Killers on rampage once again in Pakistan

Photo by Dawn

Friday 23rd June 2017 has witnessed the massive killing, as killers seemed on the rampage once gain in Pakistan. In the late evening in Karachi in two separate incidents the police personnel came under attack. In the first incident fire was opened at a police party around Iftari time and in another incident two policemen were shot and wounded, both targeting law enforcement officials.

The twin blasts in Parachinar took place around Iftari time. The nature of the explosions was not immediately clear. The explosions targeted people shopping in the area ahead of Eid. The city with a population of more than 50,000, has been under strict security arrangements for quite some time. On 31^st March this year, the city had suffered a similar tragedy when 23 people were killed in a car bomb blast near an Imam Bargah at midday. More than 70 others were wounded in the attack. Earlier in January this year, 25 people were killed and 87 were injured when a bomb went off during peak business hours at a crowded vegetable market in the city

At least 13 people ─ including seven policeman ─ lost their lives, while 19 others were injured in a blast in Quetta in the  morning. Lately, Balochistan has endured various blasts primarily targeting security personnel. Earlier this month, three security officials were injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted their vehicle in Kalat. Days later, two navy sailors were martyred and at least three others were wounded when their vehicle was attacked in the Jiwani area of Gwadar district. In May, at least 10 workers were killed in Gwadar district when unidentified assailants opened fire at the construction site.

For the blast in Quetta, no one has claimed responsibility but it can be linked to the death sentence of an Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was awarded death sentence by a military court. Jadhav was arrested from Iran-Pakistan border on the day Iranian President came to Pakistan. This incident can be linked to creating unrest in the province  to sabotage CPEC.

The blast in Parachinar can also be linked to resistance against CPEC as well as targeting Shias. For considerably long time certain groups have been trying to create Shia-Sunni conflict in Pakistan, but all their efforts have failed.

Pakistan in the grip of terrorists

On the last Friday of Ramadan in Pakistan killers were on the rampage, especially in Karachi capital of Sindh and Quetta capital of Balochistan. Earlier Kamra Air Base was attacked and nearly two dozen Shias were killed point blank in KP province. Though, on the face value these appear separate incidents but establish a common point ‘security forces in Pakistan are incapable of protecting Pakistanis as well as strategic installations of the country.

Many local and foreign analysts term these ‘security lapse’ but the reality is Pakistan in a state of war for more than a decade. Despite doing the best it has to hear ‘do more manta’ from the United States and face the pressure of ‘domestic constituency’ to pull the country out of proxy US war. There is growing perception that Afghan occupation by Nato forces may have other motives but bringing any change in the quality of life of Afghans, bearing the brunt of war for more than three decades. Some even go to the extent of terming it war of drug barons.

In the recent past Shia Hazaras have been the worst victim in Balochistan but now killers are on the rampage in KP and GB. For a considerably long time efforts are being made to show that that Shias and Sunnis are killing each other. However, with the Shia-Suni conflict becoming too visible in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, efforts are being made to instigate armed conflict between the two Muslim sects in Pakistan also.

Attack on the bus carrying participants of Youm-e-Qudus Rally in Karachi was to convey a message that any group following Iranian plan can face death in Pakistan. However, the cynics fail to understand that it is not the attempt of Iran to create its hegemony in the region but to remind the Muslims that Israel is occupying Palestinian territory for decades and Arabs have failed in getting the holy city of Jerusalem free from Zionist occupation.

Many Western critics say that Iran has expansionist designs and attaining uranium enrichment technology is the first step for producing atomic warheads. Though, Iran has been refuting this allegation, United States under the pressure of Zionists want to teach it a lesson. More than 32 years of economic sanctions have failed to deter Iranians from their path. In fact Iran has emerged as a symbol of resistance against the US hegemony.