News Analysis |
In a bomb blast in Lahore at least 7 people have been killed and more than a dozen got injured on Wednesday night. The DIG (operations) Dr. Haider Ashraf told media personnel that explosion occurred near a police camp in Raiwind. “The police appear to be the target,” he said.
The chief Minster Punjab strongly condemned the blast and directed the Inspector General Police Punjab to submit a report of the incident. It is pertinent to mention here that this is the first bomb blast in Lahore in 2018. Before that Pakistan has been witnessing attacks in various cities. In 2013, 5, 379 Pakistanis were martyred in terrorist attacks followed by 5,496 in 2014; 3,682 in 2015; 1,830 in 2016 and 924 in 2017.
Pakistan’s Role in War on Terror
According to the Government of Pakistan (GoP), the country has lost over 50,000 civilians in the war against terrorism since 2003. In a tweet the GoP has said that:
Pakistan has rendered countless sacrifices in War against Terrorism and has always taken indiscriminate action against any form of extremism. Our commitment for lasting peace is unequivocal.
Moreover, according to the Global Terrorism Index, Pakistan ranks second among the countries most affected by terrorism. Data collected by Watson Institute reveals that Pakistan lost 6,000 security personnel in the fight against terrorism. The US, however, lost only 2,357 soldiers in her war on terror.
Terrorism in Pakistan: Who benefits?
Pakistan is facing many problems at the moment ranging from anti-judiciary struggle by the PML-N leaders after the Panamagate judgement to the public backlash against what the ruling party had done in regard to Khatam-e-Nubuwwat clause. In Pakistan, bomb blasts took place at important moments which benefit some particular groups. Therefore, while analyzing the causes and implications of any attack in Pakistan it is important to ask; who benefits?
It is also very obvious that a new wave of terrorism will not only change the point of focus in Pakistan politics but also will help different groups to divert the public attention in order to advance their vested political interests.
Firstly, the image of Pakistan army has been very positive across the world for eliminating terrorism from the country. The role of Pakistan army has not only been acknowledged by friends but also American generals have praised the efforts made by Pakistan for countering terrorism. This positive image of Pakistan army is not digestible for some regional and global powers, and those powers use ruling elites in Pakistan to fulfill their political and strategic interests.
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Secondly, the judiciary has been very active for quite a long time. The CJP Nisar has been vocal and very active with regard to government’s policies for providing people basic rights. Moreover, the top court has also declared the PML-N former head ‘dishonest’ person who was declared ineligible for running a political party and holing any public office. The ousted prime minister has, however, along with his daughter has decided to malign and verbally attack the top court. Three of PML-N leaders have been issued contempt of court notices in this regard.
But as a matter of fact, the PML-N anti-judiciary policy has not been so effective. Recent ink attack at Khawaja Asif and shoe attack at the ousted PM Nawaz Sharif have remarked public anger against the party. This is something frustrating for the ruling party as they are unable to cash any other narrative to seek political support from their voters.
Pakistan is facing many problems at the moment ranging from anti-judiciary struggle by the PML-N leaders after the Panamagate judgement to the public backlash against what the ruling party had done in regard to Khatam-e-Nubuwwat clause.
In such a critical situation when one state institutions is facing threats from regional as well as global powers, and the other one is being attacked by the ruling party to misguide public in order to hide their corruption and observations made by the top court of the country it is difficult to point out as to who is responsible for bomb blasts in Pakistan?
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It is also very obvious that a new wave of terrorism will not only change the point of focus in Pakistan politics but also will help different groups to divert the public attention in order to advance their vested political interests. Pakistani media and public should, therefore, remain alter in order to understand as to who is being benefited from these attacks in Pakistan?