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!
This long comment is from the ATP Facebook Page:
5 Part Plan of Going Nowhere:
step 1. blame India, if this doesn’t work blame America or Afghanistan, how about Israel? Bueller?. ( Obviously Pakistan has enemies. You don’t think that every state has enemies? What are Pakistanis doing about it?)
step 2. pray
step 3. “if only X was in power” argument – replace X with magical Imran Khan or vague religious solution.
step 4. blame India, or whoever the flavor of the week is (oh did we try that already?)
step 5. pray with some additional religious blah blah added
This is getting really old.
The bottom line is this, if you live in Pakistan you need to organize and begin collective action, strengthen your security forces and institutions, make your government more transparent and responsive.
Don’t expect or rely on foreign nations or Pakistani’s living abroad to help. I really hope you understand other than charity and efforts to improve education there is nothing that Pakistanis in the west are prepared to or capable of doing. Changing American foreign policy has only begun in the last several years. It requires years of active organization by Pakistan American and resources. I wouldn’t hold my breathe.
“Nefarious foreign agencies” and other actors that represent regional/global interests are part of the game of global politics, learn to play or keep taking the abuse. International laws/orgs/treaties not going to serve the role that your own government should be serving. Go fix it.
Only when large segments of the Pakistani population decide that they’ve had enough will there be change.
More comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “come to senses stop playing the blame game watch urself first”
– “yup”
– “I pray for everyone in Pakistan and in Lahore the city I love so much…”
– “i jus wonder what peopls like imran khan now thinkk… i mean they keep saying talk with them but like when you see such stufff i think a even bigger army operation is the order of the day bcoz these are jus peopls who are sick of life nd either wana kill or get killed… ”
– “Due to bomb blast in Lahore all blood groups are required in emergency of CMHHospital, GeneraL Hospital Lahore and Fauji Foundation Hospital Lahore. Pls donate blood to savelife. Pls do forward this to your sms contact list. Pls make it yourfacebook and twitter status only for 2 mins, it helps a lot. . . . . Pls join Facebook group “Blood Donors in Pa…kistan” to help our countrymen http://groups.to/blooddonorsinpakistan/ . . Or . . http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=79898366684 . . .Pls sms your blood group at 03214002042 so you can be contacted at the time of emergency to save some one’s life. Regards Bilal Javed – 03214002042 -03074002042″
– “until we select a proper leader our brothers will die and no one will do nothing”
– “Talibans have been living in pak afghan border for more than a century. They have been securing us since ages and they were non hostile infact helping us against any possible threats from north western border. Only our currupt leaders have provoked them by helping USA. There was no need to jump into somebody else’s war just to earn a quick buck…
We have elected them. We have voted for them. We have been carrying their flags on our cars and bikes and heads and raising their photos and expecting humaritarian response. No one to blame except ourselves.”
– “all things comes from USA”
– “What nonsense… our leaders may not be good, but the pure EVIL are these Taliban and all their supporters. Each time you defend the Taliban remember that you are defending the KILLERS OF PAKISTAN and that makes you as well as these Taliban traitors to Pakistan. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.”
This is another sad sad. My prayers are with the dead and their families in this time of grief.
I do think this is desperation on the part of the Taliban that is why they are hitting the cities. This will be their downfall bc people will really really start hating them. I hope they do.
Everyone is focusing on Lahore. Has anyone bothered to report the killing of a prominent cleric in Karachi
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-l ibrary/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/07-slain-re ligious-leader-laid-to-rest-in-karachi-ha-06
Mufti Saeed Ahmed Jalalpuri and his three associates were killed in Karachi on Friday.