As children we were told we always have a good angel looking over us, guiding us in our deeds and directing us if we commit a mistake. Quite recently the residents of Peshawar have come to know what a “Guardian Angel” looks like. It is wild, fierce looking, carrying a gun and a dagger, wear a dirty green military jacket, has a shabby appearance, looks down upon you “his subject” with a “holier than thou” attitude and most of all, you cannot argue with it because you simply aren’t good enough for it. Yeah I bet you know WHO I am talking about, our recent most “Saviors” according to whom the only way to mend a human being is beating, torturing bullying and fighting. Quite recently such “merciful” and “Humane” measures” have been taken as 28 members of a peace committee were killed after being held hostages for several days in the remote Tank area of NWFP. Our “Guardian Angels” have also killed a soldier and torched 11 girl schools to prevent “Obscenity” being spread in the area because of female education. Many English medium institutes are facing the danger because they teach the language of “Kafirs (Infidels)”. Worst of all, even hiring in educational institutes is not on the basis of merit but whether you have a beard if you are a man or you wear a scarf if a woman.
The city is literally under siege by the lawless militants. What adds to the agony of a common citizen is when he sees himself being eyed by the armed Talibans openly reigning the outskirts of Peshawar but the Islamabad issuing statements, “There is no danger of Taliban control in Peshawar. Everything is in order”. The police have been a silent spectator. The army may have increased patrolling and check posts but it is quite visible that the militants can squeeze them down from all sides in no time for the reason that they have held all the important villages around Peshawar under their unlawful control. The provincial government has signed a peace deal immediately after taking over of the government which to the worst fears of all, has proved to be more than ineffective since it seems to escalate the militants rather than limiting them. The result is a fresh wave of violence in Swat with new ambushes and attacks on police and army check posts. The foremost demand from the militants at the moment is the withdrawal of army and police from the area exercising government influence so that a purely militant and unlawful reign can be started.
What needs to be realized at this crucial moment is the reality of these so called Islamic militants. Islam has been hijacked by a handful of terrorists supported by many greedy and selfish factors to exercise and promote their power in this area. In the light of the above situation many people previously having an optimistic idea of the peace deals have started to become doubtful of the whole process as there seem to be no possible solution to the growing menace of these militants. A Muslim cannot kill another Muslim or human being for his selfish motive. The killing of innocent civilians, army and police personnel, torching of girls schools and threats to the business community cannot be justified by any rule of Islam. Our “Guardian Angels” need to be taught that even the literal meaning of “Islam” is religion of peace. They should stop the obnoxious activities in the name of mending the society or the whole situating may have dire consequences for the whole region with more killings and catastrophe.