Trouble in Pakistan

The virtual surrender of President Asif Ali Zardari, leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on all fronts to Nawaz Sharif and other opposition leaders could have been expected to put an end to political instability in Pakistan. But Islamabad still has to reckon with the formidable threat of Islamic terrorism as represented by pro-Taliban and Al Qaida elements who have spread their tentacles to the heartland of the country. A suicide bomber killed a policeman who had stopped him at the entrance of a police station in Islamabad. The police Special Branch operates from the station and is responsible for collecting information on terrorism, sectarianism and political activities in the country. It gives the incident a special importance. Apart from the policeman, five other persons were injured by the suicide bomber blowing himself up. Apparently, the authorities had been on high alert but it was impossible to prevent the occurrence. Intelligence agencies had been tipped off about a number of suicide bombers attacking political leaders and rallies in the capital. The area had been cordoned off. Islamic militants are blamed for daily attacks in the Northwest. A suicide bomb had attacked a hotel in Islamabad last September and the assault of gunmen on the Sri Lankan cricket team followed.

Zardari has requested the UK and the US to renew their assistance to Pakistan in fighting terrorism. He spoke about the role of the PPP in restoring democracy and ending Musharraf’s military rule. The US should now be satisfied that his party believes in democracy now that the showdown with Nawaz Sharif and the deposed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who has been reinstated is over. But will the Pakistan government support US drone attacks in the North West Frontier Province in combating Islamic terror backing the Taliban and Al Qaida. THE SHILLONG TIMES