Security agencies caught napping again
There is long list of moderate clerics who were killed by the TTP for their opposition to militancy and support for parliamentary politics. The dastardly attack on Maulana Fazlur Rehman claimed by an affiliate of the TTP is therefore understandable. What is not is the inefficiency shown again by the intelligence agencies. The terrorist attack was the third in Quetta on a single day indicating that the local law enforcement agencies are not getting intelligence feedback in time.
The TTP has declared democracy and elections as un-Islamic. What troubles the terrorist leadership a lot are the clerics who support change through peaceful means and take part in elections. They are considered by the TTP a major hurdle in their way. This explains two earlier suicide attacks on the JUIF chief and a third one now in Quetta.
The attack raises questions about the efficiency of the security agencies. The discussion on the issue in the Senate meeting therefore centred around this point. The country spends a fair amount on funds on maintaining as many as 26 security agencies. They have been found napping when some of the major attacks took everyone by surprise. These included attacks on big mosques, popular shrines, Hazara community, Ahmadis, GHQ, Mehran Aeronautical Complex and Kamra airbase. A perception is fast growing that while the military’s performance against the TTP has been fairly effective, that of the agencies has been abysmal. It would be highly unfortunate if the battle won in North Waziristan after supreme sacrifices was to be lost in Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar or Lahore due to the to the negligence of the security agencies or lack of coordination between them.
Balochistan’s depth, its natural resources, the deep sea sport and most of all its brave population make it the jewel in Pakistan’s crown. Dr Malik’s government had initially established peace in the province. It would be a pity if this was to be lost for lack of adequate cooperation from the security agencies.
