TERRORISTS struck again in Karachi with impunity. This cowardly act must be condemned in the strongest possible words.

To kill innocent people is not bravery, it is cowardice. The heartless terrorists must have known that if they succeed, the neighbourhood would be completely destroyed. Still they went ahead with their gruesome act.

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) call themselves Muslims but they are worse than infidels. They are butchers and murderers. They used 1,000kg of explosives to attack the CID building, but the collateral damage was heartrending.

The question that comes to mind is how does the criminal mind of the Taliban works so as to be able to dodge and hoodwink a force of 35,000-40,000 LEAs who are operating in the city.

The irony is that when this force is employed on escort duty for VIPs, they drive through the roads blaring their sirens and flashing their strobe lights. Any citizen who might happen to intercept them is scared lest the VIP expresses his displeasure. On seeing these convoys, one feels that a viceroy from the days of the British Raj is passing.

The environs of Bilawal Chowk present the look of a battle zone. There is a contingent of police force around with their guns perched on sandbags. An ordinary SSP moves around with no less than six automatic weapon carriers.

When the security force is depleted elsewhere, intelligence or counter-intelligence duties are also compromised. Had their intelligence network been efficient, then the attacks on Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine or the CID building would not have taken place.

Had a senior police officer been posted at the CID building, there is no doubt that the attackers would have succeeded.

I admit that the arrangement made by senior police officials for their own safety is superb. The terrorists can't even dream of penetrating their security. But when it comes to protecting the ordinary citizen, their performance is not only deplorable but disgusting.

On the whole, the LEAs have miserably failed in countering terrorism in Karachi. They lack the will and the motivation to deal with terrorists with an iron hand.

NAME WITHHELD ON REQUEST
Karachi