Chowrangi

This is a fateful day for Pakistan and Cricket in Pakistan. Today, the convoy comprising of buses containing Sri Lankan players, officials and umpires was attacked when it reached Liberty Chowk, on their way to Gaddafi Stadium. BBC sketched in detail how the attack happened:

1. Masked gunmen ambush the players’ convoy, firing at least one rocket grenade, and killing five police officers in an escort vehicle and one other on the ground. Several players are injured.
2. The driver speeds the team bus to the Gaddafi Stadium where the players are airlifted by helicopter to safety.
3. Gunmen escape in the direction of Liberty Market. Ammunition and weapons, including a rocket launcher, found.

BBC quoted Graham Usher, a British journalist and eyewitness of the attack:

“As the Sri Lankan team was approaching the stadium for the test match this morning, about a half a kilometre away from the stadium, two cars entered the roundabout… and fired a grenade,”

“As they did this, three other gunmen ran into the roundabout, where the bus was, opened fire on a police vehicle - where a police officer was killed - and then opened fire on the bus, spraying the bus we understand with machine gun fire,”

The driver of the bus carrying the Sri Lankan team, Khalil Ahmed, said:

“As we approached the city’s Liberty Roundabout, I slowed down. Just then what seemed to be a rocket was fired at my coach, but it missed and I think flew over the top of the vehicle.

“Almost immediately afterwards a person ran in front of the bus and threw a grenade in our direction. But it rolled underneath the coach and did not seem to cause that much damage.

He said the attackers were all aged between 20 and 30 and many had beards.

Punjab Governor Salman Taseer arrived at the scene about an hour after the attack.

Pakistan Cricket team narrowly escaped the attack as they were five minutes late to depart from their hotel and were returned when they reached the scene of attack.

Incidentally, all attackers managed to escape safely, dumping loads of ammunition at twelve to fourteen points in Lahore.

While the Law Enforcement Agencies are hot on the “trail” of attackers, having made few arrests so far, and Sri Lankan cricket team has left Pakistan for good, there are so many questions that may go unanswered. Most importantly, it is apparent from the incident that there was a huge security lapse that perhaps encouraged the attackers. There were only two police vehicles escorting the cricketers, certainly not enough for ‘VVIP Security’ claimed to be given to the guests. Also, ground security was not properly implemented. Who is going to take responsibility for this?

So far, it is not clear who attacked the Sri Lankans, and why? The media is abuzz with theories ranging from India to Taliban, and from Invisible-hands-involved-in-FATA-and-Balochistan to Tamil Tigers (bit far fetched but not totally out of context). The attackers certainly have some local link that assisted them with escape and possibly with lodging where they would be hiding till dust settles down.

A good portion of media, along with several ‘analysts’, is trying to paint the attack in Lahore as a sequel to Mumbai Terror Attacks, claiming it to be a revenge by India. However, incident in Lahore is similar to Mumbai attack only as far as the getup of terrorists (backpacks filled with dry fruits as if they were on a picnic) and the video footage (guys in joggers running with assault rifles in hands) is concerned. In Mumbai, the attackers died while holding up and in Lahore the guys escaped without finishing the job. They surely were not trained like those in Mumbai, as their rockets missed from close range and the grenades they hurled never exploded.

What was the real motive behind the attack? Were they wanted to kill Sri Lankan cricket team? or they just wanted to create panic and chaos? The later seems more logical. The attackers brought so much ammunition as if they were going to fight an army. Giving their numbers (twelve guys attacking from three directions), and lack of opposition (surely they would have watched the route earlier to plan their modus operandi), they would have succeeded with less than half of the weapons they carried.

Last but not the least, who is going to benefit from this attack? India? not a bit. Primary beneficiary of today’s attempt on Sri Lankan cricket team is PPP, Salman Taseer and, eventually, Asif Ali Zardari. Now, leaders and supporters of PML-N dare not to come on roads for protest and those who fancy Long March would prefer to stay at home. The smoke of confusion and chaos is going to thicken in days to come, so as to play down the political activities by anti-government elements.

Lahore attack should be condemned, and most importantly, real perpetrators should be found and taken into account for the act that has further demolished Pakistan’s image in the world.

Image Source: BBC

Other posts by Kashif Aziz

• Taliban of Punjab Police - March 3rd, 2010
• Chile Earthquake, Hawaii Tsunami and Social Media - February 28th, 2010
• President Zardari apologized for childbirth in rickshaw - February 26th, 2010
• Reason of Traffic Jams in Karachi - February 19th, 2010
• Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Top Most Taliban Leader Caught in Karachi - February 16th, 2010
• PTCL Launches Largest Data Center of Pakistan - February 15th, 2010
• Reflections On Twin Blasts in Karachi - February 6th, 2010
• Aafia Siddiqui convicted, may be sentenced for 60 years - February 4th, 2010
• Dawn News going down the Drain? - January 30th, 2010
• Has Karachi Gone To Dogs? - January 27th, 2010