Incidences-turned coincidences: By Prof. Fazal Tanha Gharshin

When the head of an institution fails to fulfill his or her assigned responsibilities, he or she resigns morally or at least transferred by higher authorities. In developed countries, politicians, government officials, and military officers are open to criticism, admit their failures and wish for betterment; while in Pakistan, critics are muzzled, punished and killed. Generally, politics is for public welfare, military for maintaining peace and media for awareness; while in Pakistan, politics is for looting wealth, military for preserving dynasties and media for justifying corrupt practices. In Pakistan, law is for the poor, prisons for critics, privileges for the rich, rewards for sycophants, and peace for rulers.

In the country, there are neither revolutions nor evolutions; rather there are incidents after incidents. In the world, incidents are detected, investigated and rooted out; while in Pakistan, incidents are predicted, condemned and turned soon into coincidences. After PDM ascended to the throne, terrorism in Pakistan reached new heights. When Islamabad and Pindi were hit by two consecutive suicide bomb blasts, local government polls in Islamabad were deferred sine die. When on Jan 30, 2023, a suicide bomb shook a masque in KP, leaving one hundred plus people dead and more than 150 injured, the so-called journalists and some of the government officials foretold that general elections might be delayed at least for another year – 2024. In 2014, APS incident shook Pakistan and brought IK’s 126-days long sit-in to an end. Balakot air strike had also coincided with Gen Bajwa’s extension in Feb 26, 2019, and the people were told that during the war the horse should not be changed. Nowadays, it is said that the incidence of 9th May would culminate in another coincidence – the total dissolution of the PTI and disqualification of Imran Khan. When incidences turn into coincidences, questions and doubts will arise. One wonders, why every incidence is followed by a coincidence?

Like other countries in the world, Pakistan also tries its best to maintain national integrity by countering terrorism and defeating India. Terrorism in Pakistan and enmity with India have been main incentives for maintaining unity in Pakistan. Political consensus in Pakistan has always been at the cost of blood and deaths. Whenever and wherever a terrorist attack occurs, India is blamed for it. In fact, behind every incidence, there is security lapse and administrative negligence. Generally, terrorists are dealt with iron hands, but in Pakistan, terrorists are appeased, glorified and protected.

In Pakistan, terrorist attacks have become the order of the day. Are we, our children and our security personnel born only to embrace martyrdom? Life is far better than death. In the name of martyrdom, incidences and deaths should not be left unaccountable. Have our politicians held security institutions accountable for the ongoing insurgency in the country so far? Has any army chief, intelligence chief, corps commander or any army officer ever been criticized, transferred, replaced, punished or deposed for bad performance? In the history of Pakistan, has any army official or political leader admitted his or her failure in restoring peace? Absolutely not!

It is high time both for politicians and security officials to admit their failures and put their house in order. Pakistan cannot afford more incidences. Incidences should not be turned into coincidences any more. Security lapse and administrative negligence should be readdressed. Parliament, the establishment, judiciary and media have failed in making the country a peaceful place to live in; they must realize their real responsibilities. Alas, except their own responsibilities, Pakistanis know everything better.

Prof. Fazal Tanha Gharshin teaches at Govt Boys Degree College Pishin.