Source: ET
In the very last tweet Irfan Khudi Ali sent out before he was killed in a blast in Quetta, he said, “Hazara families of Machh, Khuzdar finally succumbed to the genocidal pressure and are moving out. Sad day for diversity in Balochistan.” Later that day, Irfan was one of nearly 100 people killed in three different blasts in Quetta. More than 20 other people were killed in separate attacks in Swat and Karachi.
On this, one of the deadliest days in Pakistan even by our recent violent standards, we saw the full spectrum of threats that the country faces. In Balochistan, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has declared war on the Shia community, reserving particular ire for the minority-within-a-minority Hazaras. The two blasts targeting Shias in Quetta took over 90 lives. Then, there is the war being fought by the Baloch separatists, which occasionally turns violent and so we had separatist group United Baloch Army claim responsibility for a blast, which killed 11 people in a Quetta market. The Taliban, as shown by the attempted murder of Malala Yousufzai, is still able to operate in Swat despite the strong army presence and so were the likely culprits behind the killings of 21 people at a religious rally in Mingora. Meanwhile, in Karachi, not only is the Taliban making its presence felt but there is also the usual daily cocktail of targeted killings and political bickering turning violent.
“These political leaders did not seem particularly vexed by the existential terrorist threat we face. Qadri, for one, is threatening to bring hundreds of thousands of people to Islamabad for his Long March. Right now, the only march we need is against the killers in our midst, but Qadri seems to be more worried about strangling democracy. He certainly has street power but he is wielding that power in a thoughtless way that betrays little concern for the tens of thousands of victims of terrorism”
Well said Editorial ET. It is not only TQ, rather each on top is behaving that way. While talking in a program, brother of Baluchistan CM said golden words, “when those in power instead looking after the state interest are only worried how to retain their seats, nothing can improve in this country”. Repeatedly it is pointed out that on a piece of land where innocents are killed by mighty people, that piece of land gets cursed in the eyes of Almighty God. Current state of affair supports this view point for the motherland. Sheikhul Islam gathered round about two millions on the name faulty electoral system. However none could muster even few thousands to raise hue and cry against the belief based atrocities. And it is rightly pointed out in the editorial that right now, the only march we need is against the killers in our midst. But who will take the initiative for this gigantic task. Is there any Messiah present in this nation of 180 millions?