Terrorists seem to have the upper hand
Security situation of the country is not getting better; instead it is getting worse as the election day is approaching. There have been attacks on a regular basis on political meetings, rallies and politicians in general, but what makes these attacks stand apart is that they seem to be aimed at certain parties, thus giving an impression that someone doesn’t want these parties to participate in the coming elections. Not only is it an attack on the political leaders and workers, it is also an assault on the democratic electoral process.
MQM, ANP and PPP seem to be the particular target of these attacks though they are not limited to these parties alone. Some Shia and secular minded candidates have also been attacked in KP. The situation in Balochistan is also not that different. Casualties are mounting on a daily basis and security seems to be absent for the most part. It is as if those who are responsible for security have given up and left the politicians and the public on their own to defend themselves. The TTP continues to claim responsibility for the attacks though without any repercussions or retaliation from the quarters known as law enforcement agencies. On the one hand, it is creating a perception that terrorists have the upper hand in choosing a time and place of their own to target someone while on the other hand one cannot but notice that no one in the entire political cadre, except for Imran Khan’s belated condemnation, has said a single word against these attacks. This could be the case only if the politicians are too afraid of the militants or if they are in complicity with them. If the former, they are the worst and are actually inviting the militants to ruin their country, if the latter, well, that speaks for itself. They are no better than any nameless, faceless terrorist who work for their own agenda.
This situation is also putting the ECP in a negative light. The impression that the ECP is unable to provide security to the parties is something to worry about. While putting limits on the political parties as to what to do and what not to is all good and well, the ECP must also work in collaboration with the law enforcement agencies to control a situation that could slip past the slippery slope of chaos anytime if the current momentum of terrorism continues any longer. The politicians though, on their part, should also put aside their differences and present a united stand against the terrorists. Their mutual differences on politics shouldn’t cost the country.
