AS the new rulers of Pakistan are encountering the same terrorists as were once described by right-wing religio-political parties as misguided brothers, we can rather see a new Pakistan emerging on the South Asian horizon.

PTI provincial legislators (MPAs) are being gunned down one after the other (along with scores of people), while one of its national legislators (MNA) has demanded on the assembly floor the release of Mumtaz Qadri.

Although Qadri has been sentenced to death, t appeal is still pending in the court.

Another news from the KP province shows the long-term planning by new rulers -- the PTI’s partner in KP -- the Jamaat-i-Islami’s desire to impart military training to men and women aged between 18 and 35 years as part of its strategy to promote spirit of jihad in the nation.

It is going to be a blank cheque to religious organizations to officially form militant gangs at government expense. How come the Punjab government could be behind -- they have announced a grant-in-aid of Rs61 million for the administration of JuD’s Markaz-i-Taiba.

JuD is the political face of a defunct militant organisation, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba. In fact, the Punjab government has argued that the grant is in line with UN Security Council’s resolution which asks for a ban on the funding of terrorist organisations Although the new interior minister has tried to bring both civilian and military establishments on the same page to face the cancer of terrorism, there has to be a positive will to lead the way.

MASOOD KHAN Jubail