Of States’ Writ?
By the Editor

OF-LATE, the serious incident of Tank in NWFP – where over a dozen people were killed and several injured – as unidentified armed persons attacked the residence of Political Agent of Khyber Agency speaks volumes about the grave situation that has engulfed entire FATA and adjoining settled areas.

Innocent civilians are at the mercy of gunmen roaming freely and not being checked by the members of the law enforcing agencies.

The law and order situation has been deteriorating with every passing day and newspapers are full of stories relating to acts of terrorism and sabotage.

Not to talk of the tribal belt – which was as safe as any other part of Pakistan – now even the settled areas are not safe if we take the happenings of valued women’s podium of education – Jamia Hafsa in Islamabad or the hotel blast in Peshawar.

As far Tank, according to reports the attackers fired rockets – hurled hand grenades and later stormed the house of the Political Agent at Jatai Qilla village, fifteen kilometres west of Tank, the firing continued for more than an hour and there was no presence of police or security personnel.

These incidents of violence have – of-curse – added to the harassment of the people who are critical of the deteriorating law and order situation.

As a matter of fact or realism – we have long been expressing our fears that the situation in FATA should be handled very prudently by involving Maliks and Religious leaders to motivate the gunmen to surrender their arms and join the mainstream of the society.

Use of force has never been a complete situation of any problem. It appears that the family members and guests of the Political Agent were made target to settle score with him.

The NWFP Governor had initiated a process of dialogue with the militants but – prima facie – certain actions on the part of the Government annoyed the Peace Council members who resigned sometime back.

This was a serious setback to the peace process in FATA.

As we look at – since to check the alarming situation – has not passed – it is pertinent to emphasize that influential tribal leaders including the religious parties be involved – to pacify the militants and impress upon them that they should give up arms – as well as to stop supporting the foreign militants to restart their normal life as useful citizens of their own beloved country – Pakistan.●