Tahira Irfa
Who knows the end of the year will leave every eye full of tears. But it did and made us welcome our New Year whilesobbing. Two years has passed but still the ill-fated innocent departed souls haunt us badly. The bigots and evil minded selfish people are behind this abhorrent act that for their vested interests has cost not only these but lives of millions. The conflict, chaos, conspiracy and crises created by sectarian and religious extremism have made the world a vulnerable place to live in. Though terrorism is a global issue but Pakistan is bearing its burnt the most. Pakistan surely is facing war like situation not only at borders but also internally. Security has always been a misunderstood and misplaced issue in Pakistan and the real threat here emanates from this Sectarian violence and religious extremism. Someone has rightly said that the greatest danger to Pakistan comes not from without but from within the form of religious extremism and sectarianism.Terrorism not only costs lives but economy, development, peace, sovereignty, foreign investment and much more. A handful of people who have their vicious interests to fulfill have not only taken countless innocent lives but also distorted the real image of Islam before the world through their heinous acts. Undoubtedly, at present the gravest problem of Pakistan is terrorism which has become a headache for federation and a nightmare for public. We are facing war like situation against terrorists mostly due to internal insurgencies, external hands and international conspiracies. People have become numerical figures, blown up in numbers every now and then. Terrorists have not spared any place like bazars, mosques, educational institutes, offices, hotels, no place is safe anymore. However, ray of hope is thatthe APS incident has brought all the forces in one page and made them take some bold steps to play their key role in the war on terror and using all its means to combat menace of terrorism. Fortunately our politicians, general masses and security forces are now showing a strong sense of unity to fight terrorism. Along with Federal initiatives, province especially Punjab province seems vigilant to nip this evil in the bud. After the practical implementation of National Internal Security Policy at Federal level, Punjab government had derived a comprehensive policy to save people from internal as well as external dangers. It has sufficed the powers of law enforcing agencies to bring National Action Plan into letter and spirit. Punjab Government in context with the National Action Plan (NAP) has established Counter Terrorism department which is the first ever force of its kind in Pakistan’s history. It has fifteen hundred corporals who meet all the necessary criteria being set and are selected under strict merit. This force was surely the need of hour to help country survive in this war. It would be unfair not to appreciate Chief Minister Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif’s stalwart passion that turned this plan of anti-terrorism force into reality and made their first passing out possible in a very short amount of time. Formally Crime Investigation Department after its restructure now is working as Counter Terrorism Department. This department is working against all shapes of terrorism including extremism and sectarianism. The hired corporals are trained with the special assistance of Turk National Police who sent its 45 officers to provide standard training and capacity building of these corporals. They trained them for intelligence operations and investigations. Nevertheless, we are peace loving nation and our efforts to fight menace of terrorism and sacrifices rendered thereof are testimony to the commitment and resolve to bring peace in region need recognition. We have sacrificed the most in the ongoing war on terror. So the need of hour is that all citizens of Pakistan must propagate moderate vibrant culture of Pakistan to promote good will of world community and shun misconstrued belief. Anti-state elements must be singled out and brought to lime light to defeat evil agendas of enemies. And most important we need to stand with the government agencies, appreciate their rightful acts and play our needful part to bring that peace and glory back to our land.
And observing 16 December is basically to pay tribute to the martyrs and convey message to those atrocious that “we will stand, we will fight and we will win the war..” Insha Allah