The bold attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team and its convoy has large-scale repercussions for the strife and violence struck Pakistan. Previously known for its relative calm and peace, an attack in the heart of Punjab at Lahore has sent shockwaves to the habitants of the city as well as struck a huge blow to the image of Pakistan as a safe venue for foreign visitors. The planning and execution of the incident amplifies the resolve of the executors to tarnish the nation’s stability and image. When the Sri Lankan team took the field earlier this year in the first one-day, it had raised new hopes for restoration of cricket in this part of the world. Pakistan had fought its case hard before the International Cricket Council as well as before cricket boards of member countries that it was a safe venue for cricket and it was only upon the welcome response from the Sri Lankan Cricket Board and its players led by former captain and chairman of the board Arjuna Ranatunga that we finally saw a foreign team visit Pakistan.
It is obvious however that there were glaring security lapses which led to the breach in the ‘security cordon’ of the convoy of the Sri Lankan team and resulting in injuries to the players as well as loss of innocent lives. It is horrifying to note that we had promised the visitors ‘Presidential-level’ security and they took our word for it and as it has transpired the security was nowhere close to the promised level. Every prudent man amongst us realize what that level of security implies in this country and traffic and all kinds of vehicles and pedestrians are barred during the entire length of travel in such cases whereas no such protocols were observed by the Punjab government.
It is implausible that such a brazen ambush could take place at a plain and level terrain where no advantages such as cover was available to the terrorists and elite professionals who are trained to reach within seconds were caught by surprise and were dead before they could react. Even the bullet proof vests which are mandatory were not worn by the security cover which endangered the lives of these people as well as their guest Sri Lankan team.
Being not privy to any sort of investigation results, nothing can be said conclusively about the perpetrators except from the surrounding circumstances of the attack and its aftermath. The security forces (with due respect to the sacrifice of lives that they have offered) were unable and unwilling to respond to the situation despite having a headquarters stationed quite close to the crime scene and one could see the terrorists almost strolling by and riding off on the bikes without any hindrance. Even a passing police vehicle which could have easily intercepted them took no notice of the dangling weaponry that they were carrying while fleeing.
Perhaps the Punjab government, after the imposition of the Governor’s rule and the agitation that followed, was entangled in other unnecessary matters including the political crises in the province and forgot about its corresponding duties for the provision of security to the Sri Lankan cricket team. It is quite natural that having undergone tremendous reshuffling in the administrative and security personnel and deputation of fresh officers to high level posts in the Punjab government, the transition in command may have been an added advantage for the attackers who had perhaps taken this factor to their advantage.
Pakistan, which already faces intense political strife due to the disqualification of the popular Sharif brothers and imposition of Governor’s rule in the densely populated province of Punjab, has suffered a huge blow to its credibility and image in the international arena. It has been dubbed as a greater threat to international stability than Afghanistan by an American official and has been dubbed by some British newspapers as receding quickly into the list of countries which are declared failed states. India, taking advantage of the situation has dubbed the country as one which is fast becoming a failed one after the attack. Her Interior Minister, cognizant of the recent attacks as well as the political confrontation between the two major political parties in the region, has stated that one does not know whether Pakistan is controlled by the President, the government or the Army. The recent proclamation of Ordinance by the President and the subsequent withdrawal on the advice of the Prime Minister must have also been on his mind when he made such an allegation since it brought confusion in the affairs of the government and raised question marks over the influence of the President’s office in the functioning of the government as well as lack of coordination between the President and the Prime Minister and his cabinet.
Pakistan must seek the path of cohesion and national unity at this moment in time to respond strongly to such allegations and dispel such rumors as misperceptions. The government, having given its word on certain issues must provide solutions to the present political crises in the country and return Punjab to democratic rule. The PML (N) and the lawyers on the other hand, while having full rights to protest and demand for the restoration of the judges must do so peacefully and while demonstrating their resolve and determination over the issue must understand that the PPP is there to stay and any attempt to destabilize the government may harm the democratic and economic future of this country. The PPP has broken its promises but it must not pay for this through the destabilization of the entire democratic system. Let the stakeholders and the civil society show their resolve and determination for the reinstatement, but the PML(N) and the lawyers must understand that the PPP will not do it and has taken the decision not to reinstate Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. It must face the music in the next elections and the people would hold them accountable for their flawed policies and cheap methods of politics. The PPP must however restore democratic rule to Punjab if it itself believes that democracy should not be hijacked in the center. This should be an unconditional act and it is the right of the elected people to run the government through the elected provincial legislature and government. Any conditions attached to such return to democratic rule would be fatal to PPP’s interest and future politics.
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