Perfidy or apathy?

There is consensus among political and social scientists that a state or government has the exclusive right to the legitimate use of force in enforcing its writ and rules within a given territory. R A Dahl, in his famous book, Modern Political Analysis, wrote: "We can be reasonably sure of one thing: When large numbers of people in a particular territory begin to doubt or deny the claim of the government to regulate force, then the existing state is in peril of dissolution." In Pakistan, some leftists and rightists oppose the government when it tries to establish the writ of the government. They do not realise that such an approach tends to embolden those who challenge the writ of the state, and also has a demoralising effect on the security forces.
On Saturday, in a local Urdu daily there was a news item that International Socialist Pakistan put up a protest camp, observed symbolic hunger strike and staged a demonstration in front of the Karachi Press Club against the military operation in Swat. On the other hand, religious right Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) also held protest demonstration in front of the press club. Apart from JI, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI), Tehrik-i-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League (N) vehemently opposed military operation in FATA and Swat. Some of the leaders resort to scathing criticism of the security forces not realising that if the terrorists are not stopped, they could extend their 'tentacles' to other areas, and could lead to anarchy in the country. They do not condemn attacks on mosques, imambargahs, and other national assets like Wah factory and other installations.
Unfortunately, the religious parties who had made a mistake of opposing Pakistan movement are now making another mistake by supporting those who challenge the writ of the state and try to weaken Pakistan. They insist that everybody should accept their interpretation of Islam, their dress code and their perception of culture. Leaders of the religio-political parties have not even once condemned terrorists' acts and suicide attacks on security forces' checkposts, barracks and military convoys. When pressed to comment on the heinous crimes like killing civilians, beheading those who do not agree with the militants and destroying girls' schools, they justify those acts on the basis that Pakistan had joined War On Terror.
For some time, situation in Swat and Dir is dismal, as writ of the state is being challenged by the Taliban, who according to a press report, have set-up their High Court in Kabal, upper Swat. Harassed by the militants, people are taking their cases to the Taliban High Court (THC). Taliban are beheading people who defy them or try to leave the villages, and then hang the corpses from the lampposts to terrorise the people. This means that they are using people as human shields. Hapless and helpless people of Swat have been pushed against the wall. Being sick and tired of the situation they staged a rally in Chakdara against the Taliban's expanding role in Dir.