THIS refers to yet another blast on Feb 16 which took the lives of so many innocent Hazara Shias. I, like my fellow countrymen, have no words to describe the loss of the Hazara community.

Where is the democratically-elected government? What changes have been brought by the Balochistan governor after being appointed to stop sectarian killings in the province?

What is the use of predictions of our federal interior minister and what is the result of closing down cellular networks prior to a potential terrorist attack? Are his premonitions limited only to important cities of the country where his party has coalition governments?

What we are experiencing is a total failure of state and intelligence agencies, either intentional or unintentional. I sometimes wonder how our leaders and politicians sleep with this burden on their shoulders. But then I somehow get the answer myself: yes, they sleep well.

The reason for my answer is linked to the silence of the oppressed. But let me remind the government that the blood of innocent victims takes revenge in most peculiar ways one cannot even think of.

I request human rights organisations and the Chief Justice to take this matter into their hands for, unfortunately, the government machinery is not a solution to the problem.

It is also the responsibility of the electronic media to play an effective role and show the real face of terrorists as we all know this is an era of freedom of expression.

Please, in the name of humanity, rise and be a part of justice. So, wake up Pakistanis before the evils of terrorism come to grip and tear you apart.

ISMAT ABBAS
Karachi

Army rule

THE attack on Hazara Town in Quetta is another sign of the failure and inefficiency of the agencies, and provincial and federal governments. Over 90 innocent people belonging to the Hazara community have been killed, while almost 200 have been injured for which Lashkar-i-Jhangvi has claimed responsibility despite the fact that Balochistan is under governor’s rule. It is a clear message of incompetence and negligence.

The Hazaras of Quetta have lost over 200 members of their community within a month. We all remember the heart-wrenching sights of them sitting in the streets with the bodies of their unburied family members in their arms, demanding security of life for peaceful citizens.

Only a couple of weeks later the same thing happened again and more people died. Now we face the same situation. The victims’ families are sitting with the bodies of the slain in the streets of Quetta.

What is the government doing? This kind of ‘democracy’ is unacceptable not only to Hazaras but to all Pakistanis at large.

ALI ASHRAF KHAN
Karachi

Agencies’ indifference

THIS is with reference to the editorial ‘Hazara killings’ (Feb 18). The noose around the country’s neck is tightening with each passing day. The people are now desensitised to the horrid stories of the bloodbath.

The recent hype given by the media to the beleaguered community of Hazara is the result of mass demonstrations and protests held across the country in solidarity with the victims.

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has an expansionist ideology that aims at dislodging the hard-earned democracy in Pakistan and to install a system in harmony with their distorted version of Islam.

For materialising this grand agenda, they have developed ties with some sectarian outfits in Pakistan which have a great say across the social spectrum. Under the tutelage and auspices of the TTP, the militants of Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi are ripping through the lives of Shias in a bid to soften up the institutions of Pakistan.

The brutal attacks on Shias are part of a greater policy pursued by the TTP to make Pakistan buckle under their demands. Even though Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi are outlawed on paper, they operate in every nook and corner without any fear of being caught by the law-enforcement agencies.

The bloody activities of these outfits and the indifference of our agencies towards their movement indicate the latter’s incompetence. Therefore, it is advisable to stop investing hopes on our agencies to find the culprits behind the heinous attacks that led to the death of so many innocent people.

However, religious parties, which have a non-sectarian tone, can gear up their efforts for unity.

Milli Yakjaheti Council, formerly headed by Qazi Hussain Ahmad, brought a radical shift in the attitude of religious parties and helped bridge the gulf.

Softening relations betweeen religious parties can avert militants from furthering their plans.

REHAN KHAN GILGITI
Islamabad