AP Image: Rescue efforts in Lahore
On Thursday morning [9:15 am PST], media agencies reported that gunmen dressed in police uniforms targeted three law enforcement agencies in Lahore – the Federal Investigative Agency on Temple Road, the Manawan Police Academy, [the site of a previous militant attack, see related CHUP post], and the Elite Force Training Institute on Bedian Road. According to the NY Times, at least 30 people were killed, including 19 police officers and at least 11 militants. A suicide bomber also attacked a police station around the same time in the northwestern city of Kohat, killing 10 people. Later on Thursday, news agencies reported that a car bombing occurred near a school in Peshawar, killing at least one person and injuring five.
Army rangers were reportedly deployed across Lahore. According to Dawn News, five gunmen entered the FIA building firing gunshots. While the building was cleared by police forces after an hour and a half [Dawn reported that no quick response forces were on the scene], media outlets noted that there were ten casualties in the attack, including three government officials, FIA employees, and a police officer. One attacker has reportedly been taken into custody, [news agencies report that a suicide vest was recovered from the scene]. Interior Minister Rehman Malik told news agencies that the “situation is under control. There is no reason to panic…all four provinces are on red alert.”
Gunfire finished soon after at the Manawan Police Academy, where nine police officers were killed and over a dozen were injured. Four militants were also killed in this assault, reported the Associated Press – three who blew themselves up, and one who was killed by police. Meanwhile, news agencies reported that eight gunmen attacked the Elite Training Institute, in an attack that Dawn reported, “lasted into Thursday afternoon before security forces killed the five attackers and freed a family they were holding hostage.” GEO News reported that a police officer was killed in the standoff, and nine others were injured. Five militants were reportedly killed.
GEO quoted Rehman Malik, who said the attackers are mercenaries “who are working for money.” However, much like Saturday’s brazen attack on the military’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, when 10 gunmen disguised as soldiers had a 22-hour standoff with Army commandos, suspicion has fallen on the Tehreek-e-Taliban. The incidents were likely carried out by militants in Punjab, who are aligned with the TTP and unified against the state, [see past CHUP Post on the Punjabi Taliban]. This theory is further supported by the fact that these groups have tremendous reach into Pakistan’s main cities and their power base is in Punjab province. The Associated Press noted in its coverage, “Officials have warned that Taliban fighters close to the border are increasingly joining forces with Punjabi militants spread out across the country and foreign Al Qaeda operatives, dramatically increasing the dangers to Pakistan.”
While the details are still being reported, Thursday’s coordinated attacks are yet another attempt to target Pakistan’s police forces and undermine the state’s security apparatus prior to the Army’s “imminent” ground offensive in South Waziristan. The fact that three coordinated attacks could take place in three different parts of Lahore amid heightened security is a scary, scary thing, particularly since an official at Punjab’s main intelligence agency told reporters “they had precise information about expected attacks on security targets and alerted police this week, but the assailants still managed to strike.” Moreover, two of the targets – the FIA and the Manawan Police Academy – were hit before. Should the government focus on preventing such incidents or merely plug the holes as fast as possible?
Maybe its time to step down Rehman Malik.Pakistan Goverment should try hiring someone who responds to threats by pre-emption not damage control. Severance package for Rehman Malik: Free haircut.
agreed
Seriously, I cannot believe he said, “There’s no need to panic.” Despite heightened security in Lahore, three coordinated attacks managed to occur, two on sites that have already been targeted – the Manawan police academy and the FIA. For Malik to tell the public there’s no need to panic is an empty, loaded statement that will not do anything but highlight the ineptitude of the Interior Ministry.
May Allah protect us from these killers,ameen. On a side note,I think Mr Mallik meant”don’t panic, it’s a routine, live with it “
I’m unable to understand, every time when any terror incident happens in our country, they (officials) say countrywide security is now on high alert. So what’s the purpose of security high alert after terrorists have accomplished their job?
Isn’t the fact that all four provinces are on ‘red alert’ enough cause for panic?
“oh don’t panic. they might be bombing your city next, rofl.”
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If the current state of affairs continues in Pakistan, and people feel afraid to venture out of their houses in fear of terror attacks, then we may be warming up the “seat” for another “President General”…and once again, people will welcome him with open arms and celebrations! Until ofcourse he overstays his welcome and….well…you know how that story goes!
Aamer,
That’s interesting because I saw a similar sentiment being expressed on Twitter re: citizens welcoming martial law. Do you think the Lahore attacks highlighted the weaknesses and vulnerability of the state’s security apparatus or a weakness on the government’s part?
I believe that the militants are retaliating to the upcoming/ongoing offensive in Waziristan… They want us out of that area and this is their way of informing us that they are still strong.
I think the fundamental issue is lack of credible information/intelligence. We have these check posts and what not, that hinder regular life more than counter these attacks.
I think it is time that we stopped looking at the government of Pakistan for solutions. We all know that general public is usually the most effective response in case of disaster or crisis situation. I think the masses of Pakistan need to be the eyes and ears of law enforcement. In cities any suspicious activity should be dealt with proactively. It is pointless to shut cities down or stay in doors, as it is not sustainable in the long run. Unfortunately domestic terrorism in the name of Islam is a long term problem.
I am all for the army offensive in Waziristan but that is not the magic formula to stop day to day violence in the rest of the country. The Pakistani public needs to be proactively assist authorities, even if the authorities initially reject their help. Persistence in this case will pay off in terms of stopping my potential terrorist activities. On the same note, it would be a wise move by city or district administration to make their law enforcement engage with the locals. This engagement will lower barriers between law enforcement personnel and locals, which will assist in efficient information flow.
I think Pakistani forces need to step up and be more accountable. In the course of one week, 41 people have died from Taliban attack. Until Pakistani’s armed forces get fed up enough to change the way it operates, this will keep happening. Sooner or later it was going to happen, and it did. The Taliban realized, wait Pakistan is working with the US too. They are the enemy as well.
http://www.newsy.com/videos/pakistan_attacks_what_it_means_for_the_u_s
I have nothing much to add other than to say that I am extremely sad about what is happening (more like what has been happening). I have no constructive comment other than to say reverting back to martial law/military regime is a BIG mistake (as we have seen many many times in the history of the country) even though I cannot think of any concrete solutions.
In the short run, the democratically elected government must work with the military and somehow stop this nonesence. In the meantime, I hope the government is SERIOUSLY thinking about the long term strategy of institutional building/democratic governance and so forth to rid its system of diseases (corruption, poverty, nepotism, etc) that allow such activities to occur. Going back to military regime is NOT the solution. We know this.
For this I think the government (obviously) needs to get their act together but the good people of Pakistan (the overwhelming majority) must also have patience (without giving up and reverting back to martial rule). The public needs to be critical of the government but also be constructive. I love the emergence of strong media presence in PK but not sure how I feel about 24 hours of constant info/images that just are put out in your face without strong analysis)…. Not sure it is helping…
Rambling on, sorry…
Thanks Kalsoom for this and thanks for the comic relief, Shaheryar. It REALLY does help.
Bring on the army please.
What do you think Malik meant to underscore when he said that the attackers are mercenaries, “who are working for money” ?
Kalsoom,
I think its apparent that the security apparatus in Pakistan is extremely vulnerable right now. After the attack on the GHQ, all provinces were supposed to be on Red Alert, and all security installations on their tip-toes; yet we are continuing to see attacks in Police Academies, FIA bureaus and other sensitive areas.
The more pertinent fact is that there seems to be a growing rift between the Army and Civilian government, as was visible by the hue-n-cry created by the 9 most powerful men in Pakistan (the corps commanders) over the Kerry-Lugar bill and (much to my amusement) by the Army’s “rejection” of the Interior Minister Rehman Malik (see link below)
And as we all know, when the men in khakis are unhappy, bad things happen to men in sherwanies! My advice to the civilian leadership: pre-empt the Generals! Before they kick your rear to the curb, order them to impose martial law, just as Iskander Mirza did when he made Ayub Khan the Chief Martial Law Administrator in 1958, but under a civilian President.
Oh wait, Ayub Khan then proceeded to sack Mirza and took over as President…hmmm..I think the civilian government is running out of options. What if Pakistan’s President was a retired General, who had been a President General, then taken off his uniform (hint hint). Would the army depose of him too?
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/06-ghq-is-out-of-bounds-for-malik-rs-08