Daily Times

Security of Pakistan is at great risk. Explosive materials, comprising hundreds of kilograms are brought into a town, the population of which is already under great threat for the last many years, and then it is used to blow up in a bazaar where more than 100 men, women and children are killed mercilessly for no reason other than on account of their faith and sect.

What can be a graver menace to the permanence of a country than where people of a specific race, color, features and faith are being attacked on a regular basis? Where the writ of the government does not exist and government law-enforcement agencies have totally failed in protecting citizens’ lives. Where, immediately after killing people in hundreds, responsibility is accepted openly yet the shameless killers move freely. Where the administration of the largest province of the country financially assists key terrorists of banned organisations. Where the apex court of the country frees terrorists honourably and who openly announces further killings. Where those who speak against the nasty role of mullah and for justice are being declared liable to be killed and accused of blasphemy. Where a father along with his son or daughter are killed on their way to school for the faith they profess. Then if we cannot say that Pakistan is on the edge of destabilisation, then either we are ignorant or people who are being killed ruthlessly are not considered Pakistani and human.

Pakistan has fought many big wars with India but history does not witness any incident where Indians have used explosives weighing hundreds of kilograms to kill the people of Pakistan but terrorists do just that. They kill hundreds a day and shamelessly accept responsibility. If we think that Pakistan is still safe then most surely we are deliberately handing over a dangerous country to our coming generation.

Only a month ago, 87 of Hazara Shia community were killed hardheartedly when they were observing the Death Anniversary of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), and a few days ago 100 more are killed. We have witnessed protests in Pakistan where angry people set on fire public and private properties and paralysed everything. But Shia Hazara in Pakistan protested in a very peculiar way. Sitting along the mutilated and burnt dead bodies stained in their own blood, in chilling weather for 72 hours, the bereaved just demanded peace in Pakistan and life security from the government.

We know a country can never progress economically, educationally and socio-politically if it does not have peace and stability. The Shia Hazaras, by demanding peace in Pakistan, want a modern progressive Pakistan where people of every faith, race and colour can live freely. Not once, did they take the law of country in their own hands and they never threatened the government that they would take revenge if government did not help them.

When clashes in 2007 started in Parachinar, we, the locals, had requested the then government that if terrorism was not eliminated from its roots it would soon make the life of every Pakistani hellish. The inferno that had risen in Parachinar and FATA but not taken seriously has now spread to every corner of Pakistan, burning anyone and anything that comes in its way.

The Taliban killed Mr Bashir Bilour, accepting responsibility of his death, because he spoke bravely against them and challenged their ill doings. We lost our great leader Shaheed Benazir Bhutto at their hands. They kill whosever challenges their cruel ideology, whether it is a man, woman or child. They set our schools, hospitals and colleges on fire and attack our students, yet we demand for a dialogue with them. They have destroyed Swat and Parachinar, killing people in hundreds, leaving many women widowed and children orphaned without any guardians. The Taliban have pushed back the entire tribal belt towards the Stone Age when it was heading on the way to modernism. They have snatched from us our beautiful culture of music and dance, and ruined the beauty of our cities. We remember the days when people were happy and fearlessly walked the streets of Peshawar and Quetta until late night, but today they do not feel secure even in broad daylight.

Our neighbouring countries are on their way to progress, but we are day by day moving back into regression. Pakistan’s image before the world today is that of a dangerous country where the lives of minorities are at great risk. But still, we have not identified the internal threats that surely emanate from the hate teachings imparted in some religious institutions. Still many of us hesitate in naming Taliban and the banned terrorists’ organisations like the LeJ and SSP for many atrocities in Pakistan. Still many political parties, especially Pakistan’s second largest party the PMLN, has strong affiliations with them. The newspapers have reported Punjab government as providing financial assistance to Malik Ishaq, who leads the LeJ. We have still failed to identify their roots that surely exist in some parts of the tribal areas on the Pakistan-Afghan border.

It is time to condemn and stand firmly against the banned religious outfits as well as their supporters, financiers and apologists. Only the public will can strengthen a political government in launching stringent actions against extremists and terrorists.

It is time to rescue Pakistan. If they were Tooris of Parachinar under attack yesterday, then today, Shias are being killed en masse in Quetta and being target-killed in every city, but tomorrow it could be members of other communities as well. Terrorists want to destabilise Pakistan and the government has the responsibility to save the country from destabilisation and to give proper security to its citizens. When the state and its machinery fail in protecting the citizens, a gap and mistrust is created and the victims find no option but to take the law in their hands for self-protection. Self-protection in a civilised society is no more than civil war. If not now, then God forbid, never. We could be losing the Quaid’s Pakistan in the hands of extremists and terrorists where no one would be safe.

Terrorists are the enemy of Pakistan and humanity, and it is our collective responsibility to stand up against these evil forces and support the government in taking severe action against them. Let’s recover the Hazara Shia community’s lost trust in Pakistani forces, government and law- enforcement agencies. Today, they are protesting democratically for a peaceful tomorrow, but it could turn violent if they lose patience. Mere verbal and customarily condemnation will work no more, will not heal the wounds of the victims’ families and will not stop the ongoing killing of our fellow Pakistanis. We need to focus on a proper strategy for completely uprooting terrorists’ outfits. Government must arrest them now and sentence them through special anti-terrorist courts rather than through a court where they are declared innocent.

Let us rescue Pakistan, let us make it peaceful and progressive for the coming generations where, if we could not, at least they can breathe in peace. Let us be united against terrorism, as alone the PPP and the few parties with bold stance on terrorism can do nothing. Collective will is needed. Further delay in launching targeted operations in the hotbed of terrorists would worsen Pakistan’s situation more. If not, let the government advise the Shias of Pakistan to leave the country for seeking asylum in other countries.

The writer is a citizen of the terrorism stricken tribal areas and an expert on FATA. He can be reached on analystoori@gmail.com and on twitter @RiazToori