AFTER the attack on Bacha Khan University, the government has published and aired a pictorial advertisement for identifying terrorists which depicts terrorists in Pashtun cultural dress (Shalwar-Kameez-Pagree and Pagool cap).

This defies logic and is based on rampant discrimination and extreme racial profiling. This will not serve the true purpose of counter-terrorism efforts, rather it seems to be a distraction.

Ironically, these questions must be answered. Were the attackers on GHQ, Mehran airbase, Karachi airport, APS, Islamabad Kachehri and the Sri Lankan team dressed in Pashtun traditional dress? Are all Pakhtuns’ DNA coded with terrorism? Do terrorists only belong to them? Do all terrorist outfits like LeT, LeJ, SSP and JeM operate and exist in the Pashtun region?

Recently, my uncle and I bore the brunt of the negative racial profiling by the media, when in the evening we could not hire a room for a night’s stay in Peshawar as the manager’s perceptions were grossly distorted and manipulated by that very advertisement and media misrepresentation. The state must rectify this anomaly. Terrorists are our common enemies and we must present a united front against them. Xenophobia and racism trump the romanticism of Pakistan’s unity as a stable and strong federation.

Saeed Ullah Khan Wazir

Bakakhel, Bannu

(2)

YOUR half-page advertisement on page 14 (Feb 8) is in bad taste. It specifically targets an ethnic group (the Pakhtuns) which is uncalled-for. Profiling Pakhtuns as terrorists is abhoring because we know that terrorists have no religion, ethnicity, colour or creed.

I expect Dawn to withdraw the adertisement and the government and the ISPR to offer an apology. I have my doubts, but just hope it was an innocent mistake.

Dr Khushnood Ali Baz

Peshawar

(3)

TODAY Pakhtuns are being killed every day. I do not know who these terrorists are. But one thing is clear: these terrorists are killing innocent Pakhtuns because the latter have no guns.

The British had merged our areas with the state and termed them as Qallang areas. Qallang are areas where people pay taxes and state laws are applicable. In these Qallang areas, today Pakhtuns are being killed because the people there do not or cannot keep weapons to protect themselves as did their forefathers. On the other hand, the state has failed to provide security to them.

Compared to these areas, people of Nang areas — also known as tribal areas where state law is not applicable — possess guns and are safe.

To stop the killings of these Pakhtuns in the settled areas, it is suggested that either the state should ensure people’s protection or they should be allowed to keep weapons like their forefathers.

If Pakthuns in Qallang areas are allowed to have weapons, a terrorist will think 1,000 times before attacking these innocent, weaponless Pakhtuns.

Amina Hussain

Peshawar

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2016