A turning point

Every year, the 4th of January brings back the tragic memories of 2011 when the then governor of Punjab was murdered in broad daylight by one of his own bodyguards. Governor Salmaan Taseer’s fault was that he had pledged justice for a poor, illiterate village woman. A dark night followed the murder. His murderer, Mumtaz Qadri, was made a hero overnight some people. He was given special treatment in jail.
Since the murder of Salmaan Taseer, thousands of people have lost their lives, courtesy the so-called jihadists’ perceived interpretation of religion. But then came the Peshawar tragedy which proved to be a turning point in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism. After sacrificing over 60,000 people – both security personnel and civilians – the civilian and military leadership has joined hands to confront terrorists. But again it appears to be a half-cooked strategy. Until we deal with the ideology to which these terrorists are subscribing, merely hanging foot soldiers will not make any difference. We need to nip the evil in the bud, otherwise chopping down branches always helps a tree to grow.
Masood Khan
Jubail, Saudi Arabia