Presently all those who keep an eye on Pakistan’ political war games being fought on ‘Twitter’ hear a new liberal voice, that of Bilawal Bhutto. His out-of-the box tweets, hitting right-wing militancy and it’s open and covet supporters, are often re-tweeted. His opponents say that he does politics from the safety of his high-walled castle ‘Bilawal House’ in Karachi’ posh enclave. They challenged him to come out into the public before talking on their behalf. Obviously security situation in Pakistan doesn’t permit any public figure, even the right-wing political-militant leaders themselves, to move around without a contingent of armed guards. All liberal political leaders are already on the hit list of militants, Bilawal is no exception.
But we have to see the seriousness of Bilawal’ tweets. He hits hard on the religious and sectarian militants, praises Malala Yousifzai, and condemns killing of Chaudhary Aslam and Aitzaz (a student) in suicide bombings. His stance is understandable; seen as fresh breeze by many, who have lost hope in the revival of an enlightened Pakistan, but question is; is he serious? He is the chairman of a political party, which has been ruling Sindh province for the last six years. Has his party government been able to keep a watch on the increased religion-based militancy?
Who is not aware of scores of localities in Karachi wherein people from KPK urban and tribal areas have settled after the military operation there. Most of these localities have become ‘no-go’ areas for police and para-military forces, where the Taliban run their own courts to settle local issues. Increased cases of sectarian violence, fermented by thousands of seminaries across Sindh, especially in Karachi are going unnoticed. No one is aware of any crackdown, other than threatening rhetoric. Polio health workers are intimidated, injured, even killed, which is leading to suspension of anti-polio campaign in several areas of Karachi. Abduction of Hindu girls for forced conversion with the unholy approval of local political and religious leadership has gone unnoticed for ages.
It’s easy and trendy to criticize KPK government for its covert or tactical support to the religious militants, but where does Sindh government stand itself? We shall not be waiting for militants to take over the economic life-line of Pakistan, as that will be a point of no return for the whole nation.
MASOOD KHAN,
Saudi Arab, February 1.