The Pakistani Spectator

If it would be unjust and extreme to say that the Pakistan is teetering on the brink then it would also be an understatement to say that things are normal and there are some problems at scattered places in the country. If you look even casually, you would find that no place has left in Pakistan which is under threat.

Start from FATA, and you have no option but to admit that Tehrik-e-Taliban controls that area and there is no writ of the government out there. US attacks there with Drones and Pakistani Secruity forces are fighting with the terrorists. Swat Valley and the whole of Malakand Division is also once again shuddering as the peace accord is under lots of duress and the stakeholders in Swat Peace accord are going rapidly in opposite direction. Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Charsadda, and Mardan see daily bomb blasts and clashes of Taliban with the security forces. Just couple of days ago, 5 NGO workers were murdered in Mansehra District.

Balochistan is also burning and they feel that they are being treated as step children. Target killing is going on and now America is talking about Quetta Shoora and attacking Taliban hideouts in Balochistan. Nationalistic parties like BNP, BRP, and host of others are now talking about separation and UN investigation. Things are very tense and frustrated in this province.

Punjab is rocking with bomb blasts and the suicide attacks. Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Bhakkar and other cities are going through worst of terrorism and suicide attacks have become a norm. People are unsure about their future and fear is everywhere. South of Punjab is also said to be next FATA with huge presence of the extremism. Dera Ghazi Khan, Chakwal and Jhang are prime targets of the sectarian violence.

Sindh Province is also very unstable. Karachi is under the grip of MQM which has taken the people of Karachi  hostage and is after the Pushtoons. They are trying to create boogie of Talibanization in the Karachi and Hyderabad and behind that excuse they want to evict Pushtoons from the Karachi.

These are very testing times and leadership is required to keep things intact.