THE attack on the Pakistani way of life continues. The latest such attack targeted a complex housing the Sufi shrines of five pirs in Peshawar on Thursday — a special day of the week that sees more activity than usual at shrines. Three people were killed and more than 30 injured in the bomb explosion which did not appear to be directed at a particular group of people. It was targeted at visitors to the shrine in general and bore all the hallmarks of a faith-based crime. A remote-controlled bomb placed in a pressure cooker — also an apt symbol of the pent-up rage and negative energy inside the country today — appears to have been used, in line with similar ‘low-intensity’ explosions in the past.

The blast was a grim reminder of the dangers that still stalk Peshawar, a city which has served as the meeting place for various cultures for ages, but which has gone through extreme suffering in the recent militancy-ridden years. Following the blast, one can expect the usual pleas for the law-enforcers to tighten their defences and for the intelligence apparatus to show more vigilance in carrying out its responsibilities to preempt such attacks. However, even bolstered security measures are unlikely to strike at the root of the problem, which goes far beyond the immediate tragedy. The larger issue is that of the space the militants have occupied to carry out their attacks on a way of life they deem un-Islamic. Shrines have been a regular target across the country and any attack on them can only be seen as one on a peaceful, tolerant version of Islam. As for Peshawar, where tragedy has struck so many times, we hope that as the keeper of our heritage, it will march forward to eventually triumph over the forces of darkness.