This attack is also perfectly designed to jolt an already falterring govt. Plus the obvious benefit of extending chaos further inside Pakistan…..They are not interested in elections, or this or that system, they are woeing for revolution and a bloody one at that. After Swat their morale is high.

I fully understand the distortion of my nick entails. Because that’s what exploited class is called by the landed elite, therefore, I don’t mind.

Secondly, if you follow my posts at any blog there is never an ethnic touch or hate mongering. However, as for the question of Ethnic cleansing of Pakhtoons in Karachi, I am sure the size of their population and the arms at their disposal they can create hell themselves, as they did after BB’s assassination.

But this is not about ethnic tensions, ethnic riots and cleansing have a long history not only in Pakistan but also the whole Sub-continent. Compared to the last big cleansing in Bangladesh the current tensions are miniscule, and that’s not my worry. Ethnic bad mouthing and prejudices are part and parcel of our culture, and if we are able to limit the damage when they explode, we shall be ok.

However, I agree, due to the track record of Jamaat (Zia’s time) in Karachi, where they totally ignored the problems of the city and got busy recruiting its youth for Jihaad. During the same period the massacres committed by the Afghan Drug mafia (under the patronage of General Fazl-e-Haq) has resulted in zero tolerance policy for any such group. And that has made a difference, not long ago Karachi was the largest AQ base outside of Afghanistan, All the Osama CD’s emanated from there, all the major hotels of the city were attacked, core commanders convoy was attacked, consulates were bombed, Shia’s were killed, other non-combatant sunni sects were killed. In all this law enforcement was no where, police and rangers were helpless and guess, members of which political party were providing safe houses and logistic support to international terrorists? Something needed to be done and it was done by the people with enormous sacrifices from the youth. You mentioned MQM and I remembered Mian Sahib was once fully involved in its affairs, he personally provided refuge to the MQM-Haqiqi guys in Lahore, some of them were his personal guests and were sent back on army jeeps, that ploy failed. Is hammaam mein sub nungey he, meray bhai.

Personally, I am one of the remnants of the long lost left of this country, as this nation drifts more and more towards the extreme religious right, I can only helplessly watch and bug you with my comments. As I have lived in three provinces of Pakistan (including Lahore) and have friends with diverse backgrounds, therefore, racial prejuidice is not my forte. However, I do take sides and am rarely caught in the middle.

Also I agree to the incompetence of the govt in this episode, but why blame Mush for that. If it was upto him none of these folks would have returned, he was pressured from all side and this is what you get. Not long ago Nawaz, BB and Zardari were behaving like long lost friends / brothers and sisters, what happened to that? If Nawaz has listened to Qazi he would not have even elections.

The problem with negotiating with Taleban or AQ or the Lal Masjid Folks is what can you negotiate? You can negotiate a temporary truce that’s all. They are not demanding autonomy or freedom 0r rights or money. What they are demanding goes against the very foundation of the State. If you are happy with that give them what they want. They want you! They want your soul! If you are ok with that be my guest.

However you cannot compare this scenario with Iraq / Sadr or even Afghanistan. Remember my friend Pakistan is a Nuclear State and in the present circumstances the world will never allow a Mullah to get even close to our Nuclear assets. By the world I mean US, China, UK, Russia, Europe, India, Iran, Turkey, Syria……So good luck my friend.

Your fasnication with Mullah just amazes me. In your beloved Karachi, MQM could go on and on with their ethnic cleansing of Pushtuns, but I don’t hear a single beep from you on that.

And what could the so called terrorists have achieved from this attack? They just had a truce with the government (which obviously you consider to be their victory) so why spoil your moment of glory?

This has been a pattern now. The day government makes peace with the Talibans/terrorists all the Western powers started barking that this isn’t acceptable. While its okay for them to have a pact with al-Sadr in Iraq because that saves the US LIVES.

This incident could not have happened if Mr. Taseer wasn’t too busy enjoying his Governor RAJ. I guess Musharraf is gone, but even to this day his legacy and barbaric acts haunt this country.

It is indeed shocking for Lahorites, because they escaped the turmoil of the 80’s and 90’s. The establishment at that time made sure that no bad Afghan influence falls on this city / province. Consequently, no mega refugee camps were allowed here, as Quetta, Peshawar and Karachi beared the brunt. Now things have changed, the fanatics have literally taken over Quetta and Peshawar. They are finding it hard to operate in Karachi / Sindh ( which has exhibited zero tolerance for their activities ), so the next logical area of operations is Punjab, where their soul mates have been generating sympathy for their cause and obviously some of them are also providing sanctuary.

I wont be surprised if Zardari will be dragged into this soon, yeh tou Zardari ne Karaya he!

Bloggers react with anger and despair to the deadly gun attack in Lahore, its possible causes and its…

Bloggers react with anger and despair to the deadly gun attack in Lahore, its possible causes and its…

Bloggers react with anger and despair to the deadly gun attack in Lahore, its possible causes and its…

@sceptic: Yes, we have been witnessing terrorism for too long but never before has sports been targeted and directly hit as today. That is what comes as a shock!!

@durranee: It is shocking, indeed, but there is hardly anything we can do to prevent such events unless our politicians pledge their patriotism, progress towards non-confrontational politics and unless we have a serious review on our foreign policy, specifically w.r.t War on Terror…