Let history not repeat itself

December is running out fast but not without its evil ramifications with ominous signs for the year 2016. Momentous achievements of 'Zarb-e-Azb' notwithstanding -- just when ISPR had released a new national song to mark the first anniversary of the Peshawar APS mayhem of December 16, 2014, the terrorists struck again most ferociously at least at three places in one day. It seemed to carry a deliberate message -- “we are here, we are going nowhere and we can strike whenever and wherever we want to.”

At the time of writing this piece, 25 deaths were confirmed with more than 70 wounded in the Sunday blast in Kurram Agency's Parachinar area. In another incident in an IED blast in Mohmand Agency, one person was reported killed with several injured. Yet another blast claimed one dead in Arawan area of Balochistan.

While authorities are investigating these incidents, South Punjab-based sectarian organisation Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) claimed responsibility for the Parachinar blast. According to reports, the organisation's spokesman Ali Abu Sufyan, in an email, claimed that his organisation was behind the blast, warning the people of Parachinar to stop sending their children to take part in the Syrian war.

The question bothering the people is how could the security forces be oblivious of the possibility of terrorists striking in the Old Clothes Market thronged by hundreds on Sundays on the onset of severe winter. According to experts, Kurram is one of the most sensitive tribal areas as it borders three Afghan provinces and at one point was one of the key routes for the TTP and other terrorist across the border. And it is next door to North Waziristan where Operation 'Zarb-e-Azb' is claimed to be in the final stages.

Besides Parachinar incident, it is lately seen that LeJ and other sectarian groups have become overactive in Punjab too where they have deep tentacles including the once notoriously known operational HQ in Muridke. Punjab police too has been fighting gun battles with LeJ terrorists and to its credit goes elimination of a couple or two almost every second day. However, the fact that terrorists are escalating their activities in Punjab, it would be a step in the right direction to recharge the Punjab chapter of National Action Plan (NAP) that one does not hear much about.

Pakistanis remain in the eye of the storm because of alleged terrorism here, there and everywhere, however, in December history has recorded many events of far reaching consequences from time immemorial. Prophet Jesus Christ (Peace Be upon Him) was born in this month. Could there be any greater event than his birth -- most certainly not.

Muslims of the undivided India too were blessed with a leader -- Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. His biographer Professor Stanley Wolpert has rightly summed up Jinnah Sahib: "Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state. Mohammad Ali Jinnah did all three."

While this month gave us founder of Pakistan, it was on December 16, 1971 when the coterie of drunkard generals surrendered half of the country. It was greatest misfortune that world's largest Muslim country was sacrificed at the altar of Praetorian ambitions.

Earlier on December 5, 1963 one of the greatest leaders of Pakistan movement Husseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy was mysteriously found dead in a Beirut hotel soon after his release from prolonged detention in Pakistan on the orders of President Ayub Khan. Had Ayub listened to Suhrawardy Sahib who warned him in a letter from his Karachi Central Jail cell in 1962 that “I am the last bridge between East and West Pakistan holding the country together.” Indeed, after him was the deluge. Just eight years after his death East Pakistan became Bangladesh.

On December 27, 2007 yet another colossal tragedy struck the nation. How long Pakistan shall have to suffer the ominous consequences of martyred Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination is hard to foretell. Her murder was a combination of insatiable lust for power of the Knight Templar in cahoots with those who he had nurtured and nourished for a long time — call them Jihadis or non-state actors. He defends them even now.

Her assassination in the garrison city of Rawalpindi eight years ago -- like the assassination of Pakistan's first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan followed by judicial murder of yet another elected Prime Minister -- Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Rawalpindi jail -- has inflicted upon Pakistan a blow recovery from which is nowhere near in sight.

Last but not the least, democracy despite its roller coaster existence is still in place. However, certain ominous developments do not augur well. Provincial autonomy is threatened by forces of status quo and the powerful establishment. No doubt civilians are de jure rulers but de facto rulers are others who are not civilians.

In conclusion, one would agree with the Chairman of the Senate Senator Raza Rabbani that if the apple-cart of provincial autonomy as enshrined in the 18th Amendment is played foul with, there could be almost fatal consequences for the federation. Let us be warned. A fate like that of East Pakistan is being predicted as an inevitable eventuality. Let history not repeat itself.

 The author is former high commissioner of Pakistan to UK