Police Lines bombing
Monday’s savage bombing targeting a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines is a disturbing reminder of the havoc the proscribed TTP is capable of, as well as a tragic illustration of the failed policy of suing for peace with the terrorist group.
In the TTP’s worldview, either the state accepts their unreasonable demands, or gets ready to face murderous rampages like the mosque bombing. It is also a fatal security lapse in what is supposed to be one of the most well-protected parts of the KP capital, bringing back memories of last year’s Koocha Risaldar bombing in the same city. That atrocity was carried out by IS-K.
Monday’s bloodbath has reportedly been claimed by the Mohmand faction of the TTP, apparently as ‘revenge’ for the killing of Omar Khalid Khorasani in Afghanistan last August. That notorious militant had at different times been associated with IS-K, Jamaatul Ahrar, as well as the TTP.
KP has been bearing the brunt of the terrorist onslaught ever since the TTP renounced their truce with the state late last year. While attacks mainly targeting law-enforcement personnel have been occurring with regular frequency, the Police Lines bombing is surely a major escalation, considering the high body count, specifically targeting the policemen and army troops that were offering prayers in the mosque. Sadly, the needed response from the political leadership, treasury and opposition included, as well as the security establishment to the TTP threat, has been lacking.
Politically, the nation has been witnessing paralysis over the past several months, with the PDM and PTI gunning for each other in a destructive battle of nerves. Meanwhile, there exist caretaker governments in KP and Punjab, while policymaking is largely frozen, mainly due to questions about when general elections will be held, as the economy nosedives. This ‘perfect storm’ presents an ideal opportunity for the TTP and others of their ilk to strike at the state.
It is welcome that the prime minister and the interior minister rushed to Peshawar following the tragedy, while the outrage was condemned across the political spectrum. However, more than ‘thoughts and prayers’, what is required now is action. At least where the menace of terrorism is concerned, the government and opposition need to close ranks and put up a united front, working with the security forces to plan and execute a result-oriented counterterrorism strategy.
The foreign minister has said the National Action Plan is the only solution to neutralise the terrorist threat. There can be little disagreement with this, which is why political forces and the establishment need to put all their energies into implementing NAP. Intelligence-based operations should be launched to uproot the terrorist infrastructure, particularly their sympathisers and support system. Too much precious blood of our security men and civilians has been shed to let the ogre of terrorism reanimate itself.
Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2023
Oil price hike
THE record single-day increase in petrol prices, preceded by massive currency depreciation, signifies the culmination of the bad economic policies that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has been pursuing for the last four months to impart a misplaced sense of relief to the public. At the end of the day, he has failed — miserably — to protect the people, the rupee and the political capital of his party. The hike of Rs35 a litre in petrol prices, along with a similar increase in diesel rates and the Rs18 rise in light diesel oil and kerosene, was unavoidable due to the exchange rate depreciation. But this is just the beginning. Fuel prices will again be adjusted in the middle of next month to incorporate the impact of further deterioration in the exchange rate as well as rising global oil prices. If negotiations with the IMF have to succeed, the government will also have to implement a 17pc sales tax on petroleum products, pushing their prices to new highs over the next one month. That the latest increase in fuel prices was announced three days before schedule because the owners had started shutting down their pumps in anticipation of a huge hike also exposed the chinks in the government’s ability to establish its writ.
What does the fuel price increase mean for Pakistanis, most of whom are poor even by the standards of low-income countries? The prices of essential food and other items have already gone through the roof and are far beyond the reach of the average Pakistani. A report in this paper says that white-collar workers are forced to do multiple jobs to make ends meet, as well as cut their food, education and healthcare expenses to cope with surging inflation. Those slightly better off are shifting from cars to two-wheelers to ensure their families are fed. Pakistan’s Great Depression is already here. And no one knows how long it will continue, or how deep the economy reeling from devastating floods, intense political divisions and runaway price inflation in an uncertain global environment will sink before the rot starts to be reversed. It is time the government admitted to its reckless exchange rate and energy pricing policies. Had Mr Dar not been managing the exchange rate and reducing fuel prices for political capital, the situation would not have been so desperate.
Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2023
Babar Azam’s award
BABAR Azam might not have lifted many trophies as Pakistan’s all-format captain in the last year but the star batter nevertheless ended up bagging the biggest individual award cricket has to offer. And the timing of the announcement of the ICC Cricketer of the Year award couldn’t have come at a better time. Under mounting criticism for Pakistan’s inability to win any of their three home Test series — against Australia, England and New Zealand — last year, Babar was also under fire for the ODI series loss to New Zealand in Karachi. With the ODI World Cup later this year, questions over his captaincy have been rife. The results may have not come — though Pakistan did reach the Twenty20 Asia Cup and World Cup finals last year and they remain one of the top sides in the shortest format of the game — but the burden of leading the team hasn’t affected Babar’s performance. He’s piled on the runs across every format in the last year and the numbers are staggering. Four centuries and seven scores of over 50 in nine Tests saw Babar accumulate 1,184 runs at an average of 69.64. Another 679 runs came in nine 50-over games with three centuries as Pakistan won eight out of nine of those, seeing Babar also named ODI Cricketer of the Year for the second time in two years and the captain of the ODI Team of the Year. There was a century in T20s as well for Babar in 2022 as he ended with 735 runs.
His winning the award meant it stayed with Pakistan after pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi won it last year. It meant that some of Babar’s harshest critics have applauded him. The hope is the award spurs Babar on as captain. He has a chance to elevate himself into cricketing eternity by leading Pakistan to World Cup glory, but though a fine batter, Babar alone can’t do it all.
Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2023