Tuesday 31 March 2009

My home is on fire

My home is on fire. Lahore was attacked again yesterday by cowardly brainwashed zealots. Within a space of one month it was second attack where Punjab Police sacrificed eleven lives on the altar of terrorism. Only difference this time was that four of the perpetrators have been caught alive. Though, the Ministry of Interior has been quick to point fingers at usual suspects, and Baitullah Mehsood, head of a banned militant outfit alleged to be responsible for assasination of ex Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has accepted responsibility for yesterday's attacks, I hope that those caught alive will point to real culprits who financed, planned and help with this attack.

This is the second kick in the backside of intelligence agencies in a month. When the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked I wrote that there is no lack of skills and intelligence capacity and capability in Pakistan. Even in this case the Intelligence Bureau had alerted the Punjab Goverment of the risk of another attack on a government facility. It is the incompetence of our ruling class and their misplaced priorities that is resulting in this continuous loss of life. Listenining to the pointless policy speech by President Zardari addressing the joint session of the parliament I could only think of a verse from Urdu poetry

Barbad gulistaan karne ko to ek hi ullu kaafi tha
Yaha..har shaakh pe ullu baitha hai anjam-e-gulistan kya hoga

Literally meaning

For destroying the wonderful garden, even one owl is sufficient
Here there is an owl on each branch, wonder what would happen to the garden

There is still some light at the end of the tunnel. With the return of ousted Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif, a known competent administrator I hope that focus of provincial administration will return to providing security to common people and establishing once again the rule of law.

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