Underage driving
SIX lives — all members of a single family — were recently lost in Lahore to the unabated menace of underage driving. The accident, involving a teenage driver, has once more raised questions about road safety and law enforcement in Pakistan. The aftermath of the incident has seen the Lahore High Court intensifying efforts against unlicensed motorists, highlighting a disturbing reality: a vast number of drivers operate without valid licences. This judicial response underscores a systemic failure in enforcing traffic laws and the lack of responsibility among vehicle owners, especially in affluent areas like DHA. The surge in driving licence applications following this tragedy is a reactive measure, yet it speaks volumes about the previously lax attitude towards this critical aspect of road safety. The daunting figures presented in court — 7.3m cars with only 1.3m licensed drivers in Lahore — paint a stark picture of the callous disregard for the law that pervades our society.
The response should be multifaceted. While the crackdowns in Lahore and Rawalpindi are steps in the right direction, they must be accompanied by a change in societal attitudes. The ease with which vehicles are handed over to minors by guardians reflects a dangerous irresponsibility, which not only endangers lives but also contributes to a culture of discourtesy. The LHC’s directives for police to ensure that punitive actions do not cross into harassment is appreciable. Protecting citizens’ rights, even in strict enforcement, is essential to maintain public trust and cooperation. Alongside, there is a dire need for awareness. The issue of underage and unlicensed driving is rooted in societal norms and requires a comprehensive approach to instigate a shift in behaviour. The DHA incident should serve as an eye-opener, demanding not just governmental action but also a collective societal effort to foster a culture of responsibility and safety on our roads. Our future actions will determine whether this tragedy becomes a catalyst for change or just another forgotten headline.
Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2023
State’s insecurities
ONE hopes that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor’s recent remarks regarding the ‘less-than-ideal’ security conditions in some parts of KP and Balochistan were just a professional observation. With renewed speculation over the timing of the elections, every stray word is raising eyebrows. Governor Ghulam Ali, while responding to a question regarding the uptick in terrorist activity during a recent TV interview, said that organising political activities in certain areas of KP and Balochistan had become difficult “due to the security situation”. However, he also said that polls could still be held in these areas and accepted it was the government’s duty to take voters to the ballot boxes safely. He further said, “The provincial government and institutions are responsible for sitting together and preparing a strategy for the way forward.” While it is encouraging that the governor has a clear understanding of his responsibilities, it must be pointed out that the state should perhaps be more proactive in its approach. The nationwide ‘security situation’ is, after all, solely the state’s responsibility to manage; if, for any reason, it is not ‘ideal’, it is only the state that can fix it.
Last year, when the ‘security situation’ was first used as an excuse to unconstitutionally delay the long overdue elections for the Punjab and KP assemblies, it had been pointed out that the electoral process had not been suspended in the past even when Pakistan faced considerably worse terrorism-related violence. Given that the country’s institutions have previously demonstrated their capacity to meet a broad spectrum of security challenges head-on while the democratic process continued unhindered, there is no good reason to believe that they have suddenly lost their capacity to do so. Therefore, while the worrying rise in violent incidents in recent weeks should not be ignored, the issue should also not be conflated with the need to hold already delayed elections by the committed date of Feb 8, 2024. The country’s security institutions — which have formidable experience in counterterrorism operations — must focus their energies towards eliminating all elements working to harm the Pakistani people. They should let politics and politicians take care of themselves. If the state does its job well, there is no reason why the citizenry cannot go about exercising its political rights without the fear of violence lingering over it.
Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2023
Chilas bus attack
PERHAPS even more challenging than countering terrorism in urban areas is the threat posed by militants in remote regions of Pakistan. This is especially true in the rugged terrain of Gilgit-Baltistan and adjacent regions of KP. Here, in the shadow of towering peaks, tracing the perpetrators is arguably more difficult than it is in the cities.
However, terrorists cannot be given a free hand to stomp through the mountains, killing innocent people at will. In fact, the geopolitical and communal sensitivity of the area requires that strong counterterrorism measures be taken.
No group has as yet claimed responsibility for Saturday’s atrocity, in which at least nine people were killed when terrorists opened fire on a bus travelling on the Karakoram Highway in GB’s Chilas area. A number of suspects have been detained.
The authorities have ruled out a sectarian motive, while the fact that two of the victims were military men could explain a possible motive for the attack.
Diamer, where Chilas is located, as well as the adjacent Kohistan area of KP, have witnessed militant activity previously, while both areas are known for their ultraconservative mores. In 2012, at least 18 people were pulled off buses and massacred in a sectarian attack in Kohistan.
Later that year, a similar atrocity took place in Mansehra. In both attacks, most of the victims were Shia. In 2013, terrorists massacred 10 foreign climbers and one local at the Nanga Parbat base camp, while in 2021 nine Chinese nationals working on the Dasu dam project, along with four locals, were killed in a TTP suicide bombing.
Meanwhile, in September, a militant incursion from Afghanistan was thwarted in Chitral, which also borders GB, resulting in a number of soldiers being martyred. These events show that this particular region of Pakistan is not immune from the terrorist threat.
Complicating matters is the fact that militant activity in the area often has sectarian overtones. Also, GB borders Afghanistan and China as well as India-held Kashmir, making it a target for transnational militant activity.
The threat from militancy will also scuttle the state’s plans to promote tourism in the area, affecting the livelihoods of the locals of this beautiful, but economically deprived region. Due to these reasons, it is imperative that the administration take decisive action to root out militancy.
Efforts should be headed by federal counterterrorism agencies, with the involvement of the GB and KP administrations. Locals, particularly in Diamer and Kohistan, need to be on board to ensure that militants have no place to hide.
Meanwhile, transporters are of the view that the security provided even to convoys of vehicles is inadequate. This needs to be rectified to ensure the safety of those travelling to and from the region.
Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2023