Punjab Operation

Lacking clarity

Full points to the military for making quick work of the Chotu gang yet the controversy surrounding the so-called Punjab Operation so far is far from settled. And a number of questions that should have been answered remain unanswered. One, is the Punjab government – and police – any wiser? Does the chief minister still believe his security apparatus is enough to carry out the operation in Punjab? His chief spokesmen clearly still think so, even though he has been quiet on the issue since the gang kidnapped a good two dozen of his elite police force.

Two, were there really TTP and Baloch elements in the Rajanpur area? The press was abuzz with such rumours just before the military went in. But there’s been no word since. Surely such information must not have taken long being confirmed. So was there or wasn’t there a link? Three, what about all the fuss about some senior Punjab politicians controlling Chotu and the like? No confirmation there either. And four, what now? Is there any consensus between the government and the military about the way forward in Punjab? We have seen once what happens when PML-N drags its feet on issues of the utmost national importance.

There is, of course, the perception that the government was once again caught wrong-footed by this operation. And it cannot really be denied that the performance of the Punjab police, once tested, left a little to be desired. However, should the government now immediately initiate long overdue police reforms, and also step forward and take the lead of the operation from here, it could still take a share of the credit. There are always points to be won for bringing clarity to a confusing situation. And welcome as the advances in Punjab are, it cannot be stressed enough that the government must explain the situation in detail, especially what the operation will look like in the future.