Adil Najam
(Editor’s note: Beware, the pictures here may be graphic and disturbing for some readers. Although, no more disturbing than the reality of murder and inhumanity that they depict.)
It was just weeks ago that we were humming along with Arif Lohar about selling wangaaN (bangles) at Data Sahib (the shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh Hajveri) in Lahore. Today, brutal murderers ruthlessly butchered at least 40 innocent Pakistanis and injured another 170 in a heinous and dastardly suicide attack on Data Durbar that specifically targeted the vulnerable, the poor, the religious, the helpless in their ongoing war against Pakistan. This is one more in a string of attacks in and around Lahore which seem to have picked up just as momentum gathers for an operation against militants and extremists in the Punjab in the aftermath of the attack on Ahmedi worshipers in Lahore.
That Lahore’s single most iconic and revered location has been attacked – and on a jumaraat, which many consider to be sacred – reeks with symbolism and speaks volumes about the depth of hatred that these murderers have for all things Pakistan. Yes, I take this personally. Just as I have taken every murder of innocent Pakistanis anywhere in Pakistan, personally. Anyone who loves Lahore cannot hear of this and not have a shiver go down the spine; as it went mine. But that shiver is now a nearly daily occurrence. Whatever the symbolism of Data Sahib may be, it is paled by the outrage at the murder – yet again – of innocent people: the begunah, the masoom!
I would like to find the words to express that outrage, to express what Data Darbar means to so many, to describe the pain that pounds me once again as it has each time these murderers have hit Pakistanis anywhere. I would like to do that but – quite literally – my hands are trembling, my eyes have swelled up, and that shiver up my spine has gripped my entire body. Maybe later I will find the words to say what I need to say, but right now I ponder only on the darkness that resides in the hearts of the men who commit these acts, those who plan them, and those who choose to justify them.
For now, all I can do is to give you the essential details, as reported in Dawn:
LAHORE: In the first terrorist attack of its kind in the Punjab capital, two alleged suicide bombers blew themselves up at the Data Ganj Bakhsh shrine on Thursday night, killing at least 40 people and injuring 170 others. The first explosion took place in the basement reserved for ablution and the second in front of the shrine’s main building where a large number of people from across the province gather for worship on Thursdays.
At first, police announced that some crackers had exploded near the shrine. The two bombers entered the shrine and exploded themselves three minutes apart. Surveillance cameras, walkthrough gates and metal detectors turned out to be ineffective. Around 100 volunteers and several policemen were present in and around the shrine, searching visitors thoroughly.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Chaudhry Shafiq Ahmad told Dawn that two suicide attacks had been carried out and investigators had found the bombers’ skulls and limbs. He said ball-bearings and other material used in the blasts had also been collected. Lahore Commissioner Khusro Pervaiz Bakhtiar told journalists at the spot that the bombers had blown themselves up during a large congregation. In reply to a question about involvement of a foreign hand in the attack, he said the strike was a horrible conspiracy but “our own people become instruments in the hands of othersâ€.
The official said an investigation had been launched about the breach in security measures. According to witnesses, the explosions were so powerful that a large number of people fell down and several of them were injured in a stampede. The shrine’s administration announced seconds after the first blast that a generator had exploded in the basement and they might continue their activities. The bomb disposal squad estimated that 10-15kgs of explosives had been used in each suicide jacket.
Ambulances of Rescue 1122 and the Edhi Foundation took the bodies and injured people to hospitals. According to a devotee, two gates on the north and south side of the shrine, which usually remain closed, were open on Thursday. He suspected that the bombers had entered through those gates. Scores of enraged people gathered outside the shrine and protested against terror attacks. They also damaged public and private property. There were reports that a cracker was exploded before the suicide blasts to create a panic.
Police evacuated Data Darbar to collect evidence and carry out rescue work. All commercial and residential buildings adjoining the shrine were also searched for suspects. Following the blasts, an extensive crackdown was launched across the city and several people were detained for interrogation. A suspect was also taken into custody near the Darbar. Rumours of terror attacks on other shrines in the city panicked devotees and police also launched a search operation there. Security was beefed up in and around all shrines and religious places.
The Taliban are the real followers of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Pakistanis are paying for their sins especially Punjabi Pakistanis for disobeying ALLAH. Why else will so much havoc be wreaked upon them. The answer is only one ‘Majority of Pakistanis are not Muslims but Kafirs’. Pakistan is a land which is Muslim only in its name and not by its actions. Our ISI, our interference in daily lives of poor Afghans, our attempt to hamper peace in Afghanistan and our Punjabi brainless Army are all the reasons why there will be so many more DATA DURBAR Blasts to come.
The world is asking us to wake up and see the truth and we are busy formulating conspiracy theories.
The taliban have one focussed target ‘TO BE A GOOD MUSLIM’, a job they are doing perfectly follwing the word of Quran and Wahabbi Islam followed by Saudi Arabia. On the other hand we are a confused chaotic society following blasphemous Sufi Pakistani Islam and we are not even interested in voting in a virtuous government or listening and accepting even the problems of Pakistan. So we will have to face this. All courtesy the PUNJABIS.
The taliban are right ‘You shall worship no other god than ALLAH’. They are devoted muslims.
Long Live Taliban and more deaths at places like Data Durbar. Allah Hu Akbar.
I have lost the words to express anger and sadness.
I don’t get it. Is Pakistani Muslim blood less precious than Palestenian blood? Racist Arabs thugs and their belowed creatures called Talibans dont give a damn about Pakistan. Unfortunately Pakistan has to cry alone in this tragedy. God bless the departed souls.
Some more comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “Reading all these conspiracy theories about CIA, RAW, Blackwater, Qadiani … reminds me of a psychiatry lesson I learned in med school … When someone is diagnosed with cancer and is told about it … first reaction is Denial followed by Anger …. Unfortunately majority of Pakistanis are still in first two of these stages … Get your heads out of sand and realize this menace of Taliban/Alqaida created in name of religion …”
– “If we will not do something, who else will? ”
– “All Taliban Apologists need to spend sometime under taliban rule. Im sure they wont defend these guys after seeing them up close and personal. Infact i am sure these people wont survive a month under the tyranny of the taliban. Or rather, ask them if they would like a taliban govt in Kabul and they will jump out of their seats in excitement. However, ask them if they would like Mullah Umar as their president and I am sure they most of them will not be as enthusiastic. HYPOCRITES……and then the sad fact is that these guys come up with wild theories of Pakistani interests in Afghanistan…so basically their theory is: “Let the taliban screw the Afghanis so they dont get time to screw the Pakistanis”….HOW disgusting and dumb.
Reality check people…These mullahs have now tasted life in Pakistan,,they will never limit themselves to afghanistan.”
– “whosoever is responsible, the problem is our govt,securities agencies r not performing their jobs or they r least bothered or what??????”
– “My heart goes out to all who lost their loved ones and the poor ones who are injured in this tragedy. Humanity has lost again to barbarism, intolerance, bigotary, sense of self righteousness. So many breathing souls on this earth but unfortunately very few ‘humans’.
I was recently reading an article by Ndeem Paracha in dawn which very aptly describes the neurotic state of mind of a big chunk of pakistanis ( some of which is depicted in some of the above comments)-
“Years of misrule by military dictators and civilians and early erosion of the hope and glory that was attached to the creation of Pakistan have for long left Pakistanis in a deadly ideological quagmire. A collective neurotic state of mind has emerged in which feelings of disappointment and scepticism about Pakistan’s religious and political raison d’être are severely (and at times instinctively) repressed.
The resultant psychological anguish of this self-repression is then attempted to be set off by loud (but empty) proclamations of patriotism and a belief in meta-myths and superfluous ‘historical’ and religious narratives that feed the manufacturing process of a superiority complex found in the majority Muslim citizens. This is symptomatic of the prevailing myopia in society.
Alternative experiences, narratives and arguments that are not part of the state-sponsored, conservative or ulema-sanctioned cannon (regarding history, ideology and religion) are ignored or shunned as attacks on rationally discredited theories of nationhood and belief.”
at the end he also quotes a thought provoking conversation –
” n 1988, while reading about a stoning to death incident (of an adulteress) in the former NWFP, the late Dr Makri — a forgotten, broken intellectual — once told me that Pakistan was abandoned by God. I was in college in those days and going through a Marxist phase. So I asked him how God could abandon a people who pray so regularly and talk so often about his religion.
“They don’t pray to the compassionate, benevolent and merciful God of Islam,” Dr Makri replied. “They pray to a violent deity preached to them by the mullahs, generals and inflexible ulema.”
I hope and pray that there are more humans on this earth , who love human values, who are tolerant to others beleifs and who live and let others live.”
Yes, the picture is difficult to take. But so is the reality. Let us face reality and the brutality of what these Taliban are doing to us. Please keep the picture so that we can be reminded as others say.