A message for Musharraf Government?

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, SEPT. 20. The bomb explosion in the fruit and vegetable market on the outskirts of Islamabad on Tuesday which killed 16 persons and injured about 100 others has shaken the military government.

Though several bomb blasts occurred in the country since the military coup in October last year, the heavily guarded national capital was free of any untoward incident barring the blasts outside the U.S. Embassy buildings in November last.

Naturally, the powerful blast in the capital has raised several disturbing questions and caused considerable embarrassment to the Musharraf Government. The political parties in Pakistan at loggerheads with the military government have seized the opportunity to claim that the incident was a clear proof of the collapse of authority under the Army rule.

The former Prime Minister and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chief, Ms. Benazir Bhutto, in a statement from London where she is on a self-imposed exile for more than a year, said the blast proved that the Government had failed in maintaining law and order.

In another statement, the former Interior Minister and senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), Mr. Naseerullah Babar, demanded the resignation of the Interior Minister, Lt. Gen. (retd) Moinuddin Hyder. ``If the Interior Minister has any moral fibre in him, he must resign''.

There is nothing extraordinary in leaders of political parties wanting to make political capital out of the discomfiture of the military government but what should be of concern to the Chief Executive is the general perception that the incident is an ominous sign.

Some senior police officials and religious parties have been quick to blame the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of India for the blast. The general refrain, however, is that like their counterparts in New Delhi, authorities here routinely blame the RAW for every act of terrorism.

What has set the alarming bells ringing is the speculation that Tuesday's blast was aimed at delivering a message to the Musharraf Government. The questions being asked centre around those behind the incident and their possible motives. Initial inquiries suggested that a device hidden in a box containing grapes triggered the blast. The box was being transported from Afghanistan and the authorities have already arrested some persons on the Afghan border.

Could it be the handiwork of the Afghan rebels fighting on behalf of the Northern Alliance? No doubt the Afghan rebels have a serious quarrel with Pakistan for siding with the Taliban but the question is whether they are capable of penetrating heavily- guarded Islamabad.

Some senior Government officials have said that the Afghan rebels were being aided and abetted by India's RAW.The military government undoubtedly has a tough job on its hands in unravelling the truth.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : U.K. cautions tourists to Pak.
Next     : 'Japan's IT policy a sham'