Church attack

It is a matter of great concern that the government has yet to come up with a sound, strategic plan to prevent uninterrupted terrorist attacks on churches and imambargahs. Many junior level security staff and police officials have lost their lives while challenging suicide bombers.
The trust of people on security agencies, except for the armed forces of Pakistan, is eroding at an alarming pace and those who can afford to are resorting to private security arrangements to safeguard their houses and premises. We must, however, keep in mind the limitations of our security apparatus in terms of manpower requirements and the huge number of sensitive premises scattered all over the country. One feasible measure to protect life and property is to arrange groups of volunteers to keep a vigil on their premises in shifts. Any suspicious person surveying the target premises before an attack may be identified beforehand. Moreover, proactive patrolling and surveillance by the police and intelligence agencies will be more effective instead of reacting to a terrorist act.
Dr Najeeb A Khan
Islamabad
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“You are free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state,” said Quaid-e-Azam on August 11, 1947. Today these words adorn the pages of history only. The founding father did not get enough time to translate his words into action and his successors did not have the grit to implement Jinnah’s dream.
Sunday’s attack on two churches in Lahore was shocking. The state and its security apparatus has completely failed to protect its religious minorities. It is time our rulers got up and took some emergency measure to save religious minorities in the country. Besides, the civil society should initiate a campaign for the protection of minorities. Also, political parties from both side of the divide should condemn such killings and extend their full support and sympathy to the minorities. If we all stand united to protect the country’s minorities, terrorists will never be able to succeed in their terrible designs.
Khalil Murad Baloch
Lahore