Upstarts' startling demolition debut

A number of fundamental questions require answers. Could it be said that the country is really faced with the prospect of a widespread and violent civil war with regional secessionist tendencies? Or are these acts a sign of revolt against the incumbent government by certain identified elements? Or is that the killings of civilians by the security forces in FATA and the adjoining regions have created a mindset of revenge in the peoples of such areas? It was after all pointed by the interior advisor in a press briefing given immediately after the Marriott bombing that all previous cases of terrorism were linked to Waziristan. More importantly the people have a right to know that who are they fighting?
Suicide bombing as a modality of terrorism is amongst the most terrible legacies of Musharraf to this country. Until his regime came to power in 1999, as a phenomenon, it was unheard of in this country. Is it possible to locate the genesis of such reckless killings of public at large? Could it be said that it emanated by following the state actions undertaken by Musharraf in notoriously publicised cases such as the murder of Nawab Bugti and the attack on Jamia Hafsa? It is axiomatic that violence begets violence. In many parts of the world particularly in the Third World it is a cultural mantra to emulate the conduct utilised by the upper echelons of the society. Such behaviour, howsoever odious it may be to the moralist, then assumes acceptability and consequently permeates the entire society.
Musharraf's policies which I persistently criticised over the years have wrecked havoc to the country institutions, principles of federalism and to the concept of nationhood. His tenure in office regrettably prompted dire predictions projected by two US agencies, the CIA and Rand Corporation that geopolitical Pakistan by 2015 may not be the same as it is now. During the Musharraf era, political parties and leaders were hounded, persecuted, terrorised, exiled, abused and deprived of their genuine rights. Musharraf shattered the very foundations of the judicial apparatus of Pakistan. Hundreds of citizen and others on Pakistani territories were arrested without lawful authority and then handed over to other countries to placate the desires of other third party actors. Accordingly when the current political process began in October 2007, Zardari was the last person expected to climb the political ladder as fast as he has done! Within eight months of his wife's assassination, he is now the supreme arbiter of the power structure now prevalent in the realm.
Under our system of parliamentary democracy, it is the PM who does what is now being undertaken by the president. Such personal de facto usurpation of authority does not augur well. The president in our system of governance is not supposed to go on unofficial or official tours for negotiations. Have you seen the Indian president or the governor-general of Australia or Canada or indeed the Queen of UK go on such visits?
Just when many Pakistanis believed that a democratic order was ushering in a new civilian government, a new president and the end of eight years of military rule, they are confronted with the darkest moment in the country's political evolution. Axiomatically for long counted as a 'failing state', this dangerously poised country is now in a downward movement towards becoming a 'failed state'. Pakistan is internationally isolated and generally condemned by the most of world community because of its lack of consistent policies Pakistan's tribal territories have become a free for all firing range for US troops even as the domestic threat from the Pakistani militants' multiplies.
I do not recall anytime in recent times when almost everyone in the country who cares to give his views and opinions is utterly dismayed and demoralised at the manner of developments of late in Pakistan. In sum, the starting up velocity of the up starts is on the anvil of the stalled democratic locomotive. What happens from now on is really any body's guess. We have lost clear lines of distinction between friend and foe, between nationalism and opportunism and between dignity and valour with timidity and rank obsequious demeanour.
I think the time is now ripe for taking accountability of all those who have treacherously sold out the fortunes of this nation to accumulate personal wealth and fortunes. Besides this, it would be unfair and totally unjustified to expect President Zardari to clear the nine-year old backlog, and debris of serious problems in less than seven months. But since he has now the opportunity to discuss the issues with the elected representatives or call an all-party conference and invite the army leadership to reach a consensus on diversified issues articulated above.
The massive explosion that played havoc with the lives of hundreds on September 20 has to be objectively analysed. How did a suicide bomber managed to enter the capital without being hindered or checked with around 1,000 kilograms explosive material in a heavy truck and finally blew him up in the heart of Islamabad? The area is considered as the hub of corridors of powers and is surrounded by the offices and residences of high profile dignitaries. Frontier, Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh and Kashmir houses along with ministers and judges colonies are located at a stone's throw from the blast site. The eyewitnesses of the incident say that the security personnel were in a position to stop the attack. Sniffer dogs had smelled the presence of explosive material and had started barking at the truck when it was some 100 yards away from the hotel's entrance. The fire that broke out after the attack strangely started as there was no direct contact with the higher floors of the hotel building with the blast. How did the fire begin on the higher floors? There is even evidence that just a day prior to this blast, US marines had been allowed to take steel boxes inside the hotel without any screening by the hotel security people. However, it may be noted that Malik's inconsistent statements have not been very helpful as he contradicted both the government and indeed the PM about the real target of this attack being the Marriott. Moreover if he knew that Marriott was the intended target, why he did nothing to prevent it? With the exception of Imran and Qazi Hussain Ahmed no one is really raising the tough questions that need clear answers from the government.
The writer is a barrister-at-law (UK), attorney-at-law (US), senior advocate of the Supreme Court, and professor Harvard University