Vibrations after the blast
Friday, May 29, 2009
Editorial,The News International, Pakistan
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thirty people are dead as a result of the blast that tore down a building in the commercial heart of Lahore. Over 300 have been injured. The area bears the scars of the terrible events that unfolded there. These will stay for a long time to come. There is little doubt that the bombing was connected to the military operation in Malakand. It hardly takes genius to work that out. As the fighting continues in the north, with the Taliban under more and more pressure, it is safe to predict that there will be more attempts at such carnage in our towns and cities.
In the aftermath of the bombing, there have been reports of the arrest of several people. We do not really know who these are and on what basis they have been held. There is reason for suspicion. In the aftermath of the daring attack on the Police Training School at Manawan a few months ago, a man apparently from the northern areas was held and apparently labelled a key suspect. He was pummelled and beaten by angry members of the public. It later turned out the unfortunate individual was doing nothing more alarming then selling corncob from a cart. This time too Pathans found in the area are said to be among those held. But the thinking behind this seems too simplistic. There is no reason to believe that only those of a certain ethnicity should be involved in attacks. The Taliban have established bases in many places. The intricate planning behind the attack has been a topic of much comment. It is logical to assume those capable of such planning would use as their operatives people most likely to blend in with the local scene.
There are questions too as to why it was not possible to apprehend those who continued to fire volleys after the blast, adding to the panic and the injury toll. Newspaper reports say the Elite Police Force personnel rushed away as the firing began. While attacks of the kind that took place Wednesday are almost impossible to stop, we need to deal more effectively with their aftermath. The fact that those involved in executing and planning these attacks often go scot-free is obviously a factor that encourages others to engage in similar actions. After each act of terrorism we hear talk of setting up a special, highly trained force to tackle terrorism. The time has now come to consider turning these words into deeds.
Source
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thirty people are dead as a result of the blast that tore down a building in the commercial heart of Lahore. Over 300 have been injured. The area bears the scars of the terrible events that unfolded there. These will stay for a long time to come. There is little doubt that the bombing was connected to the military operation in Malakand. It hardly takes genius to work that out. As the fighting continues in the north, with the Taliban under more and more pressure, it is safe to predict that there will be more attempts at such carnage in our towns and cities.
In the aftermath of the bombing, there have been reports of the arrest of several people. We do not really know who these are and on what basis they have been held. There is reason for suspicion. In the aftermath of the daring attack on the Police Training School at Manawan a few months ago, a man apparently from the northern areas was held and apparently labelled a key suspect. He was pummelled and beaten by angry members of the public. It later turned out the unfortunate individual was doing nothing more alarming then selling corncob from a cart. This time too Pathans found in the area are said to be among those held. But the thinking behind this seems too simplistic. There is no reason to believe that only those of a certain ethnicity should be involved in attacks. The Taliban have established bases in many places. The intricate planning behind the attack has been a topic of much comment. It is logical to assume those capable of such planning would use as their operatives people most likely to blend in with the local scene.
There are questions too as to why it was not possible to apprehend those who continued to fire volleys after the blast, adding to the panic and the injury toll. Newspaper reports say the Elite Police Force personnel rushed away as the firing began. While attacks of the kind that took place Wednesday are almost impossible to stop, we need to deal more effectively with their aftermath. The fact that those involved in executing and planning these attacks often go scot-free is obviously a factor that encourages others to engage in similar actions. After each act of terrorism we hear talk of setting up a special, highly trained force to tackle terrorism. The time has now come to consider turning these words into deeds.
Source
Labels: Extremism, Lahore, Militancy, Swat Operation, Taliban
posted @ 6:24 PM,
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