Sense and nonsense

The capacity for politicians to talk nonsense is well established all over the world.

But sometimes our leaders exceed all expectations in this regard. One example has come in the aftermath of the deadly bombing at the Qissa Khawani Bazaar in Peshawar. A provincial leader of the Jamaate- Islami (JI) has rather bizarrely blamed the CIA or the Indian intelligence agencies for the act of terrorism directed against party workers, while the chief of the party has made even less sense by attributing the blast to anti-Muslim elements.

Again, he has implied it is the Americans who are somehow responsible. The Tehreeki- Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has chimed in, blaming recent attacks across the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Blackwater ignoring the fact that the TTP has in the past claimed responsibility for attacks that murdered innocent citizens.

There is in fact no evidence of external involvement and no reason to believe the bombing was any different from the others that have taken place in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa, or that it was not carried out by elements linked to the Taliban. The pattern indeed fits in precisely with what we have seen in the past.

Frankly speaking, it is also somewhat hard to say what benefit the Americans would derive from arranging for bombs to be detonated in the heart of our cities. While it is quite true that America has pursued policies that are hostile to Muslims, we cannot imagine the US would attempt to wipe out nearly 170 Pakistanis in this fashion.

It is time that parties such as the JI adopted a more responsible line and recognised that terrorism lies within the country. Then they could play a more responsible role in attempting to eliminate it, rather than engaging in the aimless game of pointing fingers to earn political mileage.