Everything should be fair in this terror war

DUBAI: Now that the political government of Nawaz Sharif has come on the same page with the Pakistan Army and a full-fledged military operation has been launched against the terrorists, a full-fledged security and media plan for the rest of the country is immediately needed to face the blowback.

Some of the instant decisions that should be, and obviously will be, part of this whole operation, its planning, strategy and tactics, must include, if not already done:

— Instead of repeated announcements of Red Alerts, all major cities should declare night curfews, at least for three to four weeks, starting at 9 pm to 6 am.

— In sensitive localities, shooting orders be given if anyone violates the curfew and does not stop when checked.

— All businesses in all major cities must shut down at 8 pm so that people can get back to their homes by 9 pm. No exceptions should be allowed except for those with security passes.

— A War Council or War Cabinet must be announced in the Centre and in provinces.

— Other activities of parliament and the cabinet must be put in low gear and diverted to coordinating the war effort for at least three to four weeks. These should include taking care of those hit, affected or displaced by the war.

The army must be deployed at all key installations to protect them from terrorist attacks.

In sensitive cities and super sensitive localities like many areas of Karachi, door-to-door search operations should be carried out when the curfew sets in.

Special summary courts should be set up to try and convict all those who are caught with illegal arms, terrorist equipment like suicide jackets, hand grenades etc and the death penalty should be given to those convicted and sentenced without delay.

Special bulletins should be issued on the Zarb-e-Azb Operation daily or even more frequently and the media should only cover these. Total cooperation of political parties and the media must be ensured.

There can be more such actions taken but if this is a war, it has to be fought like a war. And as now we have decided to fight this war, then lets follow the saying: “Everything is fair in love and war.”We will get to the love portion when we cross the war zones.

Mumbai terror attacks case in Pakistan hit by security concerns

For four weeks since the suicide attack on the Islamabad district and sessions court on March 3, the trial of the seven accused in the Mumbai terror strike of November 26, 2008, was held up.

Defence lawyer Rizwan Abbasi said that the case underway in the Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) in the F/8 Markaz which was targeted, was being heard in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi and security concerns were voiced by judge Atiq ur Rehman.

He said an application was made to the law secretary to enhance security at the jail where the trial is also conducted sometimes since the accused cannot be transported outside.

Now the ATC has been shifted to sector G 11 and Mr. Abbasi has moved an application for the accused to be exempted from appearance. While no witness could be cross examined last month, the case will now be heard next Wednesday.

Earlier, the court heard the matter every week and that is likely to continue as is the practice if there is some satisfaction over security. About 32 witnesses have been examined so far in the case.

He said it was not only the Mumbai case but all other cases which were held up due to security concerns after the attack on the court. Most of the cases were adjourned as a result last month.

The prosecution had earlier said there were several witnesses left to be examined and they also had a list of some people whose testimony had to be recorded. The old team of defence lawyers was replaced by Mr Abbasi in a well publicized event last year.

He had said that the trial was moving very slowly and was planning to approach the higher courts for a speedy closure. India has been demanding that Pakistan punish the guilty in the Mumbai attacks and the suspects include Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hammad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younus Anjum.

Proceedings started in 2009 but have dragged on and one of the prosecutors Chaudhry Zulfiqar was shot dead in May 2013. The current prosecutor had also demanded increased security cover.

Aitzaz calls for briefing by Interior Minister on terror attack

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan Tuesday urged Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to brief the House on the terror attack in Islamabad district courts.

Speaking in the Senate, Aitzaz said there was a security failure. The opposition was not doing politics on this issue. Had it been against the talks with Taliban, it would not have supported the government, he added.

Aitzaz said there were many loopholes in the National Security Policy, which should be removed. The National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) Act was complete law to deal with terrorism.

He said talks and terrorism could not go together. On the one hand, negotiations were underway and on the other, the terrorists were consistently killing innocent people in acts of terror, he added.

Whenever Taliban were in trouble, they went for cease fire. to They should not be given time and an immediate action should be taken against them to stop their brutalities, he added.