Adil Najam and Owais Mughal
Enemies of Pakistan are at it again; killing innocent Pakistanis in their murderous zeal. Murder and mayhem by terrorists has hit the city of Lahore second time in four days. This time in the form of a series of bomb blasts (at leastseven blasts today, according to some reports, and counting) that have already left more than 40 people dead (and counting).
At least seven blasts in Lahore have been reported today, at least 5 of them in Iqbal Town, Lahore. Although some of the later blasts were of less intensity, the goal here was to create panic. And it did. Especially because the terrorists planned them right around the time of Juma prayers – these killers seem to relish the killing the killing of Pakistani Muslims. There are also reports that the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for these murders:
… The heads of both alleged bombers were recovered from the scene of the blasts while two suspects were also arrested, the Inspector General of Punjab Tariq Salim Dogar told reporters after the blasts… Meanwhile, the proscribed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed the responsibility for twin Lahore bombings. The blasts took place at 12:48 pm within the space of 15 seconds at R. A. Bazar as crowds gathered for Friday prayers. The blasts were so powerful that it caused cracks in nearby buildings besides shattering window panes. “We have collected concrete technical evidence, which will help identify the attackers. Both the attackers were on foot,” the IGP said.
There is little point in laying out the details here (The News update can be read here). The details keep changing. And yet they never change. We keep writing this same post again and again and again. The heart bleeds no less. The eyes swell up as ever. But the killing goes on.
One is tempted to say that the killing is senseless. But for those who kill, it is not. They know exactly what they are doing and why they are doing it. It is planned murder. And it is planned murder for a very clear effect. It is planned to destabilize Pakistan. Why they wish to do so is irrelevant. That is the effect, and that is the planned effect. But trying to “make sense” of why this is happening is also futile. What we need to think sensibly about is our own reaction to these attacks. Finding “hidden hands” is not going to help since the “hand” is all too obvious. Debates about causes and faults and contexts and history will be important, but right now they are just being used as a device to confuse. If someone can plant a bomb, again and again and again, in the heart of our cities in the midst of our children then at least two things should be clear: one, the enemy IS within us; two, this fight IS our fight.
For those who say this war is not “our” war, we ask: how many Pakistanis have to die before it does become out war! For those who cry about wanting Pakistan to do more, we ask: How many more Pakistanis will need to die before you think we have done enough!
Why is that only when something happens in Islamabad or Lahore that we term it as war against Pakistan whereas everyday we have a bomb blast somewhere in Pakistan or some girls school is destroyed but it hardly even makes it to the mainstream news and its this indifference which has brought us where are today and can bring us to a point where we as a nation will cease to exist.
@Obaid: just to help you; Sunni Tehrik is a millitant organization run by Barelvis. ISO(Imamia Student Org) is run by militant wing of Shia. Similarly MQM is an ethnic party run by left wing fascists.
@Pakistani (by name): No I have no soft corner for ignorance which people also exhibit here and there.
As far as killing of Muslims, they are being killed by every one; Army killing them,police killing them,drones killing them.Americans killing them here and there.
BTW, according to latest report,1200+ people have been killed so far by Drone attacks which includes women and kids in majority. Do you remember when did you weep last time for them?
And for your knowledge,I am not a Taliban sympathizer, it’s just I am not yet another left wing which happily preaches and endorse the extremism and fascism practiced by non-Mullah brigade and finger pointing their “competitors” all the time.
“THEN THEY CAME for the Deobandies,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Deobandi.”
No one came for deobandis…deobandis came for the rest of us. Taliban are deobandis as are many of the banned/sectarian outfits.
But I get your point regarding rest.
People, who are quick to label others as Taliban sympathizers or loyalist, are missing the point. Who exactly are these Taliban? Does any one know for sure? What is their source of arms or their funding?
Do we who is entering and leaving the country secretly, without visas, who is running around carrying illegal weapons, who is exempt from police searches? Hillary Clinton admitted their immunity from search. Robert Gates admitted the secret presence of CIA. CIA hires Blackwater, which in turn hires locals.
It shouldn’t surprise any one if these killers we call Taliban turn out to be hired killers. Expelling all foreign elements and stopping the Americans from using Pakistan as the supply route to Afghanistan would simplify things: it will take away the incentive/motivation/excuse/the resources of these killers whatever they call themselves. But, who is going to tell the big bully to stop meddling in Pakistan?
Five years ago, if some one said things I have just said, I wouldn’t have believed. but I have come to know so much about the secret government of the united states that nothing is sacred for these United States of America. In a little book ‘What Uncle Sam Really Wants Naom Chomsky says that all American presidents since WWII should be tried as criminals. Obama may turn out to be the worst criminal of all.
here is Manan Ahmed of Chapati Mystery:
http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/content.aspx?aud ioID=39586
and Bill Moyer’s on Secret Government
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sstDwKTCpM