The recent terrorist incidences
in Karachi have not only jolted the Government but the
nation as a whole has been deeply shaken. Almost every
committed individual and true Pakistani is virtually disturbed
by these terrorist attacks. Who is to blamed; is it the
local elements playing with fire or is it an off-shoot
of the Wana Operation. Whether the Al-Qaeda members are
playing behind the scenes or pro-Al Qaeda jehadi groups,
are trying to dismantle the law and order in the country,
diverting the law enforcing agencies' attention from burning
issues. Whether the proponents of different political
agendas are supporting terrorist elements in a bid to
slander Government or is there some hidden hand in the
gory drama? Whatever the reasons every Pakistani is anxious
to see the riddle resolved. One fails to understand why
the terrorist activities have not been curbed in Pakistan.
Terrorist attacks at Haidry Mosque Karachi, the magic
murder of Mufti Shamezai and a bomb blast at Ali Raza
Mosque followed by terrorist attack on the Corp Commander's
Convoy are enough to vindicate that well trained groups
are promoting terrorism in Pakistan. Such acts of despotism
and butchery have left none undisturbed or un-aggrieved.
What is however, appreciable as a welcome gesture to the
occasion is the fact that the leaders from both the Shiaa
and Sunni schools of thought have unitedly risen to the
occasion. Their stand has in fact, foiled the terrorist
designs. Terrorist attack on a Shiaa Imam Bargah only
a day after the murder of Mufti Shamezai, was well planned
to stir up Shiaa-Sunni clashes in the city eventually
bringing rest of the country in the grip. But the tolerance
and fortitude demonstrated by the Shiaa and Sunni leaders
brought much respite to the situation when they expressed
their resolve to launch a crusade against terrorist elements
in Pakistan.
Though the maintenance of law and order is a provincial
subject and the federal government can not be held directly
responsible for this, yet it has taken due cognizance
of the crisis. Bringing the incidences under focus it
has extended full cooperation to the provincial governments.
I myself rushed to Karachi as per direction by the president
and the prime minister. I saw the whole city in the grip
of tension due to the tragic murder of Mufti Shamezai.
It was a sort of volatile situation. The people had turned
emotional and, the aggrieved sections were too angry to
talk to any public representative. However, due to my
personal relations with Ulema and also in regard to my
father's affection for the religious leaders, the teachers
and the administration of Jamia Banory, listened to me.
I must appreciate the positive role played by Maulana
Fazalur Rehman and Maulana Sami-ul Haq. Their efforts
considerably paved the way to cool down the situation.
The most significant development in this regard is the
stand taken by the friends and the followers of Mufti
Shamezai; which did not hint at the Shiaa community I
again went to Karachi after the bomb blasts took place
at Ali Raza Mosque. The occurrence after Mufti Shamezai
's murder was viciously planned to put the jungle on fire
but the people of Karachi foiled the bid by displaying
a deep sense of tolerance. People from the Sunni locality
adjacent to Ali Raza Mosque and those offering prayers
at the Sunni Mosque rushed to rescue the blast victims.
Consequent upon my participation in the briefings by the
Karachi Administration and the law enforcing agencies,
several aspects came to my knowledge. The generally perceived
notion that the police and other concerned agencies do
nothing, is entirely unfounded. They have rather scored
tremendous achievements despite resource constraints and
heavy odds For instance, they traced the killers of Daniel
Pearl; they arrested the murderers of Sunni Movement Chief,
Maulana Saleem Qadri. Our investigation agencies have
successfully unearthed the accused in the Government Commerce
College Bomb blast, murder of Iranis; bomb blast at Sheraton
hotel and US Consulate and have also traced the murderers
of Mr. Ehteshamuddin Haider, the bother of the former
Interior Minister Mr. Moeenuddin Haider.
The law enforcing agencies in Pakistan have not only surrounded
the criminals involved in the attacks on Imam Bargah AlMuntazir
Mahdi, SUOARCO Bus firing, the Parcel Diary bomb attack
on the police officials, bomb blast at the Consulate of
Macedonia and those accused in the bomb blasts at the
Shell Petrol Pumps but have also put several culprits
behind bars.45 of the notorious culprits have been convicted
with death sentence while 22 have been awarded life term.
Similarly our law enforcing agencies have seized heavy
quantity of ammunition which consisted of hand grenades,
Kalashnikovs, rocket launchers and a variety of other
destructive weapons. The Police Authority has also arrested
the accused involved in attack on Corp Commander's convoy.
While talking about the terrorist activities in Karachi,
we must keep in mind the geographical situation and the
buIk of population residing in the largest city of Pakistan.
Karachi is a large city accommodating over ten million
people. There are 2223 Mosques including Imambargahs,
869 religious institutions, and 99foreign multinationals
have their offices in the city. One sees 277 petrol pumps
and 201 big building and sensitive installments all along
the city. As the largest and biggest business centre Karachi,
is the central place for VIPs from all over the world.
So in such a situation, it is very difficult to control
the affairs of the city leaving aside the ticklish question
of terrorism. Keeping these in mind one can imagine the
level of difficulty in combating the curse of terrorism.
The administration has to walk an extra mile in order
to improve the working of District administration including
police efficiency for an effective, combat against terrorism.
But at the same time when a crisis spreads over the country,
it is logically appropriate to tackle it from the national
level. We are faced with the situation to treat the patient
from all possible sources available at hand. We cannot
leave our country at the cross roads. Our situation is
more similar to a crisis needing every effort to put in
for gaining positive results. None of us can sit idle
as the crisis is getting deeper and deeper.
There is no government across the world absolutely liked
by all the citizens:, every government is faced with its
opponents and critics. Every country is pitted with different
political parties. Pakistan is also passing through the
same phase of circumstances. The government has to face
criticism from the opposition, because no society can
keep silent on such a situation, so how can ours? We therefore,
need concerted efforts to deal with this situation.. but
before that we need inevitable replies to the following
questions: 1. What is the purpose of such hienic activities?
2. What are the possible internal or external elements
involved in the gory drama? 3. What are the responsibilities
of the Federal and Provincial governments to deal with
these elements? 4. What role the public forums and people
organizations can play in cooling down the situation?
Apparently it means that the miscreants want to stir up
sectarian disharmony in the country. They want to see
the Shia and Sunny Communities at daggers drawn.They also
want to see the government of Sindh weak and unable to
control the crisis. This may also lead the situation to
disharm national integration and bring misfortunate to
the name and fame of country. The culprits also want to
see the Gulf widening and broadening throughout the country.
There is no denying the fact that it is the internal elements
who are out to create chaos in the country. No foreign
elements can go to such an extent.
The present government is not blind to the crisis. Several
investigation committees have been established to take
appropriate actions against the terrorist elements. People
from all walks of life are being invited to take part
in the crusade against terrorism.. Similarly the local
administration and law and order enforcing agencies are
being equipped with modern means and resources. Intelligence
organizations are also being renovated to the most effective
channel to curb the terrorist elements. I am fully convinced
that no measures can achieve positive results if they
are not fully backed by the masses. I would therefore,
suggest following measures to control the curse of terrorism
as an imperative need of our society:
1. Ulema-e-Pakistan must rise to the occasion and revive
the Counsel of National Integration; - they must also
restore the sense of unity among the Muslims, and come
forward to eradicate the curse of terrorism from the society.
2. There must be a unanimous code of conduct duly signed
by all the religious leaders from through out the country.
Such a code of conduct must be complied with in letter
and spirit.
3. Religious scholars and Ulema must preach sentiments
of love, fraternity and equality through the course of
their sermons and addresses.
4. Terrorist activities in all forms must be condemned
at all levels and in all dimensions.
5. The electronic and print media must discourage and
denounce everyone coming up with pro-sectarian propaganda
or anything otherwise promoting the cause of terrorism
in the society. The journalists, writers and intellectuals
must highlight the positive elements of the society.
6. The opposition parties must rise above their political
affiliations. They must come up with sound and stable
suggestions dealing with the crisis facing the nation
today. The task should not remain confined to point scoring
alone; we must take the issue through the core of our
heart and mind and should always keep the interest of
Pakistan as Supreme to any other consideration.
7. There must be Peace Protection Committees at the Federal,
provincial, divisional and district levels to monitor
the law and order situation within their areas of jurisdiction.
People must be urged and invited to play their role towards
curbing the menace of terrorism. They must exercise an
eye over the miscreants operating any where in the country.
The government is prepared to provide necessary support
and resources to these committees. All such committees
must have active liaison with the local administration,
police authorities and the public representatives.
The answer lies in virtual action and not in mere criticism
against the Government. If that would have served the
purpose, we would have won the goal much earlier. We need
wholehearted efforts and a sober strategy to check the
menace in an effective way. So far as the Ministry of
Religious Affairs, Zakat and Usher is concerned, I assure
every one of you to accept and consider for action every
positive suggestion and proposal. We should not make the
issue a point of discussion or debate. Terrorists believe
in no religion at all. They are void of human sense and
sagacity and it remains no difficult a task to pay them
through the nose for what they have been doing to destroy
the precious lives and properties of the innocent people
in Pakistan.
I am sure given the political elements extending their
cooperative hand; we can conquer the peak which presently
looks to be insurmountable.
