Outrageous, indeed, is the very thought of the horrible bloodbath in which at least 14 Muslims were killed just as they were about to join Juma prayers in Karachi on May 7.
Coming right in the midst of the ongoing celebrations of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the ghastly tragedy will be understandably condemned, mourned and lamented as yet another dastardly act of terrorism, which has continued to cause death and destruction as an ironic anti-climax to the country's participation in the global coalition's ongoing war on international terrorism. What is all the more painful about it, is the obvious sectarian dimension of terrorism.
For Pakistan happens to be a frontline state in the global war on terror prompted, in a way, from a so-called "Islamic" urge, thereby widely referred to as "Islamic" terrorism.
Needless to point out, this label happens to be loathsome to many practising Muslims, wherever they may be, more so in Pakistan, for they believe in Islam as a religion of peace and tolerance, which is diametrically opposed to the cult of violence, hatred and intolerance on which terrorism has been fed all these past several decades.
The critics of Pakistan's decision to join the war against terrorism forget that the city of Karachi has been faced with this menace for more than a decade before 9/11.
Since 1987, 96 bomb blasts have occurred in mosques, churches, government offices, buses, trains, hotels, foreign consulates and shopping areas, 350 people have died and 1350 injured in these attacks.
Despite scores of arrests made after these incidents, there has not been a single instance of successful prosecution and punishment inspite of special laws and terrorism courts.
This, then, precisely is one of the main reasons Pakistan's Government and people have to fight with unwavering determination and courage with the idea of silencing the tirade against Islam as well as ensuring peace and security at home.
The so-called "Islamic" terrorists and their supporters are seem to be equally determined to rally people under the banner of revival of Islam, though for achieving opposite ends.
This, among other things, seems to be the major problem behind the failure of the government to give a death blow to the ingeniously organised terrorism in the country.
The most despicable part of it lies in that while pursuing their agenda they have been playing upon centuries old sectarian dissensions which remain there for want of really serious effort at setting inter-sect conflicts at rest.
Essentially, what may be described as a disgusting past the so-called religious educational institutions, in all parts of the country, instead of remedying the ugly situation continued to promote sectarian disunity and intolerance for their own mundane goals.
Of course, the government has identified the malady and has taken initial measures to reform the system on the right line.
It will naturally take the reforms quite some time to bring about the desired change. For as earlier pointed out in these columns, deeply entrenched in the psyche and behaviour of the people, the merchants of death and destruction have become used to preying upon the innocent and ignorant.
What is actually needed, in the meantime, is to fight the sectarian terrorism on really a war footing, with maximum use of force and duly supported by a thoroughly efficient intelligence outfit.
The tendency to torch banks, public transport, government offices and vehicles as a reaction to such ugly incidents, as witnessed on Friday is equally condemnable. The leaders need to educate their young supporters that such irresponsible acts amount precisely to playing into the hands of the terrorists seeking to divide the Muslim Ummah.
We believe no Muslim, having an iota of Islamic teaching in his heart, can contemplate killing another Muslim that too in a house of God. May Allah protect us from such evildoers and guide the Muslims to the right path.
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