Hazara Carnage: Civilian Incompetence And Strategic Depth Doctrine

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   


              Hazara Carnage: Civilian Incompetence And  Strategic Depth Doctrine

Pakistan is witnessing one of its worst Sectarian violence in recent history, such kind of wave was witnessed in Nineties, motive is the same but carried on a much larger scale. In nineties, people were targeted or ambushed belonging to different ethnic Groups,  bomb blasts were rare, killing a few people. But  there is new phenomenon of Suicide Bombings and blasts via Remote control devices ( Hundreds of Kilograms of Explosive Material is used ), killing hundreds in one go, as we witnessed in Alamdar road tragedy,  on 10th  January, a blasts killed close to 103 people, injuring hundreds,  a month later, on 16th February,  Alamdar Road was again targeted, killing close to 89 people (including Women and Children ) and injuring hundreds in the process. Each time, unfortunately victims were Shia Minority (Hazara Community).

Both of these were tragic and heart wrenching incidents, followed by mass protest and sit-in across Pakistan, Pakistani unanimously and in one voice stood with their Hazara community. Hats of to all those participated in these sit-in across Pakistan and keeping them non-violent, their courage and will must be saluted. Pakistanis for once, spoke in one voice leaving aside their differences, provisionalism or religious belief. Every one condemned the attacks and stood by their Shia brothers. Sit-in across major cities of Pakistan, blocked main roads, Railway Tracks, Air-Ports,  life was paralyzed in Pakistan until Hazara-Wals demands were met and heirs of victims were satisfied and bodies of their loved ones were buried.

Burial Site

Both Governments and Shia Councils behaved very pragmatically, as Government allowed  peaceful sit-in across Pakistan and didn't create any hurdles or tried to use force any where in Pakistan, although according to Media reports attendances were very thin in these sit-ins. Majalis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen and Hazara Democratic Party must also be credited by keeping these sit-in peaceful and not even a single stone was thrown and a piece of glass was broken. Infect Pakistan as a Nation came out of this mess with flying colors, every one regardless of their political and ethnic affiliations stood by the Shia Community, great Omen for Pakistan.

Hazara-Wal Sit In

Let us have a look at some serious issues, whom to blame for these incidents. In my view its a collective failure of both Civilian Government and Military intelligence Agencies. As mind-boggling revelation were made in Supreme Court Sou Motto hearing of Hazara Massacre, the area where that Blast took place, adjacent roads  were controlled either by "Police" or "FC". Both Civilian and Military intelligence agencies blaming each other for this breech in security.

The alleged master mind of both these incidents were captured but unfortunately under dubious circumstances were able to escape from a ATF Jail (High Security Garrison of Quetta Cantonment) back in January 2008, "Usman Kurd", leader of Baloch LEJ and his close associate "Dawood Badine", both believe to have close ties with "Malik Ishaq", (highly important man in LEJ ) released by Supreme Court on bail on July 14, 2011, due to lack of evidence and non-availability of witnesses against him. LEJ allegedly being attached to Al-Qaida  and said to be involved in attacks on different Military installations.

Responsibility lies both on Civilian and Military leadership, they should sit together and find a way out, which we all know is very difficult and painful , as it could take decades of perseverance and determination.

Comprehensive dialogue need to be initiated among different ethnic groups and at the same time targeted operation needs to be launched against those who are unwilling to surrender to State and lay down their arms unconditionally.

Federal Government immediately need to launch a "Counter Terrorism Unit", as you look around the World, terrorism has become a National Issue,  Federal Government must take the lead, putting blame on the Provisional Governments wouldn't solve the problem and will not take us any where. Military and Civilian leadership should sit together and set aside their egos  for the sake of Pakistan, immediately chalk out a plan to tackle the problem. Parliament should immediately pass some tough legislation to deal with state enemies  and military should assist in training the  "CTU" and  get out of their ego as to who would head this force, stop considering it , as interference in their domain.

Civilian must start delivering, because people of Pakistan are not willing to tolerate their incompetence and bad governance any more, they should learn from these small sit-ins across Pakistan, its like Volcano, may erupt into something big and humongous beyond their imagination, none of those will  be able to handle. Just put things into perspective, whenever such incidence happen, third force is blamed and Interior Minister come up with lame excuses, which make him a laughing stalk among the masses and nobody takes him seriously any more.  Recently, declaring that LEJ head office was in Punjab and another one in Karachi. it is  utter non-sense, if he knows  their where abouts why not take actions against them, he has Rangers at his disposal and  Civilian Intelligence agencies as well. believe me whole Nation would stand behind him and appreciate him, no Provisional Government would dare stop him. Unfortunately, "Rehman Malik"  has issued warning to the Nation to be prepared for more attacks in Quetta, Karachi and KPK, talked about proxy war, third force etc. but  as usual forgot to mention the culprits and hidden hands behind these atrocities. He must act, reports have already started to suggest that Hazara Wal are asking asylum in countries like Australia, then  as usual we would blame the Western World for our  wrong doing's and deeds.

Both Baluchistan and Sindh Governments run by PPP led collision, just in 2012, close to 19 hundred people scummed to target killing in Karachi alone and in January 2013, close to 150 suffered the same fate, and a third force is being blamed for it. Similarly Baluchistan going through its worst phase in history regarding Law and Order, where sitting Ministers and Local Civil administration blame each other for their involvement in kidnapping for ransom and target killings. So why blame Punjab, where according to recent report, there is marked decrease in heinous crimes, like kidnapping for ransom, bank robberies, etc.  its criminal to blame Punjab for all these act of terrorism, stupidity issuing statements that why killings not happening in Punjab, why there are no Bomb Blasts, why people don't have to pay Bhatta to run their businesses, why Government officials not involved in criminal activities, why Chief Executive of the Province arrested  his own Son in Law.

 Secondly Military Leadership must under stand, they should come out of their strategic depth doctrine and realize it is 2013 Pakistan, they must join hands with Civilians to rein this monster, unfortunately created and groomed by them, a bitter reality but a true one. We under stand that in a Third World Country like Pakistan, Military always remains a Powerful Institution, but they have to sit with Civilian Administration, find a way out, otherwise we shall be facing a 1971 like situation, with more bloodshed and hatred for Pakistan.

 Let us talk about  politicking going on around this purely a Human issue, different parties holding opponents responsible for this Carnage. Let us not forget that these splinter groups of our society, deserve the same kind of respect as our Shia community demanding, and they are a Poll reality so in different Elections, almost every poll party made alliances with them including PPP,PMLQ and other groups even different individuals within PTI ranks are trying to make an alliance with them. But every one criticising PMLN, for their alleged alliance with ASWJ, but they forget the very fact that it was SS government back in 1997, who pulled the reins of those involved in sectarian violence, infect evolved a comprehensive strategy, involving Dialogue among different ethnic groups and targeted operation  was carried against those unwilling to co-operate. Infect Nawaz Sharif was attacked thirce in that tenure of PMLN, having said all this, PMLN need to come clean on this issue as it is make or break for Pakistan, such inhuman acts must not and can not be tolerated in civilized societies. Shahbaz Sharif led Punjab Government need to send a strong message to those involved in recent killing of Professor Ali Haider and his 12 year old son Ali Murtaza. As reports are beginning to come that many activist related to LEJ, ASWJ and SSP have been detained under 16 MPO ( maintenance of public order ) in different Tehsils and Districts of Punjab.

Finally, all those demanding military take over of Baluchistan must understand, military infect is in charge of Baluchistan Security for over a Decade. Dictator Mushraf used to tell us the stories of reforms he introduced in Baloch Police, many Districts of Baluchistan brought under A Category and bla bla bla. Baloch Nationals who are already at logger head with Army Leadership, would never accept this idea.  We must be very clear in our minds that Military is never a solution and never was in the past as well.