Daily Times

In a horrendous attack, 15 people, including five children, were killed in a bomb blast at a seminary in Quetta on Thursday. The attack came as a surprise because, amidst all the violence and uncertainty in the restive province, madrassahs have remained relatively safe from the ire of those with an agenda, even a sectarian one. Not so anymore. The blast took place on a day when there was maximum student concentration within the seminary’s four walls: the school’s graduation ceremony. The remote controlled bomb was planted on a bicycle laden with garlands so that it would blend in with the celebratory mood — a premeditated, calculated move indeed. The perpetrators of this attack achieved success in their bloody mission: to cause maximum damage and instil fear. That the attack carries the hallmarks of one that is sectarian in nature is evident. However, no one has claimed responsibility, which is unusual when sectarian incidents occur. Speculation points at this being a response to the ongoing rampage against the Shia Hazaras in the province. The Hazaras have been persecuted because of their faith and murdered indiscriminately in increasingly stepped up attacks against them. Responsibility for these anti-Shia attacks has been claimed by the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ), an outfit known for its fanatical anti-Shia beliefs. While the seminary that was attacked two days ago belonged to the JUI-F, it would not be a far stretch to consider that it was targeted in response to LJ’s killings of the Hazaras. That is because the LJ has no visible presence in the area but the JUI-F does, and the JUI-F is known to be the mother party of Wahabi thought and discrimination against Shia and other sects. While there is no proof, revenge could be the reason for an attack such as this; this should surprise no one, as there is only so much the Shias will take when it comes to the continuous slaughter of their own.

However, there can be an even more sinister motive behind this bombing. There are certain elements that thrive on anarchy and mayhem and this is the perfect pretext for creating both. With the intention of stoking sectarian strife, this attack could have been carried out not by the aggrieved Shias but by mischief mongers aiming to destroy any fragile tethers of peace in the volatile province. After such a vicious attack in which the blood of innocent children has been spilled, retaliation cannot be ruled out. If such is the case, the seminary bombing is the perfect example of how those who thrive on anarchy are getting away with the hate and violence they spread via such provocations.

It is the duty of law enforcement agencies to curb this menace as once sectarian conflict raises its ugly head, there is usually never any going back. The killings of the mostly peaceful Hazaras has not provoked the hue and cry it should have and they have not seen anyone punished for these crimes. There has to be some effective action by the police and security forces to see that those who are responsible, whether from the LJ or any other party, are brought to book for their terrible crimes against their own people. Only when there are criminals who have been made examples of in front of those who wish to incite sectarianism can there be any hope for peace. *