Daily Times

The spectre of terrorism doesn’t seem to have died down. Suicide attack at the heart of Lahore belies the optimism blissfully attached with the results NAP (National Action Plan), and active military operations are yielding. The attack in Lahore, owned by proscribed Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, claimed thirteen precious lives including two senior police officers. Two personnel of ‘bomb disposal squad’ in Quetta lost their lives when a roadside explosive device went off while it was being defused. A suicide attack targeting local political administration in Mohmand Agency and attack on a van carrying judges of the lower judiciary in Peshawar are part of a series of attacks showing the menacing resilience of terror outfits. The attack on judges van is claimed by TTP (Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) and its breakaway outfit Jamaatul Ahrar claimed suicide bombing in Mohmand Agency. Jamaatul Ahrar named its deadly spree as Operation Ghazi, taking the name of Abdul Rashid Ghazi killed in Lal Masjid operation. Spokesman of the outfit reportedly vowed to go with more lethal attacks in days to come. Series of attacks compelled Government to mull over options and evolve a strategy to counter these.

Over sixty thousand precious lives (both law enforcers and civilians) have been lost ever since the terror acts started. It is huge toll, indeed! Nation has suffered a lot, but still, there appears to be no end in sight. While the government may have a plausible case to argue that the ring-leaders of terror monger outfits are squatting across the border inside Afghanistan, but there should be some mechanism to fight against the mindset of the terror outfits. National Action Plan (NAP) with its twenty points is all encompassing if implemented in toto but it has unfortunately not been practised in entirety so far. One opinion swing is that certain seminaries in Southern Punjab are doing a facilitator’s role. There is need to undertake a comprehensive combing exercise with Punjab Rangers having a lead role to reach such collaborators. But this is unlikely to take place thanks to government’s unwillingness due to certain ‘political expediencies’ playing obstructive.

Besides, let there be a mega ‘Social Action Programme’ taking education, health, arts and culture, social welfare, economic development and encouraging agricultural or any activity aiming to engage the populace under its ambit constructively. Education from school to university should be planned and executed in such a way that the public education infrastructure is made robust attracting parents and compelling them to prefer school over Madrassa for their children. Public hospitals should be rehabilitated where these are already existing but are in a state of disuse due to one reason or other. Social welfare activities which should include governmental programmes aimed to protect citizens against economic risks and insecurities of life may be undertaken. Youth may be engaged in creative activities related to arts and culture. Endeavours may be made to promote inter-faith harmony, so that socio-cultural milieu is reoriented denying space to extremism and militancy. Common man must feel that the state is seriously looking after his both individual and collective needs making life comfortable. The widening indifference between people and state must be reduced by making the masses stakeholders in state activities.

This menace has not metamorphosed overnight into what it is today, but the erratic clerical mindset took birth and proliferated over a period of time when our governments of time and policy makers were mired into lethargy or, to be more appropriate, were preoccupied in oft-occurring internal political bickering entailing corruption sagas. The terror genie is proving menacing both in lethality and in enormity with every passing day. If not checked or contained, this may lead to public disbelief in government machinery’s functionality. And it will be a dangerous juncture. Understandably, the country is facing proxy war and machinations hatched in hostile capitals with vested interests to achieve. While appraising international community about such conspiracies is not less important but a most immediate step to be taken is to introduce a ‘socio-economic vision’ with a comprehensive programme to kick start economic activities in areas purged off terrorists like Swat, North and South Waziristan and other areas. Rehabilitative and restoration activities should be commenced without further delay making the common man stakeholder. Army has successfully battled against the militancy in these areas and now it is the responsibility of government to step in seriously.

Neither Social Action Programme (SAP) nor any other similar plan can effectively work unless the rulers make their political behaviour transparent and above board. Common man seeing the political leadership mired in corruption has turned cynic, and his cynicism has created disenchantment within him. The efficacy of any governmental step for desired results in the face of pervasive dishonest behaviour both in bureaucratic and political circles is justifiably questioned. Decadent and dishonest leadership on one hand and terror acts on the other are divesting people of any optimism. It is the need of the hour that government must show its seriousness to address the situation from different angles with multiple approaches.

Terror mongers have a certain mindset, and that has to be confronted through a mindset to be conceived and given birth. It needs to be replaced with a positive and constructive mindset. Security apparatus of the country, judiciary, media and civil society have a significant role, and that role is by and large already being played. The military has already cleared many terrorist infested areas. There will hardly be any respite to terror attacks unless a broad-based socio-economic programme is launched with an aim to remake the aberrant people. The populace should be made to realise that it is the stakeholder in State affairs. People will reciprocate if state endears them and takes care of their bare minimum needs. This requires an unwavering commitment to the political leadership and its candidness in pursuing such noble cause. Casual and ambivalent attitude has no place here. NAP is an excellent programme to combat the militancy, but its implementation has become a victim of political expediencies. Along with NAP be brought forward SAP, and both be implemented with required vigour. There will be no let up in the wave of terror attacks unless government wakes up and earnestly discharges its responsibilities while ensuring transparency in its political behaviour.

The writer is a freelance columnist and presently working on a paper researching rural crime and causes