The acts of bestiality committed in Lahore and Karachi on the eve of Chelum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) are a strong reminder of the fact that such acts cannot be stopped through preventive security measures only. No matter how stringent these arrangements may be, the possibility of the suicide bombers sneaking through the security cordons is always there.
We will have to accept this ungrudgingly and at the same time also acknowledge the fact that they have indeed helped in reducing the frequency of these attacks. Therefore, hurling opprobrium at the government for its inability to completely eliminate the chances of the suicide bombers to strike their chosen targets, is not fully justified.
The scourge of terrorism and religious extremism continue to pose existentialist threat to Pakistan besides tarnishing the image of Islam in the comity of nations. Among the factors that have contributed to the rise of these demons, is the desire of the self-styled Islamists--with distorted view of Islam--to enforce their brand of religion over the majority of the population through brutalising the entire society. In fact what they are preaching is a dogma whose success here could bring disastrous consequences not only for Pakistan and South Asian region but also the entire world.
The war against these menaces will have to be fought on many fronts. The terrorists and religious extremists will have to be stopped in their tracks and resisted through impregnable unity among all the segments of the society, military muscle of the state, promoting economic well-being of the people of the areas, which serve as the breeding ground for terrorists and above all challenging their philosophy on the ideological plank. The country is passing through a very critical phase of its history and its future as a sovereign nation will mainly depend on our ability to mount an effective challenge to terrorism in all its manifestations.
The phenomenon of terrorism has had a profound impact on the social, political and economic profile of Pakistan. As a front line state in the war against terrorism, it has suffered the most. The war on terror has consumed precious resources which could have been employed to promote social and economic conditions of the masses. It has also adversely affected economic activity in the country and kept the prospective investors away. The unending spare of suicide attacks on civilian and military targets and the spectacles of charred bodies and extensive destruction of private and public property have profoundly affected the society psychologically.
As regards dealing with the merchants of death, the government has exhibited an unswerving commitment. The successes achieved by our armed forces against the terrorists and religious extremists in Swat, Malakand and South Waziristan are far greater than the gains of the Nato forces in Afghanistan despite the fact that they are better equipped to deal with the insurgents. Our armed forces deserve unqualified commendation and gratitude of the entire nation for the sacrifices rendered by them and the efforts that they are now making for the rehabilitation of the destroyed infrastructure and development of those areas against all odds. The government has also unleashed a number of initiatives for lifting the economic profile of the tribal areas. The people of Pakistan, undeterred by the psychological scare inflicted by the flurry of terrorist attacks have also demonstrated in unequivocal terms that they abhor the way of the terrorists and stand united behind the government and the armed forces to thwart their nefarious designs.
These endeavours without doubt need to be supplemented by an ideological input that promotes enlightened view of the Islamic teachings, reinvigorates and instills the Islamic values of peace and tolerance among the masses particularly the people of the backward areas like the tribal region. That is the only way to scuttle the efforts of the terrorists to indoctrinate and infest the minds of the illiterate people with distorted version of Islam. The Ulemas and Mashaikh can play a very significant role in strengthening the ideological offensive against the terrorists as they have millions of followers in the country. The government has done well to enlist their co-operation as is evident from a recently held conference of Ulems and Mashaikh in Islamabad. The media also has a very vital role in regards to propagating the real values of Islam and discouraging negative religious tendencies in the country. It is the social responsibility of the media to exercise utmost caution and discretion in regards to the coverage of terrorists acts because the extensive coverage that they are given, one way or the other, serve the interests of the terrorists. Instead of focusing on acts of terrorism the emphasis should be more on challenging the philosophy of the terrorists. The current affairs programmes, panel discussions on TV channels and editorials of the print media should pay more attention to the ideological war against the terrorists and religious extremists than their hyper-ventilation on other issues.
The political leadership of the country also owes it to the people to rise to the occasion and shun the politics of self-aggrandisement by adopting a national outlook. Irrespective of their political differences and varying perceptions on running the state affairs, they have to stand shoulder to shoulder in tackling terrorism. The efforts of the government to eliminate the menace of terrorism and religious bigotry need to be supported with honesty of purpose. The political bickering can wait for better times. We simply cannot afford to lower our guard and allow the enemies of religion and the country to succeed in their perfidious designs. It is a battle for our national survival and to dispel the notion that Pakistan is hurtling towards a failed state.