Protecting its citizens is the primary duty of any state but for decades, the Pakistani state has ignored that responsibility allowing non-state actors to function with impunity. Instead of being focused on combatting terrorism, the state appears to be more focused on targeting the opposition and any critique and dissension.
As an editorial in Dawn noted, terrorism “is a serious challenge that needs to be met with a united resolve.” Instead of treating rivals and the media as threats, the government should work with the opposition to fight terrorism.
Instead of “othering critics and stifling their voices, the government must provide them space so that built-up pressures and frustrations can be released in reasonable ways.” As the editorial noted, “the government needs all the support it can get against the growing threat from violent terrorism. It must stop complicating the task for itself. Branding criticism as anti-state activity has never worked, and will not work in this case either.”
