The issue is prevention

The fact that a suicide bomber broke through all security cordons, entering the city carrying more than a ton of explosives on his truck, shows the government failed. The bomber hit a popular spot in the capital's high security Red Zone, a few hundred yards away from Presidency, Prime Minister House, Parliament Building and other key government offices. Ordinary Pakistanis have to go through great trouble to enter that zone. In fact, most people avoid going to that side of city to avoid extensive search and questioning by police officials deployed at a number of locations. The entire area is lined up with cement blocks and coils of barbed wire.

Yet, the bomber was still able to breach all that security to cause such a massive explosion. The Adviser on Interior, instead of blaming the media 'for not condemning the terrorists' should realise his own responsibility. The words of condemnation will do nothing here. That an act of terrorism is condemnable goes without saying; the issue is its prevention, rather than condemnation. -S. ALINA MASROOR NAQVI, Karachi, via e-mail, September 26.