Our security system
Deadly terrorist attacks on Wednesday that killed at least 25 innocent people have again exposed the loopholes in the security system. In Karachi, where motorbikes plied on the roads and mobile phone service remained unsuspended, a better state of alertness deterred the terrorists from launching any devastating attack. In Rawalpindi, a bomber managed to detonate his suicide vest to kill at least 14, exposing the four tiered system of security promised by CM Shahbaz Sharif. Both the incidents were owned by TTP spokesman. In Bannu, another set of terrorists killed three policemen in an ambush while they also fired on a checkpost injuring three FC personnel. Only in Quetta there was a mention of a parked motorbike having been used to hide an IED which was detonated to target army men escorting a school bus.
In all these incidents, a variety of methods were employed to launch attacks. This shows that the terrorists and militants are flexible and creative when it comes to the choice of weapons and the way to use them. Compared to them those in the security establishment display rigid thinking and insist on one-size-fits-all sort of formulas. This has allowed the terrorists to once again extend their reach to the interior of the country. The interior minister has no solution other than banning the motorbikes and putting the mobile phones on hold to stop the TTP and its subsidiaries from harming the people. All that matters in fights of the sort is who is one step ahead of whom. The security agencies have to gather real time information, not the type of highly generalised and practically useless warnings the interior ministry issues from time to time. For this the security agencies have to exhibit better efficiency. Again the civil law enforcement agencies which are presently in bad shape need to be provided modern investigation tools, forensic laboratories with trained personnel and an efficient communication system. Political appointments have to be stopped as these tend to erode professionalism and instead breed indiscipline and inefficiency. Instead of relying on draconian laws, the investigation departments have to be strengthened so that there are no loopholes in the cases they send to courts. To ensure that the criminals get due punishment, witnesses have to be provided security. That all the six witnesses in Wali Khan Babar murder case were killed is a reflection on the Sindh Home Department’s performance.
And please stop calling on army to undertake actions which come under the purview of the civilian law enforcement agencies. Only the latter can find the place where suicide bombers come from and where the IEDs are stored by terrorists.
