Sir: This is with reference to Hassan Shahjehan’s article, “Pakistan can be the winner”, published December 23, 2014 in Daily Times. Before December 16, 2014, we used to remember this date for the event of East Pakistan’s separation, but after 2014 this day will also be remembered for the massacre of over a hundred children who went to school to play and study with their friends but did not come back. Their sacrifice should not be wasted. It is time to take strong decisions. One has come from the military leadership. Now people are waiting for something special from the democrats. This event has again given us a chance to improve ourselves and look into the mistakes that we had committed in the past. Terrorist groups must not be allowed to go scot-free. Using some groups as strategic assets will never solve the problem. We are lucky that after this incident the confusion regarding this issue has been resolved, better late than never. We cannot fight against terrorists by just killing them. It is also necessary to beat them on the social and ideological front. Their ideological supporters and financial sponsors must be condemned and banned. The print and electronic media can play an important role in this regard by spreading this message of unity at the national level. It is time to deliver, otherwise the bloody memory of those martyred children will always haunt us. By doing this, Pakistan can become the winner.
HASSAM WAHEED
Lahore