Patterns of terror

Following a trend also noted in the past, the series of six blasts that took place across Karachi within an hour on Monday evening appeared to be aimed at creating maximum panic, rather than taking lives. In this sense the explosions seem to differ from the suicide attacks that have taken place elsewhere in the country, and lead to the suspicion that there may be somewhat separate motives and somewhat separate groups behind them. In most other attacks, security personnel have been key targets. But it is also true that we are becoming immune to terror. The fact that the Karachi blasts caused injuries to 50 people has been somewhat downplayed, with all of us accustomed to rating the severity of blasts on the basis of how many people lost lives as a result of them. The sight of blood and gore visible after every blast seems no longer to shake us. The past, when cities like Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar or Islamabad were largely peaceful places, and citizens went about their daily lives unconcerned about crime or terrorist incidents, is now an almost forgotten country. Today, sadly, most of us think twice about venturing out to crowded public places and panic at the sight of a dumped shopping bag.

According to police officials, 150 to 200 grams of explosives were used in each of the low-intensity blasts, which took place at Banaras Chowk, Orangi Town, Pak Colony and Shahrah-i-Noorjahan. The timing of the blasts, which began just after 7.00pm and their location in busy areas indicates they were well-planned and aimed at triggering maximum panic. This did happen, with initial rumours and reports following the blasts suggesting a still greater level of destruction than eventually proved to be the case. Based on the fact that the blasts took place in predominantly Pathan localities, there has been conjecture within police circles that there was an ethnic motive behind them. But this suggestion leaves open many questions. Given that both major parties in Karachi are currently coalition partners, it is difficult to understand who would wish to destabilize the city or damage the government. Immediately after the incidents, crowds gathered in various places chanting slogans against authorities, indicating perhaps that the desired effect had been achieved.

The blasts in the financial capital of Pakistan may well add to the economic problems the country currently faces. Foreign investment is unlikely to make its way into a country hit by so much instability and disorder. The adviser on interior has commented that the explosions were aimed at destabilizing the city. This of course we all already know. The question the government needs to answer is that who is behind this subversive attempt and how they can be stopped. As happens in most such cases, police officers have been suspended following the incident in Karachi. But this action in itself serves little purpose. In the chaotic, milling crowds of Karachi demanding that police keep track of every street corner and every market where a bomb could be planted is clearly seeking the impossible. What we need now is an All Parties Conference to assess the terrorist threat we face. A consensus on policy and tactics needs to be built and the security agencies then brought into the picture so a full-fledged effort can be made to tackle this menace that has gripped our society before its grows even bigger and cannot be overcome even through the united effort of political forces, law-enforcing agencies and citizens.

Posted on: 9-July-2008

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Source: The News (http://www.thenews.com.pk)

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