Anas Imtiaz

Another Bomb, Another Failure: When Will This End?

// May 27th, 2009 // Pakistan

I walked in to my department building today, entered the door and glanced at the huge television screen on my left as I always do. Out of the four screens, one is always tuned to BBC News. That particular screen was flashing images of wreckage, and a red label of breaking news bearing the words Pakistan. I stood there gawking at the screen for a few minutes when a stranger asked me, worriedly:

“Are you from Pakistan?” I replied in affirmative.

He went on to offer some words of condolences for what happened earlier today and that has been happening for quite some time.

This was not the first time I’ve seen such an image. In fact, most Pakistanis have seen much worse. But perhaps having such news early morning, half-awake, is a bit difficult to digest. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for a long time. The confusion is immense, actions unclear and destination undefined.

The whole incident will, again, be blamed on some faction of governance and lapse in security. There may be a few blame games too followed by a vow to crush out the militants by the impotent minister of interior affairs. I’m not blaming the government for the myriad attacks in Pakistan. True that it has become almost impossible to curtail the widespread militancy in the country. What perturbs me most is the lack of action on the government’s side. Shouldn’t the authorities have been prepared after the start of operation in Swat? And what the hell is an intelligence agency for? The people of this country need assurances, not by words but by actions.

It is saddening to see that one politician attempted to lay this on the government by calling it a reaction to Swat operation. If it is a reaction (which it probably is) the need for operation is even more important.

Another aspect of governance (or the lack of it) is that the interior minister should resign not because of this attack in Lahore, but because of his inability to stop anything and the increase in terrorism since his taking over. I do understand that there is no culture of taking responsibility and resigning in Pakistan, but an utter failure of certain minister cannot be overlooked.

Let us hope and pray that the operation in Swat ends soon, successfully and that the IDPs can return to their homeland and save themselves from the disgrace which certain provinces have shown.