The menace growing

By
Mubasher Lucman
-
39
218

While we live in a fool’s paradise, the country inches towards the gates of hell

Dr Shahid Masood, a prominent television anchor, told me a very scary story. He was driving in the Islamabad Red Zone and on the police checkpost barrier, he was greeted by a security person. The security guard after shaking his hand said to him, “Sir, if I die protecting these infidels (pointing towards the Parliament) will I go to jannat?” Clearly, he was distraught and in two minds about his job. Unfortunately, this kind of mindset is not the odd one out. There are plenty of people I have come across in the police and Rangers and some other security agencies who are wavering between a sense of duty and what they are protecting us all from. There are some who very evidently do not consider the terrorists enemies of the country and blame this mess on the government and the establishment; there are also others who are unhappy at the way the courts and their superiors are treating them while they are trying to fulfill their professional obligations.

It is no secret that we have two different sets of opinions in the country. There are those who consider this our war and those who do not. Irrespective of what the opinion may be about it, it is our lives as common citizens that are messed up to the greatest of extents. Whilst the political rhetoric that is anti-government, anti-America or anti-everything affects public opinion from coming together, it also hampers those in the security agencies. For, after all, they too have the same fears, apprehensions and demographic roots. They are not aliens or imported from any other country. They have their kin amongst us and share the same delusions. So when either the courts admonish them for lack of evidence or their superiors merely appoint them to protocol duties, they get more distressed.

With each passing day, I keep reminding my fellow journalists we are inching towards the gates of hell. Last time I was in Florida, it was time for the Republicans National Convention and it was clear that the mood of those in authority over there is hostile as far as we are concerned. Not just the Americans but most members of the international community feel very strongly that we as a state are fooling ourselves and not doing enough to counter the growing threats we are confronted with. People tell me, “All will be well and Pakistan was created to last forever…” My humble reminder to them is that Pakistan was broken in two in 1971 and history has a knack of repeating itself unless you learn from it. General Musharraf told me two weeks back that as long as the military of Pakistan is there, no harm can come to the country. Again, very humbly may I remind people that the Soviet Union had a far bigger military, regimented and equipped with a state-of-the-art arsenal. However, when the crunch time comes, as we saw there, the state just melts and everything disintegrates around you.

In the last four years, almost 3200 hardcore terrorists were arrested in different parts of the country. 1800 have been released through our courts for lack of evidence. Chances are the remaining will also go scot free in a few months time. For no prosecutor, judge or witness has the courage to take on the might of a terrorist organization that our own state apparatus is frightful about. Clearly, we need to redefine our laws of evidence and revisit our internal security laws – which incidentally most countries have done post 9/11. Recent steps were taken in this regard but they were not adequate or well-thought out.

Syria is a good case study. Three years back, it had the most brutal and controlling security apparatus. Now it is torn between everything and more. Syria is in shambles and the average Syrian has no place to run to. We are in an even more precarious situation than Syria. For we have ethnic issues, demographic divides, religious conflicts, sectarian killings, external threats, an economic crunch, an energy crisis and so much more. How long will you give yourself before it all comes to a point of helplessness? There are those who think that we will be better off if Pakistan is “taken over”. I beg to differ once again. If the present system is dismantled, the power struggle between different religious factions will supersede. This means that there will be no end to this madness unless we decide to take it on ourselves to solve this issue. I am not propagating any foreign manifesto. I am a nationalist and clearly worried about the prospects of my children growing up in this hostile society that has developed zero tolerance for just about anything.

It took Sri Lanka more than three decades to control the insurgency within. But then the entire nation was united in their belief that this must end and should be stopped. We, on the contrary, are far from united in any aspect. Let me give you a disturbing bit of authentic news. Karachi – the main commercial epicenter of the country – is besieged by those we are fighting against in nine areas. There are now nine no-go areas for any Pakistani just in Karachi city. A major political party has lost five of its offices and nine leaders to those who took them over. A senior police officer in Karachi told me on camera that the militants, to fund their operations in Waziristan, conduct extortions and bank robberies and kidnappings for ransom. And we pretend as if nothing is happening and all is well. I want to ask, is all really well or we are just living in a fool’s paradise? Is this the jannat that we wish to enter?

Part one of a series of articles on radicalism

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

39 COMMENTS

  5. Though Mubashir had been exposed in Malik money and power saga, what he said in this article is really true picture. Pakistanis have habbit of singing "all is well" when nothing is well!
    admit something is wrong then fix it with courage. current response is only reactive and weak. This makes TTP like organisations to become stronger. An all out and cleansing operations is required. set the priorities and then take actions!

  7. You and Dr Masood are on the payroll of deep state so don't waste our time and misguide democratic forces.

  10. Nice to know you are still around Mubasher, and hope you are doing fine. There is one thing I have been dying to ask you. What do you think of Najam Sethi now?

  13. Pakistan is a boil that needs to lanced. What good does this country bring to the world, we have 180mn educated morons who hate everybody and anything.

  17. True indeed what is said by Mr Luqman. Truth is harsh and bitter to be heared by any of us. Some hands are striving hard for their mysterious vseted intrests. We all know but we deceive ourselves and have turned our faces from undeniable reality.

    • He only followed paid truth.So one who would pay him he will speak truth on his own favor.Tell him as e exposed Arslan iftikhar and CJP he has lot of margin to expose dozen generals, and many bureaucrats, judges living and enjoying life under the nose of Malik riaz his buddy.This might cleanse his exposed repute.

  18. Mr. Lucman, whatever you say. There is no value in your words. As all of your words are paid by someone else. You have lost your credibility.

  20. Mr. Luqman, you many time tried to humiliate liberal and moderate scholars like Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman, while playing in the hands of extremists of Qasim masjid. And then you started controversial debates on Mutta. Then you exposed in Malik Riaz case. Before it you were a puppet of Musharraf. So why you are lecturing us. There are many people with credibility who can guide us. For you it is better to stop lecturing.

    • Mufti and Musharraf luqman are cloned civilian twin brothers of ISI.Press both button to speak against India and RAW and they would start. who ever try to go against prescribed game of establishment, he/she will be charged by all kind of proved allegation by them.

  21. again all of you is seeing the person instead of what he talked about. I bet you couldn't deny what he said IN THIS article. Keep his reputation aside and focus what he said here. Most of people commented here i know didn't even bothered to read

    • My dear, it doesn't matter how good and relevant one is going to speak or write. Character and credibility of a speaker/writer always matters.

    • How do you know that the commentators have not read the so-called article? Focus on what? He has not said anything worth focusing on. How can one deny total nonsense? There are no two opinions about keepinig his reputation aside, in fact, he should be put aside.

  23. Where are my comments posted yesterday i.e. more than 24 hours ago? Post them immediately or face dire consequences. Take this as a serious warning. Post them in less than one hour. I am waiting.
    aijazhaider.

  25. I see irrational comments; we may differ with writer on some issue but he has visualized true scenario of Pakistan. Mubashir may have many ills but he is patriotic Pakistani & I appreciate his courage to speak truth.

    • Take a morning walk in cool breeze and then read again. There is no radicalism in the article and his visualized scenario is not true. Don't expect rational comments on an irrational article by a non-patriotic, cowardly liar.

  26. Mubashar Luqman's Sitara-I-imtiaz should be taken back. He is a disgrace to Pakistan and threat to our country. He can be bought by anyone—just money….. belongs to the oldest profession!!!!Not journalism profession.

  27. NOW IT IS 48 HOURS AND MY COMMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN POSTED! THE MENACE IS GROWING FOR THE AUTHOR, PAKISTAN TODAY AND INTERNET. ALL ARE ADVISED TO TURN OFF THEIR LAP/DESKTOPS AND RUN FOR THEIR LIVES! PRAY WE MEET IN THE INTELLIGENTS' PARADISE AND WATCH PAKISTAN RACING TO ITS GATES – INSHA-ALLAH.

  29. What Lucman has written makes sense and what most commentators have written makes more sense. When a person has lost creditability even his truth sounds a lie. An anchor who is NOT neutral is an unacceptable person, what to say when an anchor has been shown on TV Screen to be defrauding the nations trust under the garb of a trust worthy anchor. Lucman needs a break from TV. He is good for PTI. Congratulations.

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