First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out
— Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out
— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out
— Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
– Pastor Martin Niemöller
8th August 2016 was one of the most mournful day in our legal history. Terrorists struck the core of our legal institution when suicide bomber pulled off an attack at an assembly of lawyers mourning the assassination of Advocate Bilal Anwar Kasi in the emergency ward of Civil Hospital, Quetta. The suicide bombing resulted in martyrdom of over 70 people including two cameramen of private news channels (DAWN, August 9, 2016). Soon after the attack the government rhetoric gained limelight on all news channels across the country with Chief Minister of Balochistan incriminating Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the main Indian intelligence agency, for carrying out this horrendous massacre.
Though the reaction from provincial government was swift before initial investigation was completed but nevertheless a hostile intelligence agency cannot be absolved from this after all this is what they are created, funded and sustained for, to create mayhem and chaos in the geographic territory of your arch enemy. However there is also a different perspective which was conveniently underestimated in the fallout of this atrocity one that has more to do with nature than with any social or political factors.
Since the intractable and multi-dimensional terrorism problem fraught the national spirit and society with horror and hopelessness the national institutions comprising of security, political and judicial agencies are in constant denial of their national and collective duty towards eradication of terrorism and extremism and extricating themselves from the battle and transferring all responsibility towards other national institutions creating a somewhat institutional vacuum and mayhem, a sure recipe for disaster.
Initially it was the national security institutions of the country that felt reluctant to act against all terrorist and extremist outfits to the detriment of the country and its peoples providing the strategic necessity of some of these groups for geostrategic purposes alongside lack of political will to cope with consequences of operations against terrorist groups on Pakistani soil. It was not until the militants initiated a campaign to target military and sensitive installations such as GHQ, PNS Mehran, PAF Kamra, ISI offices (Lahore, Multan and Sukkar), Peshawar Airport and Karachi Aiport to name a few in which more than 134 people were killed and numerous maimed (Walid Zahid, September 18, 2015) did sense prevail in security quarters to exterminate all terrorist groups regardless of their inclinations. In the same period the legal institution of judiciary also faced with intricate web of judicial complexities, overt and covert threats, and lack of necessary judicial framework to deal with extraordinary circumstances (Pakistan Today, January 17, 2016) which resulted in exoneration of 1,964 alleged terrorist among which 722 regain foot in terrorist groups while 1,197 are actively participating in anti-state activities (DAWN, October 19, 2013) tormenting national security institutions who arrested and brought them to the court to face justice.
While terrorism and extremism plagues security and stability of the state and ravaging social fabric of society Political institutions continue to play deaf, dumb and blind since the onset of this intractable problem. With failure to cope with the exploding situation some quarters in political institutions facilitates its growth, expansion and protection under political umbrella and delaying political maneuvers to significantly disrupt and dismantle these terror networks compounding the efforts of security and legal institutions and at large jeopardizing the national security of the state. These quarters in political institutions found it a necessity to facilitate these extremist groups to counter rival parties, gaining foothold in constituencies, establishing an artificial civilian supremacy, counter military in all aspects due to their historic animosity and fulfill hostile countries strategic designs etc. (DAWN, June 25, 2015; The News, September 29, 2015; Express Tribune, August 28, 2015; Pakistan Today, April 29, 2016; DAWN, January 29, 2016) but this political-militant nexus came at a cost with various politicians, sitting ministers and religious clerics were assassinated namely, Shahbaz Bhatti, Bashir Ahmed Bilour, Shuja Khanzada, Salmaan Taseer, Allama Hassan Turabi, and Zahra Shahid Hussain etc.
It is evident from the above quoted terrorist attacks that time and again the pattern of terrorism and extremism remains consistent while the victims, in institutional terms, vary. Aforementioned institutions sought to reconcile with the reality of the time that militants cannot be contained or can be used for different objectives yet came to the realization, with heavy cost, that for Pakistan to be prosper, vibrant and peaceful this scourge of terrorism must be eliminated and menace of mounting extremism must be contained and gradually terminated by a multifaceted approach involving a vibrant, honest and altruistic synergy between security, political and legal institutions. In the backdrop of APS incident, one of the darkest episode in our national and human history, political and military leaderships sit together to formulate what is now known as National Action Plan (NAP). The 20-point plan could be termed as Plan for National Survival as it underlines all the essential elements that needed to be established, facilitated, sustained and tackled to effectively combat and uproot the cancer of terrorism and extremism from our country.
Subsequently the Protection of Pakistan Act (PoPA) was passed by National Assembly and Parliament passed 21st constitutional amendment to establish military courts to facilitate terror-related cases with swift justice. These actions of Government of Pakistan upped the ante in the battle against terrorism and showed significantly better results since 2014. Yet as PoPA expired on July 15, 2016 and government seemingly reluctant to extend it (DAWN, August 14, 2016) and with military courts expiring on January 7, 2017 (The News, August 11, 2016) NAP that underscored national leadership commitment and dedication to curb terrorism and put an end to this nightmare is shattering. Without necessary legislation, essential political will and national resolve NAP is bound to fail.
References
Abbasi, A. (2016, August 11). Military courts may continue as criminal justice system not reformed. The News, Retrieved from https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/141732-Military-courts-may-continue-as-criminal-justice-system-not-reformed
Abbas, M. (2015, September 29). Karachi hub of ‘terror financing’. The News, Retrieved from https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/64926-karachi-hub-of-terror-financing
Ali, K. (2016, January 29). Lal Masjid’s expansionism, militant links alarms agencies. DAWN, Retrieved from http://www.dawn.com/news/1155014
Asad, M. (2016, October 19). 722 suspects rejoined terrorist groups after acquittal: report. Dawn, Retrieved from http://www.dawn.com/news/1050293
Asad, M. (2016, August 14). Terror cases fate uncertain as key law lapses. DAWN, Retrieved from http://www.dawn.com/news/1277445
News Desk. (2015, June 25). India provided funds to MQM, claims BBC report. DAWN, Retrieved from http://www.dawn.com/news/1190175
Raza, M. (2016, January 17). Terrorism and our judicial framework. Pakistan Today, Retrieved from http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/01/17/comment/terrorism-and-our-judicial-framework/
Sahoutara, N.; Ashraf, Z. (2015, August 28). Dr Asim charged with terror-financing. Express Tribune, Retrieved from http://tribune.com.pk/story/946297/new-twist-dr-asim-charged-with-terror-financing/
Shah, A. Syed (2016, August 8). 70 dead as blast hits Quetta civil hospital after lawyer’s killing. Dawn, Retrieved from http://www.dawn.com/news/1276183
Staff report. (2016, April 29). Uzair Baloch was spying for Iran, says JIT. Pakistan Today, Retrieved from http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/04/29/national/uzair-baloch-was-spying-for-iran-says-jit/
Zahid, W. (2015, September 18). List of attacks on military and sensitive installations in Pakistan. Retrieved from https://walizahid.com/2015/09/list-of-attacks-on-military-sensitive-installations-in-pakistan/
