The message going out is then one that can only encourage the militants; it seems to tell them that the provincial government has no answer to their force; no will to combat their brutality. PHOTO: FILE
In what can only be described as an extraordinary sense of optimism, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) cabinet has called on the Taliban to stop killing on ‘humanitarian’ grounds. We can only wonder how much a force that has killed some 40,000 people, most of them civilians, knows of humanity, or to what degree its members consider the question when bodies fall on streets, small children shriek as blood pours from their bodies and distraught families search for victims after a bombing.
Beyond the appeal to humanity, the K-P government has continued to follow its policy of appeasement, reiterating the call made earlier by party leader Imran Khan to allow the Taliban to set up an office so that attempts to ‘derail’ peace talks are stopped, demanding the federal government put an end to drone attacks and insisting it still seeks negotiations with the militants. This response, decided at a special meeting of the K-P cabinet, appears to be a rather odd one, coming just days after the Eid day murder of PTI law minister Israrullah Gandapur. In some ways, the stance seems to insult him, and others who have died earlier, suggesting the party is too weak in the spine to stand up to the killers of its own people. Indeed, a fitting response would have been to soundly condemn the murder, rather than making excuses for the perpetrators.
The message going out is then one that can only encourage the militants; it seems to tell them that the provincial government has no answer to their force; no will to combat their brutality. Instead of taking them on as a band of criminals intent on murder and mayhem, it instead seeks to talk things over. We ask quite what there is to talk about and if there can be any moral excuse for refusing to take on a band of ruthless killers who have run riot through our country, and instead attempting to do business with them, while refusing to ask if this is justified given their multiple acts of barbarity and their complete disregard for the laws of the state. The PTI must consider if it can afford to adhere to its current strategy, even as its own men are mowed down in the ugliest fashion.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2013.
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The PTI Chief should be reminded of his promise made before the elections that he will resign if unable to fulfil commitments made by him.
It is indeed strange That TTP has never asked for an office for them either prior to or after IK asked one for them.
With current mind set of IK of PTI, to stand side by side with Taliban, if some one is expecting chnage in Pakistan is living in fools paradise. Recently IK came live on a TV channel and even repeatedly asked about his role of oppositon in NA he skipped the actual topic and enver replied the original question. Every day situaiton of country is getting further hopeless. Those who still see some light at the end of the PTI tunnel probably living in self made fantasy.
@ Asad Shah Ask a common man in KP as to whether seizing of Drone attacks and peace agreement with TTP will persuade them to stop terrorist activities the answer will be in negative..TTP voilated the peace agreements of Makeen and Sara Rogha in Musharrf,s era by repeated attacks on security forces in South Waziristan. They want the Government and the State to surrender their authority over FATA enabling them to establish their Islamic Emirate. Perhaps PTI and PML N leadership is oblivious of this ultimate goal of TTP.
To deal with these parasites the strategy should be to do them what they do to innocent civilians. Kill them when they dont expect, hit them on their most revered events and then tell them Islam says there is an eye for an eye, a body for a body. Teach them hard and these bigots will ran away becoz they are not believers they are just self confesed owners of our great and humanity-loving religion Islam.
All bombarded criticism from all sides on IK reflects his popularity and indicates, he might be doing some thing right. We people of KP are with IK in all ups and downs.
Once the genie is out of the bottle, no way can be found to put it back in. Mature nations always take decisions after considering adverse fall outs of them. Pakistan took years to construct a Constitution, subsequently came out with a terrible one designed to cause maximum confusion, with time and amendments it got worse. Imran may be understands that the mindset of the citizens is now fully Talibanized. We must remember that Imran was the only leader who wanted a chat with the COAS prior to all party APC. May be Imran found out personally from the horses mouth, the terror groups could not be militarily defeated. When the leaders have never honestly communicated with the Public, it is very difficult to speculate what is talked behind closed doors. It is a lot easier to criticize, like I do. Whatever it be, the prognosis for the nation is not good and there is no scope for consensus on any issue, coupled with a lack of courage and leadership. Since Independence Pakistan has taken the path of least resistance, which is downhill --- now it is too weak, tired and exhausted to climb back to starting point, leave aside conquer Everest.
reiterating the call made earlier by party leader Imran Khan to allow the Taliban to set up an office
This could be the beginning of making Pakistan a truly Islamic country, ruled by Taliban.
The PTI seems to have joined the band of political parties like the PPP, which rely merely on rhetoric and choose to ignore killings of their own as long as it is politically beneficial for them. Muderers and those whose hands are tainted with blood of innocent should be condemned and pursued with all the might of state power, otherwise terrorism will thrive and human values and morals decline, as they have done in this country. A country that does not pursue terrorists and killers of their citizen, is opening its gates for such rogue elements to thrive and destroy it from within. PTI must stand up.
PM NS leaving for US and agenda is to ask US to stop DRONES attacks then WHY you single out IK and PTI. APC agreed to negotiate then again WHY you single out IK and PTI. I just dont't get it.
If Negotiations and Seizing of Drone attacks established PEACE. I Know you will credit NS. If failed then discredit IK and PTI. Pretty slick way to level the field for your next editorial.