| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| Tableeghi Markaz bombing |
| 2014-01-19 |
| [DAWN] THURSDAY'S blast at 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. 's Tableeghi Markaz throws up a number of questions. The atrocity is particularly puzzling not because of what happened, but because of where it happened. There is nothing new about terrorist bombings targeting mosques, imambargahs, other houses of worship or public places as Pakistain has been witnessing such events for over a decade. Instead, it is surprising that the snuffies would choose to strike a target that represents conservative religious thought. Perhaps this, yet again, shows that in the hard boys' holy war, nothing is sacred. Tableeghi centres have been bombed in the past, most notably in Swat ...a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistain, located 99 mi from Islamabad. It is inhabited mostly by Pashto speakers. The place has gone steadily downhill since the days when Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat... last January. While the TTP has been quick to distance itself from the Peshawar blast, we should remember that the Pak Taliban are not a homogenous group, as numerous outfits are functioning under the hard boys' umbrella. So while the 'official' TTP front man may have denied responsibility, there is a distinct possibility that hardliners within the hard boys' ranks carried out the bombing. But why target the Tableeghi Jamaat, an apolitical, largely peaceful group that concentrates on preaching? After all, the group and many in the hard boy movement are ideologically linked, pledging allegiance to the Deobandi school of thought, even though the Tableeghis stress peaceful preaching, while the snuffies wish to spread faith by fire and the sword. There are a number of possibilities; some observers feel the snuffies are not happy with the movement, criticising the Tableeghis for emphasising preaching over jihad. Some Al Qaeda-linked Takfiri ...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who most be killed... groups have actually issued fatwas against the Tableeghi Jamaat. So the bombing possibly was carried out to 'teach' the Tableeghis a 'lesson'. Sectarian snuffies may also be responsible, while the role of foreign elements cannot be ruled out. Of course, only a scientific investigation can help identify the perpetrators. But conducting such a probe will be difficult as, according to reports, volunteers washed the scene of the crime soon after the attack, while police and the media were initially barred from accessing the site. If such tragedies are to be prevented in future, organisers of religious events and administrators of mosques and other places of worship where large numbers of people gather need to cooperate with the authorities. Hundreds of people were in the mosque and fatalities could have been much higher had bomb disposal unit officials not defused a number of similar devices in the building after the bombing. When such large gatherings are taking place, it is essential that the participants are thoroughly checked, especially in cities like Peshawar which have seen a high level of terrorist violence. Meanwhile, ...back at the bunker, his Excellency called the chief of staff and complained that the artillery was keeping him awake... elements within the state and political parties who are eager to talk to the snuffies must consider that if the Taliban are not willing to spare those who are ideologically close to them, what they can be expected to do to ideological 'opponents'. |
| Posted by:Fred |