Adil Najam
What follows below is a repost. I had originally written this on July 19, 2007 after bomb blasts in Hangu, Hub and Kohat, which had themselves followed at the heels of blasts in Islamabad. Today, we just had two blasts in Rawalpindi with more than 15 people already being reported dead.
The continuing story here is of a nation at war with extremists. It is Pakistanis who are being killed here. Pakistanis who are being targeted. This is vile, this is cowardly and this is inhuman. While we are all distracted by the continuing political circus, the big story here is for Pakistan’s survival and the all-out war that has been declared on Pakistan by extremists and fanatics. The American forces across the Afghan border are not helping and their incursions into Paksitani territory has only led to other innocent Paksitani deaths which adds to the argument of the extremists and has made the politics of dealing with extremism in Pakistan that much more difficult. But, whereever you stand on politics, we must stand with Pakistan in this war and against extremists who have been murdering Paksitanis all over the place.
ORIGINAL POST
Suicide attacks today in Hangu, in Hub, in Kohat today.
This adds to the blast in Islamabad a few days ago and many others in the NWFP over the last many days. Even for a part of the world which has gotten tragically used to needless death and murder by suicide killers, this is crossing a threshold. The headline above may seem sensational to some, but is it really.
It is too simple to blame this on the Lal Masjid episode or just on the fact that we have a military government. I must say I get literally ‘sick’ of attempts to turn these massive manifestations of a truly divided society into petty political sloganeering for whatever someon’s political preferences is. Thsi is NOT a time for propaganda; this is a time for real thought and real action. By all of us. This, as we at ATP have repeatedly argued, is a society at war with itself. And the war is now beginning to get much more bloody. The most recent attack (Kohat) was in a mosque. Most have targetted security forces; i.e., the apparatus of the state.
Let me be clear here. There is NOTHING ‘Islamic’ about any of these murderous attacks. This is not just anti-government. This is anti-state. This is anti-Pakistan. Indeed, this is anti-humanity. This in inhuman.
Here are the three breaking news items at The News: On Kohat killings (since writing this, number of dead is now up to 20):
A bomb blast in a mosque of Pathan Lines in Kohat Cantt. killed 11 and wounded several persons Thursday night. Immediately after the explosion, security personnel has cordoned the affected area and nobody is allowed to enter the area. According to the unconfirmed reports, it was a suicide bomb attack. However, the official sources did not confirm it.
On Hub killings:
The blast at RCD Highway in Balochistan’s Hub town Thursday claimed 30 lives, while 30 others were wounded in the incident, sources said. Several injured have been admitted at hospitals of Karachi in a critical condition. According to reports suicide bomber detonated the bomb when a convoy of Chinese engineers was passing through the RCD Highway in Hub. The vehicle carrying the Chinese however passed unscathed from the place, while four police mobile vans accompanying the convoy were caught in the blast. After the blast the panic-stricken security guards of Chinese engineers and policemen opened indiscriminate firing killing and wounding several nearby people. Thirty persons including policemen and passersby were killed in the blast, sources said… The huge explosion also destroyed 15 vehicles and motorbikes and damaged 25 nearby houses and shops. Thirty wounded persons were admitted at Karachi’s Civil Hospital, while three others were brought to Jinnah Hospital. Four wounded at the Civil Hospital were succumbed to their injuries, hospital sources said.
On Hangu killings:
A suicide bomber rammed explosives laden car with the gate of Police Training College, Hangu killing eight persons and wounding 26 others on Thursday morning. The bomber struck his car to the gate of the college causing eight deaths and injuring 26 others, police sources said. Civil Hospital Hangu has received 26 wounded persons, hospital sources said. Ten wounded persons were in a critical state and emergency has been declared in the hospital, sources added. Police have cordoned off the area and Peshawar-Hangu road has been closed for all traffic.
Writing earlier in The News, I had written that simply cause-and-effect will not do anymore because what we have is a society and state crumbling at its seams. Each doubtful of the other.
… there is the deepening cleavage between state and society. The difference between Lal Masjid and other similar situations — e.g., the 1993 standoff at Waco, Texas — is that in our case the state had such little credibility that each of its actions was deemed suspect by the media and the public. There was constant chatter that this was a ‘topi drama’ orchestrated by intelligence agencies. There were incessant rumours about how the operation was orchestrated. There were unending doubts about its timing. All of this was not simply a display of our inherent cynicism, these were manifestations of a society that has no trust in its state. This was not just a lack of trust in the government, it was a lack of trust in the state. And that is a truly ugly cleavage.
I truly hope I am wrong. But if I am not, then we really need to stop shouting and start thinking. Anger is never a substitute for analysis; and neither is of much use if it does not lead to real action for real change.
Do you not know this simple fact that newton’s 3rd Law..is more applicable to our social life rather than Physics…
do you not know..what this general did in 8 years to change the ideological islamic axis of pakistan….
nobody wants cave vesrion of jahil taliban type islam in Pakistan…but is it means that you start Sharab-o-Kabab mehfils..in every nook and corner of the country… semi nude Marathon races…the cable dish atmosphere… ..indian culture…the indo pak blend of film and drama industry…music cocerts in army areas in whole Pakistan…where these generals…having drinks in hands….dance with the singers…..
* do you not know what is happening in pakistan in whole this dictator era….the Basant ….and mujras..and chaklas …stage dances…..and brothels….where were they leading to pakistan….
This general….asked for Imam-e-Kaaba …last few months..when the whole country stood with CJ of Pakistan..why not he remebered to have one more Marathon Race…with logo Dor mairai Lahore…..why he invited Imam-e-Kaaba..and start giving proofs of his entering the Khana Kaaba and on his roof….
can you change the religious axis of pakistan on the name of so called Enlightened Moderation…..can people will accept all these things….
will they not react….before this Dictator..where were all talibans…when they actualy ruling in Afghanistan..there was no talbinization in whole pakistan..and when they are not actually on the scene..suddenly..this Talbinization ..reached inside Islamabad…why ???????
When you try to change the mindset of traditions..then be ready to face the music also….
do you know…the ISI HQ is about 200 or 400 yards from the Lal Mosque….
* the petrol bombs…rocket launchers…gas masks..accumulated to this mosque in invisble mode…i think…..
* the ISI personals were drinkinng daru ..and enjoying soota of powder wali cigaratte when all arms were going in…..
* is it possible that..inside heart of a capital..and adjacent to ISI HQ….the dangerous arms keep on gathering….
* The baighairat general and his bloody baihgat generals ka tola …instteadof using IB..MI..and ISI for national security..were using them to gather funny and ridiculous….proofs of Chef Justice inside house photographs..bugging the 19 SC judges…phone tapping…and threatening them with pressures…..Lanat on them…is in UK or USA..can you think..the government can do such dirty things….
* bugging of all High Courts ..and judges housese so that they cnnot unfold..the Chor Bazari..of the government..and black mail them…lanat on all the Baighatrs general’s Tola again….
*when secret agents are on phone tapping of judges…can they know..wht is happening inside the heart of capital…
in the early days…he started to change the religious axis of pakistan….
his first picture was..in front of PM house with small dog in his hand….to show people he is very moderate….
he lived in Turkey..so he fisrt declared that his most beloved personality is Kamal Attaturk…so..he wanted to transform pakistan into Turkey..and considered himself as Attaturk of Pakistan….
but thanks god…the religious masses of pakistan were so strong that…despite of his 8 years ..efforts..he could not change the pakistan into secular Turkey..and also infleunced the Army to be like Turkish Natinal Army..but he also failed in this regard…
though ..in these efforts..he made enormous losses to whole Pakistan idelogical axis..with a lot of anarchy and suicide bombings…and reactionary efforts of Lal Masjid..etc….
On Basant ..in 6 years..full time …Baighairti…Shabab-o-Kabab mehfils..mujras..and other things…he himself was in Lahore on basant nights for 6 years..when atlast Supreme court put a complete ban on Basant….
He also tried to secularize the Army by regular basis musicaol concerts in every garrison and Abrar ..and other were invited on night dinners…there..still today….while Zia ul haq..never allowed that…
In his foolish thinking that iNdia will compromise on Kashmir..he turned whole pakistan media into indian culture..Meera going there..there singers and actors..and film stars coming here….but the Indians shown him boots on Kashmir issue..no dialogue at all…
he ordered the music classes in Punjab university..although students protested against that..but his nasha of enlightened moderation was overwhelming him…
PTV ..and other private channels are so much that sometimes they beat even indian channels in nudity and baighairti ..but no check from government at all….
these all are the fruits of this Dictator era…
We ahave started fight with those people which are the bravest people on face of earth..today..which not accepted even British rule..which even not accepted Russian super power..and crushed it into 26 pieces…which freed half of kashmoir …for Pakistan..which for 60 years ..never created any problems..for Paistan….
But Dictator …denied policy of Jinnah…and start bombarming thier own people..madrassas..in Bajur.doma daula…etc etc…withut proofs..killed 82 innocent children…killed by US missiles…but pakistan dictator shamelessly….said..they are killed by Pakistani forces….
when you did all this..then be prepare to bear the brunt….
@Abu Taimoor: Newton’s third law is not a rocket science that one can’t comprehend at all.
to every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction
If you slap someone one then it would be silly not to expect a slap in return. I do second you that same people existed in past as well but in past no one tried to slap opponents to show off “Dada geeri”- Musharraf slapped many communities in the name of secularism and enlightenment and now people of his own cabal(Army) are suffering due to his state sponsored fanaticism. He tried to impose his fanatic secular views and his views were backed by so called expats and desi enlightened which created a severe chaos in country. Therefore when I said that secularists have no moral values to recognize filth within their own community so it definitely meant fascist elements like Altaf and Musharraf who used this country as a playground for their own games.
We better see the root causes and don’t simply blame the mullahs or liberals. There have always been mullahs and moderates but things were not so so bad as these are today. Where did we went wrong and who is responsible for that? We’ll have to identify the reasons of illness before suggesting any cure.
Its extremely sad. Its my city, my home. I can’t bear to see it all go down … but thats what exactly I am watching. May Allah bless this nation with someone who has the fikr/party and the will to change it from top to the bottom. When Army starts meddling in politics, this is what happens. Especially an army which is under direct command of US. Shame on us.
Let?s happily allow these Mullahs to kill us all…..or we?ll be branded secular extremists?