Terrorism does not mean bomb blasts, explosions, and suicide attacks only. Instead, kidnapping and abduction are also considered as terrorism. Recently, abduction cases are increased to a very large number. Not only ordinary people but also the government servants are abducted. Previously, such cases were observed in the far off places only, but now this has extended to the capital of the state. The abduction of civilians and masses is not unusual news in the country. In the remote areas of Balochistan and FATA, it is daily news that someone is abducted. The family members of the abducted person come out and go to the police stations. The incidents are reported but then the family members get no response. Even they do not know how the institution is carrying the investigation of their case. They visit the station time and again but do not get any information about their beloved ones. Getting no response for months, the family members gather in front of the press clubs and demonstrate. They sit on the hunger strike so that their complaints may be listened to but no one responds to them. Finally, they return home hopeless and disappointed at the state behaviour. Keeping in view the current situation, it may be assumed that the state has failed to provide safety to its citizens. I am sorry to say that these tragic stories are not even discussed on our mainstream media. We have enough time to give coverage to the impolite language used by the parliamentarians, but we do not have some time to discuss the violation of human rights. After all, it is a matter of state interest. Interestingly, we have not defined what state interest is yet. We don’t know whether state interest means the interest of a single institution or the whole country including civilians. I am sorry to say that these tragic stories are not even discussed on our mainstream media. We have enough time to give coverage to the impolite language used by the parliamentarians, but we do not have some time to discuss the violation of human rights It is a matter of ordinary civilians. Unfortunately, in this state, no one is secure at his position. Everyone is facing some sorts of threats. It is a question mark on the state institutions that a person, who is in service, is abducted and killed. Superintendent of Police (SP) Tahir Khan Dawar was abducted from Islamabad a few weeks ago and now his dead body is received from the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. For about three weeks all the state institutions could not find where the SP is. A few days ago, Minister of state for interior ministry Shehryar Khan Afridi was asked in a press conference about the abduction of SP Dawar. He replied, “It is a sensitive issue. Let’s not discuss it. I will talk to you people about the progress in the investigation off the record.” This incident gives birth to several questions. Islamabad is considered as one of the safest city in the country. How is it possible that a serving government officer is abducted from the capital of the state? According to resources, SP Dawar was shifted to Afghanistan through KP while passing by Tor Kham border. On the way, there are several check posts of the state institutions, then how the terrorists passed him through all the check posts. Most importantly, what the state institutions were doing for about three weeks, in the Dawar Khan case. It may be mentioned here that Tahir Dawar was not only a civil servant, but he also belongs to Dawar community of Pashtun tribe. Previously, at the assassination of a young Pashtun Naqeebullah Mehsud, all the Pashtun tribes gathered in front of the press club Islamabad for a sit-in. Consequently, that gave rise to one of the most influential human rights movement — Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM). Obviously, this time again, PTM will emerge as the sole representative of the rights of the oppressed Pashtuns. Conclusively, it is a question mark on the competency of the security institutions of the state. On the other hand, it is also going to distort the image of the state worldwide. Home ministry comes directly under Prime Minister Imran Khan. State Minister for interior ministry Shehryar Khan Afridi is not fully authorized. So, the questions are to be directly responded by Mr. Khan. It is the responsibility of the state to provide safety and protection to the life and property of every citizen. Prime Minister Imran Khan has recently reiterated this while delivering a speech to the nation. Now it is Mr. Khan who has to explain his position about the prevailing situation in the country. The writer is a young journalist. He is a current affairs anchor and pursues his BS (Hons.) degree in Political Science from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). He tweets @QasimKhan_LUMS and can be contacted at qasimkhan.brc@gmail.com Published in Daily Times, November 19th 2018.