Game, Set, Boom

The mask is slowly coming off. The face underneath ain’t pretty. In a flash of rhetorical brilliance, the spokesman for the TTP has blurted out a gem: “The bombing of the church in Peshawar is as per the requirements of Sharia.” So, there you have it: the unveiling of the philosophical and theological world view of our partners in dialogue, for all to see. Slaughter dipped in vengeance and baked in blood. Appetising enough for our apologist leaders and their zombie camp followers?

The TTP spokesman talks to the BBC and lays it straight: No, our central command did not bomb the church but one of our subsidiaries did. These subgroups adhere to our world view and have our permission to hit the enemy wherever and whenever. And yes, the church bombing was according to Shariat.

If I am a subgroup commander, what do I take away from this statement? Not hard to fathom really. I actually get a carte blanche to blast away. Yes, I now get a green signal from the HQ: lock on the suicide vests boys, snap shut the Velcro straps, tighten those joints, recheck the red and blue wires, pack in the ammo, don’t forget the nails, and off you go hunting.

Yes, it is open hunting season now. See, slaying has a Shariati sanction from the high priests of North Waziristan. It’s a go, go, go moment for the swashbuckling vest-wallahs. It’s never a dull day for killing, is it?



Game, Set, Boom. So, if you are a Christian; if you are a member of any other minority group, or even if you are not; even if you are a Muslim of any denomination; or sect; even if you are foreigner, or a Pakistani, or an old man, woman, or a little baby who just opened your eyes in the bad bad world a few months ago; even if you are any of the above — then, be afraid. Be very afraid.

‘Cuz TTP is coming your way. It’s snarling, it’s growling, and man, it is pumped up to blow up. Nothing — no Sharif, no Khan, no maulana and no allama — can stop it from carrying out its Sharia responsibility.

Meanwhile, back in Islamabad, the tough guys are, well, napping or shopping. Sharif, the PM, is planning his nirvana meeting with Obama, Khan is locked in a bitter duel — with himself — and the others don’t really count. The maulanas are an electoral waste of space and the PPP, MQM, ANP combined are a spectator at best. That leaves the khakis. They have the guns, but do they have the guts? And more importantly, do they have a plan? The situation is evolving, mutating, and only the blind, the self-obsessed, and the denial-mongers, can miss the changes. Slowly and surely, there is a groundswell of loathing and disgust for those who slaughter innocents by the dozens; who kill and maim little babies and bomb places of worship. Slowly and surely, a reservoir of hatred is building up for those who slit throats, severe heads, slash limbs, gut open the bodies of Pakistanis and yank out their entrails. And then they spit in the face of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The State of Pakistan wipes off the spit and grins foolishly — and sheepishly. How much spit can a face take?

The PML-N lion is purring like a house cat, happy to scratch itself than gouge the slayers’ eyes. Nawaz Sharif is our lord commander now. Towards him look all eyes, living and dead. He and he alone, must bend the others to his will. He has the mandate he has, not to grovel but to make decisions. The buck stops with him. The khakis are under his command. Khan is a mere annoyance, maulanas an irritant. He has tried taking them along. If they do not, shunt them aside — and rule.

So, time to wipe that spit, and that grin, off your face.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2013.

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