THIS refers to the suicide attack on Aman Lashkar in Darra Adam Khel in which 18 people were killed and more than 40 were injured.

We have not yet recovered from the trauma we are passing through these days because of a brutal murder attack on Malala.

Now there is another nerve-wrecking news of a suicide attack on Aman Lashkar at Darra Adam Khel.

The attack on Malala is seriously and angrily being condemned by 190 million people of Pakistan except those a few thousand visionless criminals and blackmailers who want to impose their distorted and contaminated version of Islam by force.

I was and still am positive and hopeful that a shameful attack on an innocent minor girl would transform the present into a decisive moment and turning point in our life. The attack on Malala, who is a symbol of courage and hope for the entire nation, has jolted the nation.

If we miss this chance of standing up as a nation against anti-Islam and anti-human criminals, then we must be ready to receive the bodies of our Malalas and we must be ready to be killed in suicide attacks as tens of thousands of our fellowmen have already been killed in mosques and on the roads.

The killing of 18 innocent people in Darra Adam Khel is a routine affair for us. What is this? Why don’t we feel pain and stand up? Are we waiting for still more to happen? Are we not encouraging the terrorists? Are we not letting these criminals to establish their writ? Is enough not enough? If we remain silent now, then we will be made silent forever.

I request my countrymen not to feel so weak, join hands and stand up to crush all criminals. All religious leaders and mosque imams should lead us in the right direction in line with true Islamic teachings.

Our political leaders and those who matter must take bold steps to fight against these terrorists. However, if they want to negotiate with the terrorists, then they should go for it and not give them more time so as to be in a better bargaining position. The time to wait and see has gone. May Almighty Allah bless us with courage to fight against the evil of terrorism, Ameen.

SQN-LDR (Rtd) ZULFIQAR AHMADRawalpindi

Icon of courage

“We all are Malala, we all are Malala”, girls students were chanting slogans in Karachi to condemn the attack on Malala and to demonstrate deep love with education.

I have no words to express grief for the dastardly attack on Malala who has been working courageously for restoration of peace and playing a vital role in imparting education to girls in the war-torn North Waziristan.

Her struggle resonated with tens of thousands of girls who were being denied education by militants across northwest Pakistan, where the government has been fighting the local Taliban since 2007.

The culprits must be brought to justice and the climate of fear that is deep-rooted in such matters must be uprooted. If terrorism is not defeated, we will slide ever further into the bestiality that this latest atrocity exemplifies.

GHOUS BAKHSH     Turbat

Special stamp

I SUGGEST to our government to issue a special stamp with pictures of Malala and the two girls who were with her. I am in solidarity with Malala and all other girls in Pakistan whose right to education is violated.

Malala is an icon of peaceful struggle for the right of girls’ education, women’s right to mobility and girls’ right to express their thoughts and feelings and be free of fear.

Her call for girls’ education is also a call for boys’ education, and peace for all.

KAUSAR SK    Karachi

A brave heart

MALALA is a symbol of bravery and her passion for seeking education shows she is a brave heart. This calls for setting up a series of schools etc after her name. Such a tribute will please Malala and enable every woman of Pakistan to stand firm in the face extremism and terrorism. Malala Yousafzai should now be a subject in the books of our schools etc for standing up against the tyranny of darkness propounded by the Taliban.

 ZULFIQAR KHAKI     Hyderabad

Selective outrage

I AM outraged, like the rest of the world, by the wanton attack on Malala. Her only crime was that she wanted to get education. This disgusting and inhuman act deserves to be condemned by every civilised person.

However, it is strange that nobody sheds tears when so many Malalas are killed by frequent US drone attacks in the same neighbourhood in Pakistan. Nobody even knows their names and dreams. What wrong have they done? Is it right to shrug off those tragic deaths by calling them collateral damage? Let us not be selective in our outrage.

ANIS ZUBERIMississauga, Canada

Creating awareness

THIS refers to the question as part of a poll published on the Dawn website: “Will the attack on an innocent teenager be the tipping point to declare the Taliban as the country’s biggest enemy?”

The real question that arises here is: does accepting the responsibility of the attack by the Taliban rule out the whole issue?

The intelligence agencies have failed to figure out the real culprits involved in any issue: whether it is suicide bombing, targeted killings, foreign intervention or the no-legislation situations in the country.

Still, there is another question. Is it the responsibility only of intelligence agencies to keep a check on such interior affairs? Why aren’t the media, civil society and government institutions playing their role?

If the government is not ready to improve public welfare projects like education and health, at least it must develop some programmes to improve awareness in the public, especially in youths.

SANA MALIK AWANLahore

Ignoring drone attacks

AT the time when the army, politicians and the media are flogging the attack on Malala, there is a conspiracy of silence on drone attacks in Waziristan.

Recently, 18 people were killed in a drone strike in Orakzai Agency. Although the Foreign Office protested over the violation of our sovereignty but no serious concerns are shown from political leadership and the army.

Also, very little coverage has been given to this drone attack because Malala (although I pray for her) is on every talk show on TV channels and on every page of every newspaper.

There is a serious need to mention that the media and the government should not create hype on any issue so that it looks like a manoeuvre.

AQIB SHAHZAD BHATTIIslamabad