Editorial

Blast in Multan

Despite a large-scale military operation, terrorist forces are able to carry explosive material through large cities

Editorial September 14, 2015

Policemen inspect the site of an IED explosion in Multan. PHOTO: EXPRESS

It has now been proven that the explosion that took place at a busy Multan intersection on the evening of September 13 was caused by explosives being carried in one of the two vehicles involved in the accident. A motorcycle crashed into an auto rickshaw resulting in a massive blast. The explosion was initially attributed to a gas cylinder kit, but the police have now confirmed that a large volume of explosive material was being carried, possibly in the auto rickshaw. The identity of the passengers in the rickshaw is being investigated.

A total of 11 persons were killed in the incident, more than 80 injured and 52 shops damaged or destroyed. The suspicion is that while Vehari Chowk is a busy area of the city, with many coach stands, bus stands and shops, the target may have been a different location. The possibility of an attempted suicide bombing is not being ruled out. Ball bearings have been found at the spot and a crater left behind. It is not insignificant that the incident took place in southern Punjab, an area which is known to have a heavy presence of extremist groups. In recent weeks, a campaign has been under way against them as well as against seminaries operating in the area. It is also worth noting that despite the large-scale military operation being carried out in the country, terrorist forces are still able to operate and carry explosive material through large cities. Our policies to defeat them have recently come under review at high-level meetings. The military has demanded greater action by civilian authorities. Certainly, we need to know more about the methods used by various groups. An in-depth inquiry into the Multan incident could help take us further in achieving this and uncovering more vital information.

This information must then be put together and used as a means to stop terrorists in their tracks before they can inflict further havoc. Military force alone can never be enough. We also need good intelligence and assistance from communities and individuals, who can help identify the locations where terrorists are based and the manner in which they carry out their activities.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2015.

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COMMENTS (2)

oats | 9 years ago | Reply @S.R.H. Hashmi: When was the last time you heard about a terrorist attack in Punjab? So once or twice a year some coward terrorist gets through but overall terrorist attacks are down all over the country. The nation is winning the war against the cowards so there is no need to raise alarm bells. The need is to stay the course and not make a mountain of a mole hill. Every now and then, some coward will slip through and attack someone in Punjab but Punjab is very safe.

S.R.H. Hashmi | 9 years ago | Reply The great passion to retake North Waziristan from terrorists, and perhaps to retake Karachi from MQM and to hand it over to some other political forces, has resulted in an unfortunate situation where the big concentrations of militants and sectarian outfits in Punjab, especially Southern Punjab, have been left almost untouched. And a recent high-level huddle to review progress on the National Action Plan revealed that on many of the famous twenty points, action has not even been started yet and NACTA, which was supposed to do substantial work, still appears to be in its infancy. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was stated to have expressed anger at this state of affairs, which must be for show only, because the way the affairs of the state are being conducted within a close circle, there is no way he would have been unaware of how things were proceeding in respect of NAP and its related matters. After all, it was not too far back that a comprehensive report was published about NACTA stating, among other things, that it was given a very small allocation in the budget which prevented it even from filling the important posts. Obviously, Nawaz Sharif who was opposed to operation against militants and terrorists in the tribal areas would hardly want things ‘disturbed’ in his home province where some sort of artificial peace is being maintained with an understanding with the terrorist outfits who have headquarters there. However, Multan incident must be an eye-opener. And it has now become imperative to start an operation in Punjab without further delay. And again, like Zarb-e-Azb, which was started by the army and announce through ISPR – leaving the government no other option, but to join it – in respect of operation in Punjab also, the armed forces will have to take the initiative and keep tabs on things. With the official announcement that crime in Karachi has been reduced by seventy percent – and the position on the ground also supports this assertion – and situation in Balochistan also having improved substantially, perhaps it is time for military high command to focus on the situation elsewhere in the country, especially Punjab where the real fight has not even been started yet. Karachi

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