THE terrorist attack on Sehwan Shrine has shocked us beyond words. Our countrymen were butchered by terrorists because our government machinery, federal as well as provincial, is careless about our people’s security.

Everyone knows that shrines, mosques, schools, parks, cinema halls and places where people gather in large numbers are an easy target for terrorists.

There is a need for tightening the security system. Nothing should be left to chance. If 2,500 policemen are deployed to protect the prime minister at his residence in Jati Umra and double the number at his official residence, why have shrines, mosques, schools, colleges and universities been left unguarded?

The argument that one cannot protect every place smacks of a defeatist attitude. If I say that APS, Peshawar was attacked because of sheer negligence by top civil and military officials, eyebrows will be raised. But this is hard reality. None of them owned the responsibility nor bothered to resign.

Except for attacks by internally explosive devices, all attacks are preventable. The time-tested dictum “where there is a will there is a way” is very true in the matter of security of vulnerable areas and vulnerable points. Security is only for the rich and powerful;the people of Pakistan apparently have no right to security.

Safir Siddiqui

Karachi

(2)

ALL four provinces have, one by one, experienced bloodshed during the last few days. However, the attacks seem to send a clear message to all the ethnicities of Pakistan that they are equal in the eyes of terrorists.

In order to overcome the threats posed by these inhumane forces, the nation ought to place ethnicity aside and eradicate these threats collectively and courageously.

Yashaullah

Shikarpur

(3)

THIS week has been horrendous for our country and we do not know what the future holds for us. The latest is the mass murder at Sehwan. The usual expressions of condemnation and condolences were made and all will be forgotten in a very short time.

After the premature proclamation of victory in Zarb-i-Azb, the enemy is making a mockery of our security apparatus. Our security forces seem helpless and portray a picture of a toothless tiger.

It is not only the lives of innocent citizens that are being lost due to inept governance but the future economic growth in context of the CPEC is also being threatened.

Monday’s Lahore blast calls for a grand operation in Punjab now. People are asking the reasons for not conducting such an operation in Punjab.

Jaffar

Lahore

(4)

IN the light of recent acts of terror, it is for all of us to stamp out this deadly menace from our society. We must re-evaluate our counter-terrorism strategies. The government must call another all-party conference to craft a strong policy and ensure its implementation. The government must also allow military courts to continue. The military must continue to root out extremist groups.

We must stand united and set aside our differences. Our first priority should be the safety of the country and its people. We are all interconnected, our happiness and sorrows are common, and bringing smiles back to our people should be our objective.

Ghulam Haider Birahmani

Sehwan Sharif

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2017