A nation at war with extremism requires that its leaders and political parties rise above their political and personal differences in order to achieve a common goal. However, the petty politics and personal vendettas of the senior leadership of PML(N) are proving to be a major hindrance to this fight against terrorism. GHQ attack, Sri Lankan cricket team attack, police academy attacks in Lahore, parade lane attack and the Data Darbar attack are examples of the growing participation of Punjab based terrorist groups in this cycle of violence.
However, those handling the affairs of the Punjab government appear oblivious to this danger. Both the Sharif brothers and their chief whip in Punjab, provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah have failed to condemn the perpetrators of these acts. The PML(N) governments response remains limited to an expression of sorrow and consoling the victims of such attack.
In a moment of rare honesty, the provincial chief minister even made an appeal of mercy to the Taliban asking them to spare his province from attacks since his party shared their views. Notwithstanding the famous attempt of PML(N) in 1998 to have Nawaz Sharif declared as Ameer-ul-Momineen, there are numerous examples of the PML(N) trying to please the extremist parties in Punjab to gain their vote bank. Rana Sanaullah has been openly seen campaigning with the leaders of Sipah-Sihaba and other banned extremist groups during the by-elections.
Salmaan Taseers assassination offers another view to the extremist favouring the ideology of PML(N). The well planned character assassination of Taseer was a major contributing factor to the build up behind his eventual assassination. In the aftermath of his assassination, the PML(N) was quick to distance itself from the whole affair absolving themselves of all responsibility while again refusing to condemn the extremism which contributed to the act in the first place.
The same routine is being repeated after the killing of Federal Minister Shahbaz Bhatti where the provincial chief minister appears keen on defending the Punjabi Taliban than condemning extremism and terrorism. This is totally unacceptable to the common Pakistani who has lost so much in this war against extremist ideology. Are we supposed to give in so meekly to the realisation that the thousands of lives lost in this war have no meaning in front of a major political party of Pakistan when a matter of few votes is concerned?
MEERA GHANI
Lahore
