The war on terror and Nawaz Sharif

The horrible blast at the Marriott Hotel dramatically highlighted how insecure Pakistan is. Right in the security zone of the nation's capital a truck carrying hundreds of kilograms of lethal explosive material hit a well-protected and prestigious building causing a huge loss of property and dozens of casualties including the Czeck ambassador.

This terrorist attack raises many questions. These relate to the administration's failure to stop the terrorists successfully attacking a large hotel patronised by foreigners, businessmen, leading politicians and the elite of the city. How incompetent are our law and order and intelligence agencies. How come it took hours to begin the fire fighting operation? The fire raged almost the whole night. Why this display of inefficiency in the country's capital where the concerned departments and agencies are so well-funded?

Almost a week has passed, and no heads have rolled. All that we have had are brazen statements from the security czar of the country or rhetoric from PPP political bosses. No senior officials or ministers were seen at the scene of the tragedy soon after the blast. The security adviser arrived an hour and a half after the event for a brief stop to make a rhetorical statement. What he said was contradicted by the prime minister, the speaker of the National Assembly and the hotel management.

Neither the Parliament nor a parliamentary committee met to discuss the horrendous suicide attack. No commission appointed to probe the dreadful explosion. Gilani and Zardari made brief statements. The latter left for London soon after to go to USA to address the General Assembly. Some of the opposition leaders spoke about the government's flawed policies and poor governance. Some discussions on the TV channels were aired and a few editorials and columns appeared in the newspapers. That was all!

Internationally the blast evoked reaction world-wide. Mr Bush made a pointed reference to it in his address at the United Nations. Other world leaders too took notice of it. Pakistan's image and standing got a further beating. Investors already shy, panicked away. The international media underscored the terrorist threat emanating from Pakistan. They focused on Pakistan's inability to cope with the threat.