Winning war against terrorism, enforcing writ of state and providing security of life and property of citizens cannot be achieved unless a strong disciplined police force exists. Military action and special courts can only achieve limited success in fighting and punishing known terrorists while major task of law enforcement vests solely on police, paramilitary forces and all other state funded intelligence agencies working in unison. Along with restructuring and training police personnel to tackle well trained terrorists, there is a need to restore their confidence and ensure that state with all its power stands behind those enforcing rule of law in this country.
Morale of police stands shattered when over 250 police officers who performed their legitimate duties assigned to them by constitutionally elected government were systematically killed in target killings by known criminals patronised by political party allied to Pervez Musharraf, when he illegitimately held power in Pakistan and thereafter. Recently we witnessed an SSP in uniform, physically assaulted by danda carrying mobs in the presence of uniformed security, identified by television and CCTV cameras in Islamabad. The writ of state stands challenged when any uniformed law enforcement officer, judicial officer, or tax collecting paid servant of state carrying out his legitimate duties is assaulted.
All those involved in aiding or funding of terrorism and organised criminal activities, whatever their past or present affiliations, even if they held posts in service of Pakistan, should be prosecuted and laws should be applied without any discrimination. As long as crime pays financial dividends, black money transfer to foreign countries facilitated or violence is allowed to be used by political, religious groups, land and drug mafia, crime will flourish and so will terrorism.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
