to a diverse cross section of politicians to express their views, showed complete and utter lack of vision and professionalism by not holding these morons to account; instead they let them get away with wasting media time in indulging in blame game and shameful party political point scoring. After all that has happened, do the people of Pakistan still expect protection from these corrupt and cowardly political morons. IN MY OPINION, IMRAN KHAN IS THE ONLY HOPE, EVEN IF HIS GOVERNMENT TURNS OUT TO BE INEXPERIENCED AND INEFFICIENT, IT WILL BE AN HONEST GOVERNMENT NEVER THE LESS, IT WILL AT THE VERY LEAST DO SOMETHING INSTEAD OF DOING NOTHING AND ROBBING THE STATE. I am 62 years of age having left Pakistan at the age of 15; I have no political affiliation or bias.
Never too late to ring the alarm bell, as you so forcefully have. The unravelling you talk of at the end is possibly exactly what those who are supposed to check this, in fact really want or possibly do not care because they all have a back-door exit strategy in place.
Political will to act. Agencies to provide info Law enforcement to take action Prosecutors to convict criminals. Judicial system to provide justice Media to behave responsibly We believe in paradise, but to believe of this happening in Pakistan is far stretched at this point in History.