Countering terrorism

The decision of APC to talk to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and other terrorist organisations still hangs in the air.

Recently, in a meeting, the prime minister approved the merger of the Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) with the soon-to-be-formed Anti-terrorism Force (ATF) for the province. Behind the merger lies a tale of failure, the wastage of untold millions of rupees, and in all likelihood, the deaths and injuries that are a consequence of successful terrorist acts. The meeting noted that the CTD had failed in its primary purpose of identifying and arresting high-profile terrorists, those who support them and those who raise or provide their funding. The prime minister and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took to task the head of the department who was unable to present a single instance where the CTD had found or arrested any terrorist, nor was he able to cite a single instance where it had averted a terrorist act. The counter-terrorism department has clearly failed in its job and failed the people of Punjab as well, who have seen no benefit from its existence. The prime minister has now ordered the speeding up of the formation of the force, though, with the officers who have already a proven record of failure under their belts to be a part of the new force, the auguries for its future performance are mixed at best. There is still no effective provincial or national counterterrorism strategy to speak of. The decision of the All Parties Conference to talk to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and other terrorist organisations still hangs in the air.

The various terrorist groups continue to operate seemingly with something close to impunity. Punjab should have provided rich pickings for the counter-terrorism department as there is no shortage of centres at which terrorists and their supporters gather. Fund-raising is often open for all to see, banners and wall-chalkings give any number of clues and leads to follow up on. It might be reasonably asked what all those working in the CTD were doing all this time, because they were most certainly not going about the business of catching terrorists and making Punjab and the country a safer place.

Let us hope that the ATF has better luck.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2013.

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