The Pakistani Spectator

First it was Swat, and then Peshawar ’s merchants and shopkeepers were threatened with dire consequences if Taliban brand of Sharia was not followed. Their arrival in Lahore the heart of Pakistan was announced over dead bodies, tearful eyes, orphaned children and left many mourning in the wake of cowardly bombings. With hardly a respite in between the terrifying suicidal bomb blast at Marriott cast a cloud of painful gloom over entire Pakistan and sunk us even deeper into the throes of savagery, barbarianism and cold blooded murderous games being played by Devils own apprentices under the garb of Islamic extremism and intolerance – The Taliban were spreading and heading towards South.

Ladies & Gentlemen the Taliban have arrived in Karachi city and the threats have just begun. The peaceful Valley of Mehran which has played host for hundreds of years to Sufis, mystics and preachers of love and humanity is now being besieged by the evil force of intolerance and poisonous hatred that is now weaving a strategic lariat around Karachi and has started spewing its extremist venomous agenda and preaching odium to the peace of the city and prosperity of this harmonious multiethnic and financially strong hub of Karachi.

The announcements, annonymous calls, letters and posters in Banaras Colony in Karachi are a living testimony of the terror and fear in the God fearing and law abiding community otherwise.

The Taliban have permeated and penetrated into the community. The latest incidents from these extremists in Madina CD market and Ittefaq CD market in Banaras Chowk in Karachi are just the tip of the iceberg, they are now posturing and checking the public reaction both within and outside the community – this is indeed a lethal and most sensitive time and if the community retreats and Karachi exhibits indifference then only Allah can help us in this challenging ordeal. The wise in the media and intelligentsia had preempted this move and had started writing in national dailies and periodicals and warned with ample evidence and actual pointing out of various localities around and inside Karachi .

Assidiously and with unflinching resolve a Karachi based political party has been sensitizing and apprising the Federal and Provincial Governments, Law enforcement agencies, civil society and the concerned citizens of Pakistan about the ongoing wave of Talibanisation entering Karachi . Although this momentous cry has been contested and denied by few Political and Religio-Political Groups, and at times from Government Functionaries as well. Nonetheless this party always tried to share with public the information on the activities of Extremist forces and the last two issues of Monthly Herald also published the stories on ongoing wave of Talibanisation in the Port City and thus corroborated the factual concerns.

However, the people of Pakistan are presented with an opportunity: they have awarded a mandate to the political parties, and it is now up to these parties to respect the people. This mandate is a grand victory for the forces of moderation over political and religious extremism and intolerance, and has to be translated into the establishment of peace and harmony from Karachi to Khyber. Let us learn from our mistakes and make the best of this opportunity.

This is a wakeup call for the Civil Society, the NGOs, Media and Intelligntsia and most importantly the people of Karachi to realize and rise to the occasion and don’t let an evil eye cast an ugly shadow on this large hearted city of love, harmony and prosperity that embraces all irrespective of ethnicity, caste, sect or political belief.

By Syed M. in comments here.