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The fallout of Peshawar bombings
Comment
Air Marshal (Retd) Ayaz Ahmed Khan
Massacre of women shoppers in the Peshawar Meena Bazaar (Women
Market), Kochi Bazaar and Pipal Mandi in downtown Peshawar on
Wednesday 28th October highlighted the utter cowardice, and
desperation of paid terrorists. It also reflected the tardiness of
the provincial government and failure of law enforcement agencies.
After defeats in Malakand and Swat, and facing defeat and disgrace
in Waziristan, the foreign funded barbarians have fled into North
Waziristan, Mohmand , Orarzai and Bara Tehsil of Khyber Agency, with
the motive to perpetrate terror in FATA and settled areas. This was
expected. Six suicide bombings in Peshawar including the car bombing
of Women Market and the slaughter of 107 innocent women, men, women
and children is to destroy public morale and support for the
military operations. The renegades are out to avenge public support
for the armed forces, and mounting anger and criticism of
terrorists. The public now loathes the terrorists. To avenge masses
support for military operations in Waziristan, the brainwashed
Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorists, have embarked on blood baths of
innocent civilians They have resorted to car and suicide bombings to
perpetrate slaughter of Pakistani citizens, with the motive to force
the government to end the military operation and negotiate peace
with them.
At this juncture of grief and sorrow at the loss one hundred and
seven women and children, brothers, and elders, and injury to over
two hundred, while we beseech Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, we must
unite and resolve to fight terror in every nook and corner. As
Pakistani citizens we must display courage, and fortitude and
organize ourselves in every mohalla, town and village to identify,
apprehend and kill the terrorists before they strike. Let us learn
from the suffering and the courage of the brave people of Malakand
and Swat, who have formed lashkars to eliminate brigands, and
renegade terrorists. Armed with whatever they have, guns, rifles,
rockets, muskets, swords, daggers, pick-axes, shovels, spades, and
knives, the masses everywhere have formed Lashkars to kill and
eliminate renegades, traitors and terrorists whereever they are
found. The same must be done all across FATA, NWFP and Punjab.
The mindless massacre of ordinary men women and children on a daily
basis in Peshawar, and other parts of NWFP, and Punjab, clearly
proves that the government agencies cannot deal with terrorism
alone. They need moral and material support of the people of
Pakistan, to eradicate the terrorist menace. The people must form
Vigilante groups-Lashkars to identify, catch and hang the culprits
after short Sharia trials. The perpetrators of massacres are
criminals, and their religiosity and fake jehad against the people
of Pakistan, must not go unpunished. With paralysis in the
provincial government and the police, the people have every right to
form Lashkars-Vigilantes to defend themselves.
Talat Hussain head of Aaaj TV disclosed on ARY TV on October 29,
2009 that at the time of the above car bombings, Governor NWFP had
given a banquet in the Governor’s house. While the 150 Kg explosive
blast had caused death, destruction and huge fires, the VIP’s were
busy feasting. This feast should have been immediately cancelled,
and the Governor along with the VIP’s should have rushed and helped
to extract women and children from the debris. Another feast was
again arranged the same evening by politicians to disgustingly gulp
huge quantities of choice dishes, while the injured were groaning,
and thousands were moaning the death of their dear and near ones.
Such callousness cannot be forgiven.
The lack of security in Women-Kochi and adjacent Bazars, helped the
terrorists to park a car loaded with explosives in the Women Bazar
for three hours and explode it during the peak hour of shoppers to
cause maximum death and injury. If the law enforcement agencies had
the warning of terrorist attack in Women and Koochi Bazaars, why no
steps for enhanced security and police watch were taken? Why no
police or intelligence officer took notice of the parked vehicle?
Because they were not there. Why security arrangements at the
commercial hub of the provincial metropolis and the adjacent Women
Bazaar was non-existent. This bazaar was most vulnerable, and
potentially a terrorist target. It had needed enhanced police
vigilance and protection. These bazaars full of women and children
should have got high security, which is enjoyed by ministers and
VIP’s. While the VIP’s enjoy high protection, the ordinary citizens
are left to be mowed down by bloody terrorists.
The provincial and the Peshawar city police cannot be absolved from
what is happening in and around the provincial capital. Reports that
TTP terrorists have started assembling in Darra Adam Khel, Bara, and
some suburbs of Peshawar, and have declared them as “no go areas”,
have not been denied. That the police dreads going into the “no go
areas, needs to be clarified by the ANP government. Heads also must
roll in the provincial police hierarchy for the chain of bombings in
Peshawar, especially for the huge blast in Women Bazaar. The
provincial top cop and the head of the city police cannot be
absolved for the shockingly poor security in the city markets,
especially the security lapses which have enabled the terrorists to
mount repeated terrorist attacks in market places. There is no
coordination between the police and the public. There is an urgent
need of a community police in Peshawar and other cities of the
province. The IG Police may be authorized to cooperate with traders,
shopkeepers and students to organize such a force for enhanced
vigilance.
A leading English Daily has editorially advised that NWFP, “Chief
Minister Amir Haider Hoti having fully demonstrated his ineptness
and unfitness for the top job, should resign”. He had promised to
raise a police force of ten thousand for enhanced security. He
failed to do so, well knowing that the present force is
understaffed, badly equipped and poorly trained. Iftikhar Hussain
the Information minister had disclosed last year that the NWFP
police is unfit for confronting terrorism. Incompetent Hoti lacks
leadership qualities, and his inaction to provide protection has
lowered public and police morale. After six bombings and terrorist
attacks which have killed one hundred and seventy citizens and
injured over five hundred in Peshawar, Chief Minister Hoti should
accept the responsibility for poor governance, inept administration,
incompetence, tardiness and should resign forth with. His
administration is known to be inefficient and corrupt.
The recent terror attacks have caused more damage in Peshawar and
NWFP, than the Munbai attacks, where the Chief Minister of
Maharashtra resigned at once. As a honest and dignified leader, the
Home Minister of India also quit his job. It is because of lack of
sense of honor, dignity and honesty, that our leaders cling to
office, despite proven incompetence and inability to infuse
confidence in the public. Our political leaders, especially the
ministers should follow the example of the Indian ministers, as and
when they let down the nation and the people.
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