Bury Ostrich Approach Now

Peshawar incident woke the state, its institutions and nation up with unprecedented display of unanimity to eliminate forces of terror once forever. A series of hectic brainstorming sessions between the civilian and military leadership gave birth to a much awaited National Plan of Action against terrorism.

The cancer of terrorism has hit very hard on the state’s structure for years but unfortunately we were fighting the monster with no clear plan or strategy. Until recently political parties enjoying mammoth popularity base in the country like the PTI and PML-N were in a mode of confusion over Taliban.

The most tragic APS incident not only pushed reluctant political parties to adopt a decisive strategy to counter terrorism but also silenced those religious parties which were enjoying more-love-than-hate relationship with various militant groups. They initially opposed operation Zarb-e-Azb launched with army’s resolve but afterwards under the pressure of unanimous public voice backed the offensive.

Now when the whole nation is at the same page to defeat hydra-headed monster of terrorism and the parliament has also passed 21^stamendment bill enabling military to dispose terror related cases off at full speed, the implementation of Nation Action Plan at the grass root level by the civil law enforcement agencies particularly conventional police bosses faces lukewarm response.

Though the army is on driving seat in the war on terror but the execution of the writ of the state at the very grass root levels comes in the ambit of corrupt and ill-motivated police system. The political parties having a long-formed habit of chasing their political interests still want to appease sectarian and militant groups and are going too slow ignoring the fact that in skating over thin ice our safety lies in our speed.

Under denial mode top civil intelligence bosses of Punjab have reported to the Senate that no religious seminary in the province is being funded from abroad. The boat lies in the other leg. This ostrich approach will never allow the law enforcers to win the hard battle against the scourge of sectarianism and terrorism.

There are rampant reports that some DPOs of Punjab have adopted a lenient approach towards terrorists. They catch few for cosmetic purposes while let others, diehard militants, go in disappearance. According to reports some political leaders having well-known history of proximity with such sectarian militant groups are also facilitating their ‘friends’. No implementation of fourth schedule is in sight either.

We have entered into a decisive war against the terrorists. Any moves politically motivated or otherwise which can or intend to sabotage the mission can lead to constitutional crisis in the country as the forces leading this war will never allow anyone or any party to put dust on the blood of martyrs.