The memory of last month’s massacre of 86 people belonging to the Hazara community on Alamdar Road in Quetta was still fresh when another terrorist attack against innocent civilians at Kirani Road near Hazara Town in the capital of Balochistan on February 18 killed 85, while 180 received serious injuries, apparently caused by a remote-controlled bomb. Let the investigating authorities determine the nature and size of the explosive device that had been used by the miscreants; however, the most important aspect of the unfortunate tragedy was that once again terrorists had succeeded in targeting innocent citizens, spreading terror in the already volatile city. And of course, further damaging the country’s image internationally. If at all, do we care about it? The relatives of the victims were sitting alongside the coffins, reluctant to bury the deceased until Quetta is handed over to the army. The protestors were of the opinion that the civil administration and authorities had totally failed to provide security to the Hazara community. Last month’s deadly terrorist attack against the same community forced the federal government to send the chief minister of Balochistan Aslam Raisani’s coalition government home and impose Governor’s rule. Today, the community was demanding that the military take over Quetta. The January tragedy shifted authority/power from the elected government to the Governor’s House while today once again the demand was that the control of Quetta be handed over to the army. Is it a request for a martial law in Quetta or for that matter in Balochistan? Under the given circumstances, the situation is not so simple and easy to be comprehended. One cannot deny the fact that most of today’s law and order mess in Balochistan was caused by the corrupt and incompetent Raisani government. Now what comes next? Presently, if we evaluate the military’s engagements in various parts of the country, it is already overstretched due to counterterrorism operations in several tribal agencies and heavy deployment on the western border in FATA. A reasonable troops deployment on the eastern border with India, including the Line of Control in Kashmir, in addition to all those primary defence duties, and a number of troops deployed with the Election Commission of Pakistan to assist in the voters’ verification campaign in Karachi points to overstretch. Therefore, can General Kayani afford another massive deployment for maintaining routine law and order in Balochistan? The basic question that most people ask is why the law enforcement agencies, including the police and secret agencies cannot succeed in arresting even a single criminal responsible for various gruesome acts. The mourners of all the victims in various cold-blooded murderous attacks always remain in a state of grief and shock as to on whose hands they should trace the blood of their deceased relatives. The persistent acts of violence sometimes convince us to think whether human blood has become cheaper than the foul water running in the drains of our cities, as hardly a day passes without horrific incidents of violence and killings in different parts of Pakistan. After every terrorist attack, we hear strong-worded condemnations from various functionaries of the federal and provincial governments, and then the usual silence until the time another life-taking tragic drama is staged by terrorist elements. This time again we have seen dozens of condemnations after the Saturday killings, but sir, the public needs protection of their life and property as ensured in the constitution. At the same time, people want serious action from the state/government and its various law enforcement agencies against the terrorists and criminals. The purpose of imposing Governor’s rule in Balochistan last month was that the provincial administration would improve the law and order situation, and would try its best to avoid any future act of terrorism against any individual or community. But the fact is that Balochistan’s governor has failed to fulfil his constitutional duty to protect the life and property of citizens. Instead of taking responsibility, the honourable governor Zulfikar Magsi immediately blamed the intelligence agencies for their failure. The negative attitude of blame game on each other by elected politicians, civil and military bureaucracy and intelligent agencies is one of the main reasons major acts of terrorism are not prevented in time. It is important to understand the fact that the acts of violence in FATA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Karachi have altogether different dynamics. The bad law and order situation, regular violence and unrest in Balochistan have multiple reasons, which need to be briefly elaborated to understand the matter in a better manner. Activities of banned nationalist groups: Balochistan Republican Army and Balochistan Liberation Army along with various other small outfits have been involved in a guerrilla insurgency over the past many years. They frequently destroy and damage gas pipelines, railway tracks and vital sensitive installations. Activists of banned religious outfits: There are many banned religious organisations that were created during the late General Ziaul Haq’s regime for different reasons. Some of them were for jihad against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the early 1980s, while others were funded by some foreign countries infusing hatred against their opposite sects by misusing the name of religion. Islam is a religion of peace and love. All those who were involved in killing their own Muslim brothers by misusing the name of Islam need to be condemned. The country has a constitution, laws and a proper administrative and judicial system. So if anyone has any complaint against another individual he/she should approach the concerned established institutions and get relief, but he/she cannot take the law in his/her own hands. Although no doubt there are lapses/weaknesses in our judicial and administrative system but that cannot be made an excuse for killing innocent citizens. Phenomenon of sectarian violence: There are certain sectarian banned organisations that either with the old nomenclature or by repackaging are still operating in the country, and they target each other as and when they get an opportunity. Firstly, government and the law enforcement agencies are required to launch a full-fledged crackdown against those who were involved in killing innocent citizens for their personal ideologies or beliefs. Secondly, it is the responsibility of religious scholars and ulema to guide people from different sects and communities about the true teachings of Islam. They should sit together and evolve a comprehensive strategy to tackle such sensitive issues in a serious manner. Thirdly, it is the prime responsibility of the public from different segments of society to remain vigilant and not to be misguided by any internal or external force/element who tries to provoke them towards violence against one another. We should develop an environment of tolerance for each other. Hate and violence will not give us any space to live a peaceful and prosperous life. Finally, the choice is our own how we want to live and to be known in the world. The writer is a broadcast journalist based in Islamabad. His email is Waheed.h35@gmail.com