The Karachi police foiled what could have turned out to be a major suicide attack in the city on Wednesday. Finding no way to escape the three alleged suicide bombers blew themselves up. Two courageous police officials, who deserve the city’s gratitude and adequate compensation for their families, fell victim to the blast.
This shows that the incidence of terrorism can be reduced if the Home Department in the province is vigilant and is duly assisted by the interior ministry. The police in this case appears to have received real time information and acted efficiently. As the unending spree of target killings and terrorist attacks in Karachi till about a couple of months back would indicate, the Home Department lacked the will or the ability to do what was required. With the Supreme Court taking up the issue of Karachi and promising to revisit the issue and the powers given to the Rangers, the situation on the ground has significantly improved. There is a respite to target killings which had continued for nearly three years while the last major incident of terrorism occurred on September 19 when the house of a senior police officer was attacked leading to eight dead.
There is a need to keep up the momentum against the killers who at one point seemed virtually unstoppable. Dealing with organised crime requires efficient intelligence gathering. This is possible only of the intelligence agencies are highly professional and unbiased. There seems to be a significant improvement in the working of the intelligence agencies in Karachi. The agencies are currently interrogating a number of target killers who have reportedly made startling revelations about their handlers. What is required is to prepare foolproof cases against both the pawns and the behind the scene players and take them to the courts. Meanwhile, the government has to devise ways and means to provide protection to witnesses and their families.