A group that apparently sees itself as the defender of Islam has taken over the roads. But since it knows it lacks the numbers and the support to really truly do that, it has done the next best thing: It has blocked the Faizabad Interchange – a major artery that connects Islamabad to Rawalpindi. As a result, probably over half a million people have had their already painful daily commute jump from around sixty minutes each way to anything up to three hours – each way. It now seems that these people who are blocking the roads have been offered whatever they asked for. Whether that is a good thing is of course another whole debate. But the group is still refusing to go away. Not only that, one now hears that it seeks to have its brethren across the land follow its example. According to some media reports, these protestors valiantly attacked a police station because of which over a dozen police officers were injured. A couple of dozen of ‘brave protestors’ were also injured during the clash. Yet it remains unclear what they want or hope to achieve by doing all of this. Those who righteously and furiously say that the state has clearly failed in its responsibilities do indeed have a point. But they should also in fairness ask themselves the following question: Which state? Although their fury is undoubtedly directed at what they call the ‘government,’ some would say that there are elements and powers that do not necessarily see themselves as bound by the government’s views or directives. Whatever the reality, two things are for certain: First, large fires invariably start from small sparks. Second, people who like to play with fire can never really control how far and wide a fire may spread and what all it may consume. Sher Ali Khan Mardan
