Murphy’s law of terrorism
Thirty one people were killed in an attack on a Shia procession on September 1,2010 PHOTO:AFP
Ever heard of Murphy’s Law of Terrorism? It says: “If a suicide attack can take place, it will.”
If the province is Punjab and the interior minister is Rana Sanaullah, the probability of a terror attack maximizes. But it would be unfair to other law enforcers (intelligence agencies in particular) if the entire credit of incompetence, criminal negligence and corruption goes to the PML-N minister. After all he’s not the only one who allowed sectarian violence to prosper and flourish under the protected umbrella of law enforcement. Pakistani courts, military agencies, police and rangers made sure not to catch any terrorist who was linked to sectarianism and if someone ever was caught, they were back on the streets on the basis of lack of evidence, political influence or for reasons that we don’t like to discuss in public.
A prime example is the escape of four Jundullah militants from police custody in June, who were being tried for the deadly Ashura attack earlier in Karachi. The government later blamed the police for the security lapse (how convenient).
After the Ashura incident a series of sectarian attacks took place including an attack on a bus full of women and children who were on their way to attend Moharram procession. Sectarianism in Karachi didn’t stop there, there hasn’t been a month when sectarian killing didn’t take place leaving many innocent civilians shot dead. Brothers Shahzad Raza and Asif Raza belong to one of the many families who lost their loved ones in sectarian violence.
I am aware that this country is going through the toughest times in its 60 year history. Every day there is a new story which leaves us shocked, distressed and dispirited. We detach ourselves from every incident unless it is personal. We indulge in discussions that revolve around how these terror attacks are CIA funded or a reaction of Muslims who are disgruntled by the US presence in Iraq, Aghanistan and Pakistan. Religious clerics who can actually talk some sense into the trigging hands and stop them from killing fellow Pakistanis, conveniently shy away – taking no responsibility at all. But then religious clerics who went out of the way to condemn terrorism, like Dr. Sarfaraz Naeemi, paid the price for their patriotism.
So the question arises where we go from here? We can blame Black Water and call attacks a reaction to drone attacks because we don’t want to take any responsibility for the religious intolerance that has existed for years. Or we can adopt the easy way out and ban the religious processions because ideologically speaking we don’t have anything to do with them and every blast brings strong graphics on the screens which kind of spoils our mood. Or can we just condemn these attacks and ask victims to stay calm because that’s what authotities do best after every attack.
As terrorist attacks continue it’s hard to keep track of who died and for what reason but with every innocent death, Pakistan dies a little. With every lost life, the flame of what remains to be called hope diminishes. And this will continue to happen, unless we decide enough is enough!
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The Express Tribune.
Well well Mr. Haider you are saying that Rana Sanaullah is responsible for the suicide attacks in Lahore because the Jindullah terrorists ran from police custody from Karachi. Also you stated that Shahzad Raza and Asif Raza were killed in sectarian riots when in fact they were killed in ethnic riots and that too for reasons of their affiliation with MQM.
I am no admirer of Nawaz Sharif but with all due respect for you as my fellow citizen of Pakistan, you seriously need to work on your fundamentals. Perhaps you are trying to convey that our Shia brethren are being maltreated and underscored in national race. This is not true, and as far as terrorism is concerned you are forgetting the blasts that took place at Daata Darbar with death toll much higher then these blasts. So please avoid writing such articles and keep calm. Peace.Recommend
We find articles after articles yelling out to us over the killings of Ahmedis but except your article, I did not see a single one condemning what the shia community has to go through time and again! what a pity!Recommend
Excellent article.
@ Jameel (RAna sana ullal lover)
tell me why are clerics from all sects demanding removal of rana sana ullah ??? tell me why is national and international media accusing of having ties with banned organizations. his recent meetings with higher administrators of SSP and LeJ are no secrets and he pledged his support just to get votes. For GODS sake , grow Up!!!!
Humanity is much more important then N-leagueRecommend
*accusing himRecommend
A very clear brave and objective piece of writing.Recommend
Lovely article & don’t worry about people like Mr. Jameel. Please do write on these lines in the future as well & if possible do mention political/religious forces or leader justifying these animals actions.
Just recently I heard a Prayer Leader praying for the flood victims, what shocked me was what he said, He asked GOD to help all Muslims affected by the floods, in Sind there are a lot of hindu’s who also lost everything, what he should have prayed for was that GOD should help all Pakistani’s in this hour.
We should raise our voices against these people who preach such things.
God Bless Pakistan & people like you.Recommend
‘…with every innocent death, Pakistan dies a little. With every lost life, the flame of what remains to be called hope diminishes. And this will continue to happen, unless we decide enough is enough!’
can’t agree more, but the question so many of us toying with demands an answer to where, as a nation must we start and what should we do to embark upon the road of national rehabilitation? at this point every Pakistani needs to do whatever is in his or her capacity to contribute – it could be as small as the cliched action of helping someone across the road to acts of unprecedented philanthropy to revitalizing the spirit of civil activism to get our voice through to the power corridors because in the sort of situation we are caught up today, if every Pakistani takes care of his/her actions, Pakistan will take care of itself! if you know what i mean..Recommend
Well I said that earlier I am no admirer of N’s. What I meant that the topic lacks coherence. writer is saying that Rana Sanaullah is responsible and then you just take the topic to Jindullah comrades running from Karachi. The writer has also mis-classified the two above named Asif and Shahzad Razas being the targets of sectarians riots when in fact they died for their association with Altaf Bhai’s gang. Now the main question arises, law and order situation is not something hidden from any one then why did they take such massive rallies? What happened with Shia community in Quetta today? Are there less problems within the country that you are holding solidarity walks in large numbers for Palestinians???? Was that really necessary??? Why didn’t they hold any such thing for those died in Lahore blasts a day ago han? You need to think and act accordingly and against the sectarian ego.
As far as Rana Sanaullah is concerned. Hang him. Doesn’t matter to me.Recommend
Brilliant! The opening and the ending of the articles enclose in them an ocean of emotions expressed in the least amount of words possible. Keep up the good work, brother!Recommend
Today people, considered as moderate in Pakistan, criticize religious figures and parties for the current militancy and sectarianism but ignore the fact that people like them who were and are in power, should be held equally responsible for it.
During Zia Ul Haq era, military establishment allowed Afghan refugees to settle in urban centers of Pakistan which affected our economy, demographics, and made the way of never return. Instead of just using Afghan mujahideens as proxy against Soviet Union, locals were also encouraged. Most important a particular sect was patronized and allowed to make connections with Afghan Mujahideens and prepare for pushing their own agenda in Afghanistan, once USSR leaves.
There was no track record and restriction of foreign aid from Gulf States to a particular sect for opening up new seminaries across the country.
Later when a low intensity war was initiated by our military establishment in Occupied Kashmir using proxies, countless militant organizations were permitted to operate. These organizations trained tens of thousands of people but sent people in hundreds to Kashmir. The rest were trained to strengthen their sects and fight opponents within Pakistan and not outside.
Deobandi sect wholeheartedly participated in Jihad of Afghanistan & Kashmir and spread their network of seminaries, especially in Khyber Pakhtukhwa and marginalized people of Barelvi sect, which are largely peaceful. All this contributed to militancy as there was no forceful voice to object and resist within clergy.
Today as well situation is not much different; the Punjab government has allowed banned organizations, which provide recruits to Taliban, to freely operate. Same is the case with other provinces where Sipah Sahab, a banned & mother organization of lashkar Jhangvi, is getting strengthened. Arresting of few terrorists and military operations in FATA will not work if new recruits keep on going to training camps and on return use their safe heavens located in seminaries and mosques for terrorism.Recommend
but how is this all gonna stop ??? when will we say enough is enough ???? i dun see it happenning any time soon unfortunatelyRecommend