Pakistan: Avertible tragedy

The Frontier Post

This brutal slaying of seven aid workers, all except one females, in Swabi by terrorist monsters is a heart-rending tragedy. And the heart goes out in grief and sympathy to the bereaved families in their hour of great loss and sorrow. But couldn't this tragedy be averted? Plainly, the victims were at great risk. The thugs have been picking on especially workers and activists engaged in serving their fellow compatriots and promoting the cause of education. Malala Yousafzai was murderously attacked right in this very Swat region not very long ago because she talked of girl education and human rights. And only recently the polio workers too were assaulted, some even fatally, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for administering polio vaccines to children. Then, why were these unfortunate aid workers left so insecure? Why had they had no security cover? Weren't they the potential target of thugs who take on and take out anybody serving the humanity selflessly? They all were connected with an NGO running a primary school and a health centre for the poor in the area. And they all were mowed down with bullets while returning home after doing their tour of duty. But strange are the ways of the officialdom in this province. It shows itself all concerned about the security of those who luxuriate on the taxpayer's money and warm the ministerial chairs cosily. Even the cronies of those in power enjoy special protection. Several police mobiles are detailed to accompany the motorcades of the ministers riding in bulletproof cars. But not even a police cop is put on duty for the security of the aid workers when it is not unknown that their lives are in great danger. Wasn't it for this reason that the terrorist monsters preyed on the polio workers so blithely? But so uncaring is this officialdom that when for security concerns both the WHO and UNICEF asked for the suspension of the polio campaign in the province, it dismissed their appeal summarily. Surely, playing bravado at the cost of the others' lives comes easy to some. But this Swabi gruesome murder has left a four-year child to mourn his mother's violent demise for life. The time has come for this insouciant officialdom to get out of its flippancy and understand the real worth of life. Worthless are not the lives of aid workers who stick out their necks for public service. Theirs are precious lives. Not the lives of the worthies cocooned in fortress-like residences and offices, with the least truck with the public and the least concern about the people's wellbeing. Despite knowing the tremendous risks to their lives, the aid workers still venture out bravely to ameliorate the lot of their deprived and denied compatriots. Their services to their fellow countrymen need to be recognised appropriately by giving them all the possible protection to do their jobs safely. By no stretch of imagination this officialdom could be construed to be unaware of the enormity and viciousness of terrorism blighting this province, which is bearing the main brunt of this countrywide evil phenomenon. The vile thugs strike whenever they like and wherever they want. Their game plan is evident. They want to strike terror in the hearts of the people to perpetuate their wicked agenda. To this end, aid workers come easily to them for a soft target to spread fear and scare among the people. At least now, the officialdom must make a move to deny them this pleasure any more. It should get in touch with the aid agencies and NGOs, especially those engaged in field work in the province, and know of their security requirements. A system it must then evolve to give the security protection to their workers when they move out into the field to do the jobs of public uplift and welfare. And this should not be much of a burden on the provincial security apparatus. It has only to thin out the abominably phenomenally thick security shield on the ministers and their cronies to spare out hands to undertake this task. After all, for how long are we going to have at out hands sorrowfully the motherless children and orphans with parents done in savagely by wicked thugs with bullets and bomb blasts?