Mob lynching is ‘worst kind of terrorism’, says Nisar

[Kabira]

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has reiterated his strong condemnation of the mob that brutally killed two men in the aftermath of the deadly church bombings in Lahore’s Youhanabad area, saying that the lynching witnessed on Sunday is “the worst form of terrorism”.

Nisar, speaking in the National Assembly on Tuesday, invoked the example of earlier attacks on imambargahs and mosques, and said that a violent mob reaction like that in Youhanabad was not witnessed in those incidents.

He condemned Sunday's Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan - Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (TTP-JA)-claimed attacks on two churches in Lahore and further said that such incidents occurred all over the world.

Read: 15 killed in Taliban attack on Lahore churches

“A similar incident occurred right in the heart of Paris where a synagogue was attacked,” Nisar added, “But the minority Jews did not react violently in the French capital.”

While the federal minister acknowledged that minorities have been targeted in the country for the last 14 years, he added that heartrending incidents across the world do not trigger violent reactions like in Lahore.

Outline of Chaudhry Nisar’s address in Parliament:

• Those involved in Youhanabad lynching will be punished
• Not possible to secure every mosque, imambargah in the country
• Shafqat Hussain case should not be politicised
• Pakistan should become an open, liberal, independent and democratic society
• Nation will have to unite to send terrorists to hell

“Shias were attacked in Shikarpur and Quetta but no reaction was witnessed like the one in Lahore — what message did the burning of two men send to the world?” he said, adding that the burning of the two men and damage to government installations is the “worst form of terrorism”.

He added that the mob was promoting the agenda of terrorists. “The intention of the terrorists is to spread sectarian strife. Naeem was an innocent citizen,” Nisar said, referring to one of the lynched men who has been identified by his family.

Also read: Lahore lynching victim identified as local glass cutter

Nisar expressed appreciation for the efforts of senior Christian leaders of Lahore to defuse the situation, but warned that strict action would be taken against those who lynched and burnt the two men. “The incident is a cause of humiliation for our country, police, courts and government.”

“We have recorded the faces of many culprits courtesy of the media, we shall take action against each and every one of them.”

He highlighted that the dead include “seven Muslims as well”, although he soon added, “I am giving this statement only to clarify the records since the death of one person, be it Muslim or Christian, is tantamount to the death of all humanity.”

'Impossible to secure all places of worship'
Nisar admitted that it was not possible for authorities to secure each mosque and place of worship in the country.

He said police did not have enough manpower to depute three to four personnel at every place of worship let alone schools.

"We cannot shutdown our markets, schools or places of worship. This is what the terrorists want. We have to become an open, liberal, independent and democratic society," said the federal interior minister adding that, "We have limitations, but there has been improvement."

He also appealed for focus to be shifted on the improvement which has taken place in the country rather than on individual incidents.

Nisar said that the country is in a state of war and the nation will have to unite and remain prepared for any threat.

He appreciated the efforts of the parliament in maintaining unison in the country and said that through the combined efforts of the nation the terrorists will be sent to hell.

Chaudjry Nisar Ali Khan also took the House into confidence over the progress made into the Shikarpur tragedy and said that two major culprits of the incident have been arrested with the close coordination of intelligence and security agencies.

He said others behind the incident are also on the target list of the security agencies.
Mob lynching is ‘worst kind of terrorism’, says Nisar - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

 

[Dalit]

Very true, but I hold the government directly responsible for the lawlessness in Pakistan. No one is expecting 100% foolproof security. That's impossible. However, this government hasn't learnt anything from the past. Terrorists and criminals roam on our streets and the courts cannot convict them. The government is feeble and has no structure in place to deliver swift justice. People are bound to take to streets and take matters into their own hands. Especially when they expect no justice i.e. action from the concerned authorities. Additionally, a government which has the state machinery i.e. resources at its disposal is fully responsible for containing the situation. On the contrary, in our land the state resources are abused for personal gain. The state is responsible for enforcing law and order by all means! These inept and incompetent leaders running our affairs have no grip on the situation. They are out of touch and don't control anything. The Pak army will once again have to come to the rescue. The excuses we hear each time are testimony to the fact that the government has lost the battle. I'm just sick and tired of these corrupt and inept civilian leaders. They are only good at looting, lying and deceiving. That is all. This country requires leaders who rule with an iron fist. Leaders who lead from the front and set examples no matter how hard and difficult. Leaders who don't pick and choose sides, but deliver justice. Nothing else will cut it any more. Don't be surprised because the people will continue to take matters into their own hands until these coward leaders fulfil their duty. This latest act of mob lynching is just the tip of the iceberg.

 

[Samandri]

I agree with Nisar and i hope those lynchers are arrested and punished

 

[Green Arrow]

Ch Nisar is right but this is bound to happen when writ of the state gets weak. Only a strong law order can ensure the security of the people.

 

[Kabira]

DawnNews screengrab shows Babar Noman, a hosiery worker, who had come from Sargodha in search of employment at a factory.
Second Lahore lynching victim identified as garment worker - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

Ch Nisar is right but this is bound to happen when writ of the state gets weak. Only a strong law order can ensure the security of the people.

First of all gov cannot protect every religious place or school. Still ''muslim'' police officer gave his life to save dozens. Yet the only thing they did after that is held rest of police officers hostage. And then burn couple of innocent muslims they found in Youhanabad.

This never happened before and there have been thousands of bomb blasts in last decade on sunni, shia, ahmedi mosques.