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Editorial: The bloodshed in Quetta

In the latest terrorist attack at Police Training College at least 61 security personnel were killed and more than 165 others were injured as heavily-armed militants wearing suicide vests stormed a police Training College. Home Minister of Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti informed media that three terrorists entered the Police Training College from the rare gate after martyring a watchman and held 250 fresh recruits hostage, who were present in the college without weapons. According to the government 700 police recruits were present at the time of the attack. One terrorist was killed by the security forces while two others blew themselves up. IG FC Major General Sher Afghan informed that the attackers acted on directions from Afghanistan and the initial investigation suggests that the terrorists were affiliated with Lashkar-e- Jhangvi Al Almi.

Militant group ISIS has claimed responsibility of the deadly attack on police academy in Quetta. The attack was carried out by “Islamic State fighters”, the group’s Amaq news agency said. In August, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on a gathering of mourners at a hospital in Quetta that killed 70. However, that was also claimed by Pakistani Taliban faction Jamaat-ur-Ahrar. It also published a photo claiming to show the attackers. But, Sarfaraz Bugti said that said that communication intercepts showed the attack was carried out by Al-Alimi faction of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ). However, there was no presence of Daesh in Balochistan.

The Balochistan government announced the formation of an investigation team to probe the Quetta police college carnage. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Investigation Aitzaz Goraya will lead the investigation team. Deputy Inspector General Police Quetta Abdul Razzaq Cheema said, “The support of Punjab’s forensic agency will also be sought.” The team will soon submit its report to the Balochistan government. The Provincial Apex Committee had decided to form a high powered commission to probe into the act of terrorism at the Police Training College in Quetta. The Committee held its meeting in Quetta on Wednesday, presided over by the Balochistan Chief Minister, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri. The high powered commission would investigate the entire affairs and fixed the responsibility. Most of the outstanding departments and institutions would be part of the commission conducting probe.

The above mentioned tragedy can be named nothing else but another great security failure. Prior to this deadly incident a suicide bomber killed at least 70 people including lawyers, journalists, and civilians and wounded more than one hundred at the Civil Hospital in Quetta on 8th August. The fatal attack on Hospital came hours after when armed men killed president of Balochistan Bar Association Advocate Bilal Anwar Kasi in the provincial capital following which lawyers had brought his body to the hospital.

Both the massacres have caused a great human loss of Balochistan within three months just as a result of security failure; as Balochistan has been witnessing such deadly attacks for many years. The earlier and current governments learnt no lessons from the terrorist attacks in Balochistan. Blaming India and Afghanistan is no answer to the burring questions nor can the lives of people be saved with tall claims. We always listen of zero tolerance on lapses to deal with security situation; however, nothing is considerably done. Lack of seriousness in protection of human lives will give birth to more carnage. Government should come up with new policy against talibanisation, and being responsible for security provision of armless citizens and so that it may produce some effective results. They should also make strong measures against responsible authorities in kind of security lapses in attack on PTC Quetta.

Editor-in-Chief
The Balochistan Point

Published in The Balochistan Point on October 27, 2016

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