[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]A house for his family had been planned to be built by Constable Ahmed Khan’s coworker for months. By the morning of January 30, 2023, he had finally borrowed Rs. 1.5 million. “He promised me he would pay off the bill once he retired. After that, we had all travelled to the mosque to attend Friday prayers, Constable Khan remembered in a recent interview with Dawn.
That day, a deadly terrorist strike on the mosque in Peshawar’s Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines claimed the life of the coworker. A suicide bomber dressed as a police officer had entered the building with the faithful. While the congregation worshipped, he detonated his fatal payload. Despite having injuries to his head, feet, and arms, Khan was fortunate to live.
He spent four days in the hospital. He recalled that the hospital where he was transported had received so many injuries that it quickly ran out of room to treat them. Throughout the conversation, he said, “My head still feels heavy.” “I believe I will visit the hospital once more for a check-up on Monday.”
When asked when he would be returning to work, Khan replied his coworkers had been phoning. For him, it was still too early. He claimed that anytime he thought about his slain teammates, he felt too overwhelmed. He remembered with regret, “There were so many; so full of life and dreams for their future.” “In the flash of an eye, their lives were gone.” Another one of Khan’s coworkers, Nowsherwan, had ten kids. Among them, eight are too young. Khan questioned how they would manage without their father.
The suicide attack, which claimed 84 lives and injured over 200 others, has once more sparked discussion about Pakistan’s anti-terrorism strategies and its ability to handle militancy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over the meeting of the Apex Committee on February 3, while Army Commander Gen. Asim Munir was present.
The premier was cited as saying after the meeting that “the civil and military leadership expressed unwavering resolve to protect the people of Pakistan at whatever cost.” “Those who attacked defenceless people will face the consequences. Gains made in the fight against terrorism won’t be undone by us. The comment was taken with a large grain of salt by those who had shed their blood to pay for the state’s mistakes.
Ajun Khan, a Peshawar High Court attorney who lost his firstborn son, Asfand Khan, in the 2014 Army Public School massacre, expressed scepticism about claims that military operations and crackdowns could end terrorism and militancy. “Countless military operations have been conducted, yet nothing has resulted from them.” said Ajun. These activities serve only to generate revenue.
The National Action Plan, which the nation’s political and military leadership had agreed upon in the wake of the APS tragedy, only needs to be implemented honestly, according to him, and Pakistan just needs to get its house in order. He claimed that the best way to address the militancy issue was by the indiscriminate application of NAP. All the talk of crackdowns and severe punishments is empty rhetoric, he continued.
He observed that the public’s tolerance for terrorism was waning. Recently, residents of Swat, Bajaur, Malakand, and Peshawar took to the streets to protest the rise of militancy. Our policymakers “should use this as a wake-up message,” he said.
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