Quetta terror attack

At least seven policemen were killed and 22 injured in an explosion in the Sariab Mill area of Quetta. A road side bomb exploded and hit a vehicle carrying 35 police personals on Quetta Sibi road. Baluchistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti confirmed that six policemen had lost their lives and 22 others injured. He said that the contingent that was targeted by the explosion recently assigned the duty of routine patrolling of various sensitive areas and was on their way to work when the blast occurred. He told that a forensic team will come from Lahore to determine the nature of the blast.

The personnel of security forces and policemen have been frequently targeted on a massive scale in Baluchistan over the past two years. But it is very pathetic that that the worst hit province of Baluchistan does not have a forensic laboratories and experts. The terrorists stormed a police training college on 25th October 2016, killing 61 policemen and injuring 117. Six FC Baluchistan officials were injured after their vehicle came under attack near western by pass in Quetta on 2nd January 2017. In all 34 security forces personnel were killed and 52 injured in different acts of terror and target killing during the past 8 months,

The terror attacks are on the rise but the government has buried the National Action Plan (NAP). The political leadership reluctantly agreed to the formulation of this plan and hesitantly implemented only three points of it. The remaining 17 points are yet to be implemented. The federal and provincial governments are not interested to implement NAP despite the all time existent threat of terrorism. National Counter terrorism Authority (NACTA) is dysfunctional. Justice system has not been strengthened for the trial of terrorism related cases. Consequently, the tenure of Military Courts had to be extended. Counter narrative to promote moderation and change the mindset of extremism has not been built. The much needed reforms in the curricula of seminaries have been abandoned for ever.

It is widely believed that terrorists of banned outfits from South Punjab and interior Sindh enter Baluchistan for attacks but effective clean up operations in these areas are thwarted by the provincial governments taking shelter behind the provisions of 18th amendment. It is time that both federal and provincial governments come out from the state of hibernation and implement NAP in its letter and spirit. The attitude of political expediency will give a free hand to the enemies within to spill the blood of civilians and personnel of security forces.