THURSDAY’S blast at Peshawar’s Tableeghi Markaz throws up a number of questions. The atrocity is particularly puzzling not because of what happened, but because of where it happened. There is nothing new about terrorist bombings targeting mosques, imambargahs, other houses of worship or public places as Pakistan has been witnessing such events for over a decade. Instead, it is surprising that the militants would choose to strike a target that represents conservative religious thought. Perhaps this, yet again, shows that in the militants’ holy war, nothing is sacred. Tableeghi centres have been bombed in the past, most notably in Swat last January. While the TTP has been quick to distance itself from the Peshawar blast, we should remember that the Pakistani Taliban are not a homogenous group, as numerous outfits are functioning under the militants’ umbrella. So while the ‘official’ TTP spokesman may have denied responsibility, there is a distinct possibility that hardliners within the militants’ ranks carried out the bombing.

But why target the Tableeghi Jamaat, an apolitical, largely peaceful group that concentrates on preaching? After all, the group and many in the militant movement are ideologically linked, pledging allegiance to the Deobandi school of thought, even though the Tableeghis stress peaceful preaching, while the militants wish to spread faith by fire and the sword. There are a number of possibilities; some observers feel the militants are not happy with the movement, criticising the Tableeghis for emphasising preaching over jihad. Some Al Qaeda-linked Takfiri groups have actually issued fatwas against the Tableeghi Jamaat. So the bombing possibly was carried out to ‘teach’ the Tableeghis a ‘lesson’. Sectarian militants may also be responsible, while the role of foreign elements cannot be ruled out.

Of course, only a scientific investigation can help identify the perpetrators. But conducting such a probe will be difficult as, according to reports, volunteers washed the crime scene soon after the attack, while police and the media were initially barred from accessing the site. If such tragedies are to be prevented in future, organisers of religious events and administrators of mosques and other places of worship where large numbers of people gather need to cooperate with the authorities. Hundreds of people were in the mosque and fatalities could have been much higher had bomb disposal unit officials not defused a number of similar devices in the building after the bombing. When such large gatherings are taking place, it is essential that the participants are thoroughly checked, especially in cities like Peshawar which have seen a high level of terrorist violence. Meanwhile, elements within the state and political parties who are eager to talk to the militants must consider that if the Taliban are not willing to spare those who are ideologically close to them, what they can be expected to do to ideological ‘opponents’.