It is time our political, security and intelligence apparatus wake up from their state of slumber and self-denial, given repeated security lapses that threaten our national sovereignty and dignity. There is absolutely no acceptable logic as to why our sensitive security bases and establishments were allowed to exist in the vicinity of residential areas, easily accessible to everybody.
Had the vicinity of PNS Mehran base been secured by maintaining and retaining a secure periphery surrounding the base, as it existed in the past, this violation and security breach could have been prevented.
Unfortunately, ever since Zia-ul-Haq and Musharraf took over, our cantonments have fallen victim to the insatiable greed for real estate ownership and development. Has anybody ever spared a moment to reflect why the immediate areas surrounding civil and military airports been allowed to be used for construction of residential housing societies to be allotted to the uniformed services on ownership basis, with the right to sell or rent them out to anybody?
As it is, Karachi has more lethal prohibited weapons than any other part of the country. Short term political benefits of this coalition government have prevented a crackdown on the mafia, which provides a perfect sanctuary for terrorists that threaten our state and its sovereignty.
It also needs to be investigated that how the rampant corruption within FIA, Border Security and Coast Guards facilitate the illegal entry of terrorists within our borders and their unchecked extended stay in our country. Enough damage has been done to this nation by the incompetence that has penetrated our security and intelligence establishment.
The state of Pakistan and the collective security of its citizens are more important than the myopic perceptions of the few that have harmed it.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
