The turbulent Pakistani politics continues to deal with mishmash and Talibanization. The fear of Taliban is on the up
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has threatened Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif, with assassination. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Fakhar Imam and the head of the Shia Ulema Council Pakistan Allama Sajid Naqvi have also made it to the list of targeted ones.
Taliban are sprawling into more depths and stimulating the situation by threatening different sectors of the politics. One does not find ample reasons to understand that why some of the political parties fall fearful before Taliban when together a stance can be taken to bring the ship out of the desert.
Gazing upon certain incidents when the loyal becomes disloyal to his own royalties, Major (retd) Haroon Ashiq, a former Pakistan Army commando who played in the hands of Al-Qaeda and tricked out November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, was later freed without any flies on him. The witnesses were also pushed to withdraw their testimony as they couldn’t bear the burden of consequences later. Sadly, Major (retd) Haroon Ashiq, had spilled the beans regarding this strategy of Al-Qaeda to the journalist Saleem Shahzad.
The entire episode begun to shape up differently, Saleem Shahzad was reluctant to seal his lips up and penned down extensively about Haroon Ashiq. The journalist invited the dreadful fate and was mercilessly killed. Saleem Shahzad who once was spilling the beans became a riddle —- subject of inquiry himself.
Since the fear of Taliban has made swift foray into the upcoming elections, many political parties have been busy in tightening their oars. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hasn’t buried the hatchet with PPP and ANP as it has killed many of their leaders. If not killed, TTP has surely tried to kill and threaten many of their leaders. PML-N has flipped its policies lately after it has been clearly threatened to have its chairman Nawaz Sharif and his brother get killed. PML-N is extending its olive branches towards a banned Sipah-e-Sahaba in Punjab for the security reasons. Not only this, PML-N has enabled distance with organizations supporting ‘war on terror”. Lately, it has also been perceived that PML-N has embraced anti- Americanism to have extensive security.
TTP doesn’t seem to be ignoring Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) but by far no claims have been made up against the strategy of PTI. The sole reason to be stated is probably that PTI always burst up against US invasion into the territory of Pakistan and its invasion into the matters relating to Pakistan only. Also, PTI believes to have a ceasefire with Taliban in order to solve the prevailing issues and problems, but Imran Khan’s next rally in Waziristan is highly threatened by Taliban. Imran Khan must not be taking things regarding entering lion’s den easy peasy.
TTP has been sprawling its impact left right and center lately; it has unplugged the hold of PPP, ANP and MQM in Karachi. It has inserted in its methodologies and took the complete charge and hold of major sectors of Karachi. The ample reason begins to pop up as we are proceeding closer towards the elections 2013. The TTP will surely leave its mark on the coming election and it may have a less hostile attitude towards political parties who are revising their political strategies. Political parties which have been up in support for US and “war on terror” are backtracking to attain immunity by changing their entire stance on the episode of terrorism.
Seemingly, many people are forming their political teams thinking it’s a cake work to join in and win instantly. Amongst all, Dr A Q Khan has delivered his new political party in order to achieve the goals for the betterment of Pakistan and vice versa. There are sea of speculations flooding that TTP can kidnap Dr A Q khan to develop nuclear device, the device can be used against America and the rest of the world.
Taliban becoming a factor in Pakistani politics in general and elections in particular is owed to the gradual collapse of the outreach of the state. Nothing short of a grand political consensus against terrorism – somewhat like the grand consensus against America – is needed before things get back to normal.
Taliban are swiftly moving towards accomplishment of their desired aims and objectives. By far it is the one to be feared extensively as all the political parties are bound to surrender before TTP. PPP, ANP and PML-N have seemingly flipped and discarded their previous policies where they were openly supporting Americanization and “war on terror”. With the recent threats doing the rounds, the ingredient of Taliban seems to be leaving its obvious mark. Leading political parties in order to be in a win-win situation are apparently falling obedient to the demands of the TTP.
The element of Taliban is splashing out; it’s to no surprise that the impact of Taliban and its subsidiary TTP is hovering on the minds of leading political parties; Imran Khan must also take the threats regarding his rally in Waziristan not lightly.
Although, it is highly believed that Imran Khan will not conduct his rallies in the North and South Waziristan because it isn’t practically viable to take one hundred thousand people with you to Waziristan. Pakistan must prevail as a progressive society – a liberal Pakistan – and we must not fold up the actions taken on “war on terror” already. We have invested a lot of strength in demolishing the extremist mindset; enormous bloodshed should not end in vain. We must stand tall and strong to fight back the terrorism and should not fear Taliban.
The writer is a journalist based in Lahore and is working for South Asian Media Net.