From: "Najma Sadeque" <najma.sadeque.ns@gmail.com>
Date: Oct 20, 2013 7:33 AM
Subject: Terrorists on the rampage: Time you spoke up, Prime Minister by Nasim Zehra
To: "Najma Sadeque" <najma.sadeque.ns@gmail.com>
The Law Minister of Khyber Pakhtu-nkhwa has been brutally killed...another suicide bom-ber, another set of departed souls and dozens more let injured and maimed.
Devastated, the families of the dead are left mourning. For the rest of us, we continue with the morbid count. And in the last few months it's a rapidly increasing number. The bloodletting terrorists are on a scoring spree. Proudly, they now also post gruesome videos of their victims, as if trophies, on the Internet.
Meanwhile, the majority of Pakistan's politicians have opted for denial. Pakistan remains a killing field, second only to Iraq and Syria. The Pakistani military cast the dye for Pakistan to be reduced to this state, but politicians have been lacking in the will, courage and wisdom required to end this continuing carnage.
Though our pain is unceasing, it's blunted by the frequency of killings. As bleeding Pakistan enters the free-fall zone, who should we turn to? Our frustration increases. These people we sent in as our elected representatives, many are perfecting the ostrich act. And some are straight stupid.
At the Centre, the federal government unceasingly plays footsie by proposing dialogue repeatedly, and by failing to decide that these killers have to be taken on frontally. Why is this three-time elected Prime Minister, his two-time Interior Minister and the newly-formed Cabinet Committee on Defence and National Security not giving us a counter-terrorism strategy?
Although the Interior Minister occasionally thunders the right words, soon they all seem to slip into a fool's paradise. The call for an APC, popular with successive Federal governments is mere hogwash. The truth is that the confused and the weak-kneed want to hide the absence of resolve, behind a veil of democratic consensus.
Too much timidity and too much politics is perpetuating this killing spree. This timidity partly explains the temerity of the men who continue to kill at will.
It's also time to ask, the even if well-meaning, but dangerously naïve Imran Khan: How many more deaths will it take for him to confront his own confusion and hence dithering over the question of dealing with terrorists?
Effectively the denial of realities by the government has brought the state to its knees...after all whose great idea was it to stop the hangings of the terrorists that were scheduled for after Aug 20th? Mian Sahib suddenly turned liberal, and developed a penchant for human rights activism, declaring no hangings. God knows who all within Pakistan's ruling setup decided that stopping the hangings was going to help Pakistan become a human rights torch-bearer. Some argue that the EU wanted us to. But all we know for sure is that the Punjabi Talib Amir Mua'wiya's open threat to attack Raiwind, had immediately preceded the government's announcement to stop the hangings.
Over terrorism the ostrich-like approach of the Federal and especially the KP government, will only strengthen the terrorists. If anyone believes that this cleanup will happen without bloodshed, let them know that they are unfit to handle a nation's future — a nation that has been the casualty of endless blunders committed in the name of national security.
We were told human rights activists ganged up against hangings and so the government had no choice. Do we pay heed to global calls only when it suits us. Also what was more important, posturing, or letting Pakistan's law take its course on a crucial issue? Examine what happened across the border. Over a young woman's gory rape case, no major voices appeared to save the rapists from hanging.
Leaders decide and execute decisions. But that clarity in statement and execution on terrorism is missing in our country. Hence today Pakistanis are all over the place, offering different opinions on what should and what should not be done regarding terrorism. Hundreds of ideas, multiplying confusion and no national resolve. This is inevitable when leaders do not behave as responsible leaders. Let's learn from history that men of destiny stand tall in a nation at peril and lead them out of trouble by stating the 'Objective' and the 'Way Forward' — clearly, boldly.
To those who ask what must be done, the answer is simple. Let's start with the Prime Minister telling us "My dear Pakistanis, for over a decade now we are confronting terrorists who have killed our innocent sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers etc. These terrorists are Pakistan's enemies, as they are enemies of humanity, Islam and all that is sacred in life and in the hereafter. These misguided men, steeped in violence and hate, have killed our best. They have killed at will; children in schools, people in mosques, churches, shrines, imambarghas, janazas, offices, homes. I want to assure that my government understands that the responsibility of the State is to protect the life, dignity and property of the citizens of Pakistan. I am making a commitment to you that I, as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, commit to fulfilling, with your support, my promise to protect you all. I will, devote all valuable resources of the State: the military, the police, the intelligence agencies, the information and communication networks, to ensure your safety. I expect all provincial governments and political parties to be one with me in this battle against the terrorists.
I understand the mistakes and the problems of the past, of the region, that precipitated the problem of terrorism. It is now principally our problem, and we alone must deal with it. For those in the ranks of terrorists that will unconditionally surrender their weapons and seek to unconditionally join the ranks of law-abiding Constitution-believing Pakistanis, I will welcome them in our ranks. Allah in His Glory teaches us to be merciful and forgiving. The State can forgive only those who repent. The State will engage those with genuine grievances, provided they declare themselves to be law-abiding citizens.
Finally let there be no confusion about my resolve to, InshaAllah, bring security back to Pakistan — bring back peace to your homes, so your children, your sons, your daughters; your loved ones can go about their lives as free and secure citizens of this great country, that Quaid-i-Azam founded with amazing sacrifices. It is, my fellow Pakistanis, a long and difficult battle, and a bloody one too. But we are being killed even now and the terrorists are getting bolder by the day. With your support and prayers and the support of my courageous and fearless police, army and intel agencies, I will InshaAllah fulfill my commitment of making Pakistan the country that Quaid-e-Azam had set out to make. Pakistan Zindabad."
There is no doubt that with such a clear message no politician will dare to play politics around the cancer of terrorism that is taking our precious lives on a daily basis. Will the Prime Minister say what we are waiting to hear?
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