Crocodile tears over massacre in Peshawar

Reportedly banned outfit of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah has expressed his concerns over frequent bombings in the FATA and in the provincial capital of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. To the utmost surprise and amazement of many, the TTP did not claim to accept the responsibility of the mass carnage in Peshawar. But the one of its factions- Jindullah--took the lead to claim the responsibility. Self-proclaimed Amir of the 78 Taliban groups said to have been probing bomb blasts in Upper Dir and Peshawar to fix the responsibility of the blasts. Meaning thereby the TTP Chief, who earlier was dead set averse to any contact with the Pakistan government, does not command respect and authority over entire Taliban lot that strengthens the apprehensions and reservations of the critics who do not agree with the government’s move to sit with killers of the thousands of innocent Muslims and other members of minorities living in the country. Unfathomed sadness is that in the name of the peace the political leadership, ignoring the atrocities and brutalities unleashed by the outlawed organization, offered olive branch to the Taliban—a move that almost overturned the status of fighters engaged in a prolonged fighting in the area where the government’s writ had been restricted to the offices of the political agents stationed out of the battle-field FATA. If a total surrender cannot be construed at this point in time yet the official initiative has accepted Taliban as indispensible stakeholders and a prime force to reckon with for peace process in the region. Amidst indirect contact between the TTP and government representatives, the Taliban too apparently had changed it posture and tune but on the other hand, one of its components-- Jindullah is carrying out fatal bombings. If that is right then conversely the TTP chief is turning out to be powerless to control its factions within Taliban. If that is true then the entire government exercise for the peace process seems a farce and a sheer wastage of time. But the fact is Hakimullah Mehsud—a finest exponent of hypocrisy--is shedding crocodile tears over the death of the innocent people of Pakistan. Had he been sincere to the cause of peace, he should have disowned Jindullah, dissociating from their bloody activities. But he is keeping his cards close to the chest and making clever moves to use the situation as pressure tactics to gain advantage on the negotiating table otherwise the execution of men, women and busy in worship does not serve any purpose. Hence the political and military leadership should not give any let-up to the reckless killers till they surrender the control of the region to Pakistan for which the people of the Fata had offered countless sacrifices. Regardless of the state policy and no matter who the perpetrators of the Peshawar Church blasts are they should be brought to book to provide justice to the victims to induce sense of security and protection amongst the members of minorities.