Shocking as the ghastly killing of 42 people and injuries caused to 100 in a pre-dawn powerful car bomb blast in Multan on Thursday was, understandable should be the spontaneous violent public protest on the tragedy.
The bombing, occurring at the end of a nightlong meeting held to mark the first anniversary of the assassination of Azam Tariq, head of the defunct Sipah-e-Sahaba, evidently targeted some 2,000 people from Millat-e-Islamia, an outlawed group.
Coming within a week of the prayer time terrorist onslaught in a Sialkot Imambargah on Friday before last, the Multan tragedy is being viewed as a part of sectarian terrorism and condemned as such. No doubt, there have been some extremist organisations in operation on either side of the sectarian divide, their influence on the common citizens of both sects remains too little to trigger large-scale sectarian strife.
The fact is that certain terrorist organisations, masquerading as religious, sectarian, political or ethnic outfits so operate as to win public sympathy. This is precisely what President Pervez Musharraf, an unflinching fighter against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and an ardent champion of moderation in Islam, repeatedly pointed out when he said the terrorists have no religion or faith.
It may be noted here that appeals to and from the Ulema from either side, on such occasions, have been of little avail in curbing such terrorist activities. Their efforts, however, do have a sobering effect on the people in general, which should leave little to doubt about the peaceful co-existence of the two sects in normal day to day life. And this should augur well for a strongly motivated campaign for religious and sectarian tolerance and harmony. In so far as the fight against terrorism inside the country is concerned, as often pointed out in these columns, the intelligence agencies would do well to gain increasing access to the inner folds of the violent groups, thereby identifying their members and godfathers.
That some successes have been achieved from this kind of approach, should inspire the agencies concerned to redouble their efforts, and set up a widespread vigilance network, with increasing co-operation of the people.
Needless to point out, now that the district governments have come to stay, mobilisation of the people should not be too difficult any more. However, seemingly alerted to the possibility of increased terrorist activity during the forthcoming Ramazan, the government has done well to impose a ban on religious congregations, except Friday and Taravih prayers.
It will be in the fitness of things to intensify vigilance during the holy month of fasting. For as it is, the terrorists can always conjure up new ideas to satisfy their urge for killing and destruction. Some effort also need be made to mobilise more and more volunteers from the communities so as to launch a real people's war against terrorism.
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