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| India-Pakistan |
| Spectre of targeted killings |
| 2014-01-19 |
| [DAWN] More than a dozen incidents of murder have taken place in the last one and a half month alone in small villages a few miles away from Beautiful Downtown Peshawar ...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire. in the south and southwestern suburbs of the city. A few patterns are clear when one observes the nature, frequency and modus operandi of what can only be termed as an unabated series of assassinations in the suburbs of Peshawar over the past several months. First, most of those who have died in these attacks belonged to the local cadres of political parties other than the Jamaat-e-Islami ... The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independentbranch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... (JI), Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) and the Jamaat-e-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl. Their numbers have also included those who were prominent in anti-Taliban jirgas. Several interviews with local people suggest that the frequency of assassinations has increased since the government announced tentative dates for the local government polls. This seems to indicate that the bad boy network plans to repeat its strategy of the May 2013 general elections in which it successfully marginalised the ANP and PPP. In the scenario of local elections, local political workers will be the victims. Second, it is important to note that most incidents of assassinations happen in areas where the TTP and LI are engaged in extortion and kidnapping for ransom. These crimes have been traditionally major sources of resource generation and have strengthened the bad boys' control by perpetuating fear. As the local cadre of political parties and anti-Taliban jirgas are the only force that can hamper the bad boys' goal of amassing resources and sustaining their control, they are targeted with full vigour. This hypothesis gains credence when one looks at the retreat of state institutions after the unceasing assassinations of prominent coppers in KP, especially in Peshawar, Swabi and Malakand. This pattern can also be interpreted in terms of the strategy by bully boyz to widen the space for extortion and kidnapping for ransom. If this is the case, then it can be understood that the bully boyz are in for a long war with the state. Third, these assassinations are carried out with consummate precision and decisiveness. This pattern shows the presence of a well-entrenched network of bully boyz around the lovely provincial capital. The bad boy network seems to consist of an alliance of the TTP and LI as fighters of both banned outfits have been seen roaming around in the area on different occasions. Fourth, civil society organizations, especially development and welfare organizations, with the exception of those associated with religious outfits, are warned to take a lesson from the assassinations of political workers and anti-Taliban jirga members. The inability of these organizations to move around has not only given rise to immense fear among ordinary folk but has also started isolating local communities from the rest of the country and the world. This pattern indicates the strengthened social control of the bad boy network. Ordinary people in KP perceive that the state of Pakistain has abdicated all responsibility for their security and wellbeing. They hold the provincial government and central leadership of the PTI responsible for such insecurity and its attendant hardships. The alienation of these people has increased tremendously especially after statements by members of the federal cabinet pertaining to water and electricity, the Kalabagh dam and the reversal of the 18th Amendment on certain issues such as education. Interviews with ordinary residents also suggest that frustration with the PTI leadership on issues of governance and terrorism has resulted in anger and depression. In the wake of the vacuum deliberately created by the bad boy network whose terrifying and bloody tactics have marginalised the ANP, PPP and the PML-N, disappointment with the PTI and JI might result in the strengthening of certain forces. That is perhaps what the bad boy network hopes to see. It would appear that the time has come for a comprehensive, compact and consistent counterterrorism strategy. |
| Posted by:Fred |