Let the Great Axe Fall

The full scale military offensive against terrorists in the wake of deadliest acts of barbarism by Taliban has also opened doors for operations-cleanup by law enforcement authorities against all kinds of militancy either on religious, sectarian, political or racial grounds.

The recent no-knock raid on MQM’s nerve centre 90 by the Rangers was in fact a long-awaited action. All political parties of the country have been calling for establishing peace in economic hub – Karachi – of the country but the political compromises always proved a hurdle too big to be overcome by the successive federal and provincial governments.

Indiscriminate action was and is the final answer to law and order chaos in Karachi. At the one hand armed forces of the country are knocking down Taliban in restive tribal areas and other parts of the country and on the other paramilitary personnel armed with unflinching resolve are purging the capital of Sindh of criminals, mafias and terrorists.

The presence of hardened criminals and prohibited weaponry at MQM headquarters can never be justified with spin doctoring and street demos. It is unfortunate that the political governments at the centre and Sindh are reluctant to own the lawful action due to shabby political compulsions. The whole credit goes to armed forces of the country resultantly.

The same happened when the forces decided to wipe out unbridled Taliban. The political governments took too much time to make their minds hence missed the opportunity to have credit of launching a national war against terrorists. Honouring their past commitments of backing the police and paramilitary forces for cleaning the mega city from criminals, extortionists, sectarian militants, target killers and Taliban, the political governments now must not only endorse actions of law enforcement agencies but also encourage them till peace takes firm footing.

No question about intentions but the iron-handed action against sectarian outfits by law enforcement agencies is still being awaited. The sectarian monsters representing various cults are still moving freely across the country, delivering speeches dipped in hate and operating their madrassas without getting them registered with state institutions. No execution of Fourth Schedule is in sight.

Time has come that the state must adopt an indiscriminate-action-approach against all and sundry and no political, religious, sectarian, racial group having arms to execute their agendas on the cost of national interests be spared. Maulana Abdul Aziz, Aurungzeb Farooqi and their like need stern action by the state.

Our media too abstain from giving airtime to forces of evil and time has come to implement much-debated code of conduct on private TV channels. The nationwide criticism on interview of the head of a proscribed organization by Talat Hussain carries sufficient weight to activate dormant PEMRA. The elements of divide and terror should never be able to enjoy the privilege to be on screens to propagate their dirty agendas.