The only way to get rid of them
After sacrifices by the soldiers, it is now the turn of the politicians. Punjab cabinet has been deprived of an energetic member who was at the forefront of the fight against terrorism. As Home Minister of Punjab, Shuja Khanzada was responsible for implementing the decisions taken in the apex committee, a task he fulfilled without fear. Some of the most notorious sectarian killers got their comeuppance under Khanzadah’s watch. The killers were obviously stalking him all the time and made use of the first opportunity that they got. A number of policemen and the minister’s political supporters were also killed in the suicide attack. It remains to be determined whether the incident was the result of failure on the part of the agencies or was due to a security lapse.
The terrorists have conveyed an unambiguous message that they would not spare anyone in the administration who is fighting them. Political parties have to realise that the war against terrorism is going to be bloody and ruthless. Motivated by hatred for the system and those running it as they are, the highly motivated killers are out to take revenge. The incident indicates that they are determined to go after the PML-N leaders and supporters the way they earlier did in the case of ANP, PPP and MQM. Any mainstream party working inside the system and still holding a soft corner for the terrorists needs to realise that it will not be spared by them.
The loss of a valuable colleague must strengthen the resolve in the PML-N government at the centre and Punjab as well as provincial governments under the PPP, PTI and National Party to thoroughly root out the twin phenomena of terrorism and extremism. No quarter should be shown to any group, individual or seminary having sympathy for, or involved, in aiding or abetting those involved in killings in the name of religion, sect or ethnicity. Any lapse on their part would be suicidal for the political parties and devastating for the system and society.