HRCP condemns Quetta attack

LAHORE

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has condemned Monday night’s attack on the police academy in Quetta and demanded reassessment of the counter-terrorism strategy to put an end to the bloodletting.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission said: “It is alarming that despite apparent focus on countering terrorism over the past few years, the terrorists were able to launch another major attack in a provincial metropolis like Quetta and cause such a high loss of life."

It said, “We condole with the families who lost loved ones in the attack on the police training school in Quetta.”

HRCP was of the view that terrorism could not be overcome by reliance only on security operations. No state can fight terror without people’s support, it added. The commission cited addressing the public alienation and winning their trust was vital in this fight.

The commission said that despite much talk of developing alternative narratives on restoring peace to society, there had been little action on that account. This, HRCP pressed, needs to change without any further delay.

HRCP noted that it was perhaps too early to speculate on the perpetrators of the police school attack.

The commission was of the view that there was no wisdom in keeping multiple fronts open.

Particularly amid the present day terrorism, which had a cross-border dimension, it made all the more sense to join hands for security and fighting terrorism.