Leadership and Terrorism

Friday 12, June 2009 two suicide bombing incidents, in two different places terrorists killed many innocents including prominent Islamic Cleric who was opposing terrorist activities in the name of Islam in Pakistan. Two different terrorist factions claimed responsibilities of the today’s suicide bombings. In my previous articles I tried to convey the message that such incidents will happen but the nation has to remain committed and courageous to fight this menace.
As expected terrorists are hitting the local people so blindly that they do not even care of children, women, old, common citizens whoever come their way they are killing for one cause that they want to create panic in the general public and want to pressurize the government to stop their offensive against them.
We hope that the nation’s high moral remains high in future too but I want to discuss other important aspect in this fight against terrorism and that is role of leadership, the elite class who are ruling this country , enjoying numerous luxuries, do they have role here?
Today, following these incidents in the country, the president of Pakistan decided to address the nation. It was good move but this opportunity was mishandled. Why? I discuss it below.
Non serious attitude of our president gives us impression that he is kind of peon in any government office not the president of nuclear state…

§ He was about to address the nation at 10 PM Pakistan standard time, but he addressed nation 3 hours late keeping his fellow countrymen 3 hours waiting.

§ It was very short speech maybe not more than 6 minutes.

§ It seemed that he gave bullet points on speech rather explaining them.

§ He made some very fruitful announcements but his presentation was so bad that will further create doubts in general public about the government.

§ Like the announcements he made for setting up a cantonment in the swat once operation is over, was not well described or explained. He should have described importance of the cantonment in the swat valley so that it would have given the feelings to the internally displaced people who left their homes due to army operation in the swat that the government is taking serious measures to ensure their safety and security in the future when they return back to their homes.

§ The president announced that the operation will continue but in a very ordinary tone. The body language of the President did not seem to be like the Head of the state who is winning the war. He was not aggressive in his tone.

§ Further he appreciated the role of arms forces and the soldiers who martyred during operation and announced bonuses to the soldiers and officers who are involved in the operation.
These were the points on which he just gave hints not discussed.
Leaders give directions to their nation, share their vision, their goals, take common people into confidence, tell them what is happening and present their good image. If leaders don’t do this, the result is Pakistan like situation. Taking some political parties leaders into confidence is not enough, share your goals and objectives and your paths with the common people. Tell them what is really happening and what are you doing in that regard. If you do not do that, it will create hopelessness and falling moral and divisions.
The role of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Mr. Yousaf Raza Gillani was only active at the times of Lawyers Long march to Lahore, he played its positive role and according to recent survey he gained his popularity. After that he again got lost somewhere. I am afraid what are they doing. Why our leaders are shy of their main power that is their voters, the common people of Pakistan.
Our nation badly needs good leadership that guides them and gets them out of this darkness.

PC Peshawar Sucide Attack

On 9th June, 2009, the people of Peshawar witnessed yet another suicide attack; this time PC (Pearl Continental Hotel)... short time ago a CCTV fotage has been released on media. It described clearly how the operation was carried out by the terrorists. After swat offensive it was said that now the terrorist will strike the cities to pressurize the government to stop offensive against them. And just after swat offensive terrorist organizations have struck major cities like Peshawar, Lahore and Islamabad of Pakistan in very short interval.

I will describe my paper in following parts.

Moral

Efficiency

Moral: The moral of the general public and arm forces is seen high after a long time when people, major political parties (some minor religious parties are still opposing operation publically but support government in meeting rooms) and arms forces are united on a common causes that is to defeat terrorists and flush them out completely. For last 8 years it was observed that whenever where army started operation a lot of opposition was seen and also within army ranks. There were doubts that they are right in perusing military action against these local terrorist or not. But now everybody is united and has no doubts about the common goal which is defeat terrorist now or never. What has changed this mood of general public....? An American pressure????? ... No, it’s not true; Americans can only pressurize governments like they did Former President Pervez Musharaf with famous words "Either with us or against us". This forced General to take U-Turn but the people of Pakistan and vast majority even in the establishment ranks was against Pakistan’s alliance with USA. Now the point is what happened this time that the mood has changed.... It was the peace deal in swat called Nizam-e-Adl (means Justice system)Please note that western media quoted this deal as Shari a deal.. Shari a means full Islamic law, Islamic economic system, Islamic judiciary system, Islamic social system etc... Anyways when the peace deal was broken by militants it mobilized the general opinion of the public against the militants, even many were stunned by their action. Their strong supporters had even no choice just to condemn them and support government to take action against them.
Moral of the general public cannot stay much higher if the war prolongs or such bombings in cities continue. The government needs to keep up the moral of public if they really want to continue their war against terror. Avoid such incidents to happen again and again.

Efficiency: Each time we see when an important government building or any strategic location is being targeted we see its live camera recording on TV. This not only demoralize the general public also give a chance to terrorists to re-access their operation where they went wrong. When Marriott hotel was bombed, its video was aired on all TV stations.... the result they came up with new efficient strategy. They loaded some commando style guys with the van when they were attaching Rescue 15 and ISI buildings. Those guys cleared the way and escorted the bomb loaded van into the main area... this time when they attacked PC hotel Peshawar; they loaded people on a car. Each time they are reinventing their strategy and our media is helping in that sense. So I guess our media should not air such videos... till now we have observed that the terrorists are working hard on their strategies and making their attacks more efficient. The forces need to act efficiently also. How??? It is hard to stop and check every car and every person carrying some explosives with himself... this method is not efficient because we know our police well how honestly they do perform their duties and how loyal they are.... they might unseen those terrorist intentional maybe or any reasons.To me the best form of defense is to attack... our arm forces and intelligence agencies know their planning cells in Waziristan and tribal areas. If I wait for somebody indefinitely not know when he is going to attack me defiantly at time I will be lenient after some time...so arm forces should attack their locations and hit them where they are not allowing them to even think of launching their attacks in settled areas.