Daily Times

Terror seems to have no inhibitions in continuing to target women and children. A ruthless attack on the residence of DIG Wazir Khan Nasir, where a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle, resulted in the death of one police constable and critical injuries to the DIG, his wife and children. This was a blatant attack on the elements that preserve law and order and secure the country against the militants. Why DIG Nasir was picked as the unfortunate victim is open to speculation. He may have been involved in investigations that aim to curb the terror threat, making him a likely target. That his family would also be made pawns right inside their home was still an inconceivable thought. However, these militant monsters are no stranger to mayhem and seemed to have upped the ante on their diabolical activities by bringing their bloodbath right to the doorstep of their victims.

The attack occurred in the provincial capital of Quetta, in a region besieged by a war of its own, where anti-establishment sentiment runs deep and nationalism runs high. It would be very easy to pin the blame on the Baloch nationalists but the modus operandi in this attack is not one used by those who are waging their own struggle in Balochistan — i.e. suicide bombing. Such despicable acts can only be ascribed to the Taliban. Therefore, whether they claim responsibility or not, it is likely that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are behind this attack.

As in almost all the attacks by the TTP nationwide, there seems to have been a glaring lack of security measures at the target site. Likely targets such as the offices — and now the homes — of law and order forces, shrines, check posts and the like should all be heavily protected. Adequate safeguards are vital when living in a literal war zone.

The militants have truly become monsters. Wazir Nasir’s children are in the hospital and will live in constant fear now that even their home is not safe. Effective measures need to be taken after the opening of this new ‘front’ to push back this menace. *