Enough is enough! Why are the government and the political parties reluctant to have a zero-tolerance policy against terrorists?

The government’s weakness has caused thousands of deaths of innocent civilians in  Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan (Quetta) and Khyber Paktunkhwa (Peshawar).  This is the second devastating bomb blast in Quetta since the beginning of 2013.

At least, 800kg to 900kg explosives were used in the bomb blast, and the explosives were transported through water tankers.

It reveals that terrorists can use any technique and can go to any extent to meet their evil plans.

Before a civil war begins in Quetta between different sects and communities, the government must develop a strategy. There has been much emphasis from all corners on the zero-tolerance policy as being the only viable course to combat terrorism.

As far as Quetta is concerned, neither governor rule nor targeted operations against terrorists is a solution to the deteriorating law and order.

Unless the federal and provincial governments evolve a zero-tolerance policy and devise counter-terrorism boards to develop counter-terrorism strategies, they will not be able to eliminate the threat of terrorism, fundamentalism and extremism.

The government should be serious in playing its due role.

All the quarters concerned: the army, the government and all political parties must get united and create counter-terrorism boards and a zero-tolerance policy to eliminate the roots of terrorism, fundamentalism and extremism.

FIDA HUSSAIN     Quetta

Killing Pakistanis

Life is precious and undoubtedly a blessing. Life is transient too and we all have to go to our graves someday.

But there is a difference between natural death and murder.

Should we as a nation  continue with switching news channels and taking cruelty just as another news item or stand up and make efforts to eradicate this cruelty once and for all.

We have a choice to make.

IRUM AFSHAN QURESHI Karachi

Insensitive government

The news about the blast in Hazara Town, Quetta, is really heart-wrenching. While people still mourned the loss of lives in the previous attack, another tragedy took place on Saturday.

The enemy targeted the place quite easily. The government has ignored its duty to protect the lives and property of the people.

We are increasingly proving that Pakistan has become a failed state.

Unfortunately, we do not learn from our mistakes, instead we repeat them. We have completely forgotten how we lost the eastern wing.

We may be repeating it.

Balochistan, which is almost 43 per cent of Pakistan, is burning and there is no long term-strategy devised by the government to secure people’s lives and properties.

Five years are about to be completed by the incumbent government but what have we achieved? We seem to have brought more disharmony, restlessness and fatality.

KHADEEJAH Lahore

Wake up before it’s too late

At least 320 Shias have been killed in targeted attacks so far this year across Pakistan, including more than 200 in Balochistan.

In the first two months alone this year, bomb blasts have killed hundreds of Shia Hazaras in Quetta, a garrison town where each and every street is manned by intelligence operatives.

Still, militants operate with impunity. Saturday’s bomb blast, which killed over 80 and injured hundreds, occurred almost within a month of the last bomb blast that brought even a higher death toll.

Space is fast running out in Shia graveyards in Quetta. It may be time for Shias to relocate to protect their next generation.

The Taliban think that they are following Sunnah by killing Shias. But is this really justice on their part?

Why were Shias killed when their CNICs were checked on a bus to Gilgit?

We demand justice because we are Pakistanis and not just Shias or Sunnis.

The Pakistan Army should take over Quetta and Karachi to give residents security.

It may be Shia genocide but anyone could be the next target. Sitting in freezing cold for more than 45 hours with dead bodies is not an easy task.

MUHAMMAD SHADMAN Karachi

Forgotten to smile

Last month when the Balochistan’s provincial assembly was dissolved and the chief minister was sacked, the Hazara people took a sigh of relief and thought that the federal government was finally serious in forging peace in a province plagued by sectarian attacks, especially against the Hazara Shia community.

All hopes have been shattered with another similar attack. The Hazara community has tried everything from showing aggression to peaceful demonstrations but they all proved futile.

The Hazara people are living in terror. They have forgotten to smile.

Belonging to the community of Hazara, I have lost faith in the promise that such bomb blasts will stop.

I am a student of Bolan Medical College but continuing education seems impossible for me.

The Hazara people only yearn for one thing today: peace.

ALI SADIQ Quetta

Target community

Despite tall claims, government agencies and law enforcement agencies have failed to arrest the culprits responsible for targeted killings.

It is the innocent people that are paying a high price for government failure. Political parties have failed to bring any change and things are going from bad to worse everywhere.

KHAWAJA UMER FAROOQ Jeddah

Response against Quetta blast

Mere sympathies for Quetta bomb-blast victims by political parties are not enough.

Pakistan has been in a state of turmoil for more than a decade.

Therefore,  neither a change in governor’s rule in Balochistan nor a demand for military takeover is a solution. As proved in the case of Swat’s military operation, the exercise will remain futile.

We must analyse as to what is the point of inflection for such chaos in Pakistan’s geo-political timeline. Such chaos had never taken place in Pakistan without our involvement in the US’s war on terror.

WAQAS IMAM Karachi