Moving past petty gains
Nawaz Sharif’s planned visit to Karachi along with the COAS and DG ISI is indicative of the government’s concern about the worrisome law and order situation in Sindh in general and Karachi in particular. But worrying alone has never solved a problem. The military leadership was considerably worried about the TTP way back in 2010 and was in fact keen to launch an operation against it. As a former DG ISPR put it, General Kayani baulked at launching the operation for political reasons i.e., the fear of a backlash from the religious right. A perception is growing that both the political and military leadership are presently unwilling to launch action against any terrorist group other than the TTP.
When governance becomes hostage to political expediency, law and order is the first casualty. Thus attacks on Shia gatherings and individuals continue while action against the anti-Shia terrorist groups is avoided. Similarly, weak cases are prepared against the militants belonging to political parties. When these cases are thrown out by the courts, the terrorists’ patrons claim they were in fact being victimised. During the ongoing mud fest between the PTI and MQM, Imran Khan has called on the government to hand over two witnesses in Imran Farooq case to Britain. Imran Khan can be accused of being a political opportunist as he remained silent on the issue all this time and in fact reached an understanding with the MQM before holding the public meeting in Karachi which is now conceded by the ethnic outfit also. The establishment and the PM-N leadership are however equally to blame for declining to hand over the crucial witnesses to Scotland Yard. The evidence against the prime accused in Baldia garments factory fire was also kept under the wraps.
Unless both the civil and military leadership decide to rise above political considerations while dealing with the terrorists, it will not be possible to put an end to the phenomenon of terrorism. Not doing this would compromise, both at home and abroad, the credibility of those in power.
