On Tuesday at dusk I had arrived at downtown area of Kohat, and after coming out from transport vehicle I had started walking towards Teerah bazaar where a newspaper office is located in a century old building of traditional caravan sarai (hotel). In front of newspaper office number of people were sitting on wooden cots placed in open space, two chairs and a table were kept in the corner before a cot upon which a journalist friend of tribal origin was sipping local whisky, I was also placed on a chair, table before me was equipped with large bottle of local whisky and two different kinds of fruits placed in large plates along with a plate of yogurt. A eunuch was also sitting their, now a days eunuchs in Teera bazaar do not wear make up and women like clothes due to fear of Taliban militants, most of them have grown their moustaches too.
It was a dispute over mosque in Tapi area of Kohat which had compelled me to interview some local people on the said issue, a property dealer sitting around the table in Caravan sarai had confirmed that two groups of defunct Jaish Muhammad are at logger heads over possession of the mosque in Tapi. A police official sitting beside me had impatiently asked me, when the peace will be restored in Kohat? In fact conflict between two groups of Jaish Muhammad in Urban area of Tapi Kohat was a new phenomenon, never before any such incident was happened, that is why ordinary citizens and police officials were also worried over the happenings in Tapi Kohat.
Only two militants were killed and six others were wounded during three hours exchange of fire between two warring groups of Jaish Muhammad but it was a prelude to many other such armed clashes, though now the mosque has been sealed by Kohat police, but danger of another clash is still their, police press release states that the mosque issue will be settled in court of law. But most among the dead and injured were from Peshawar and other areas of KPK and Punjab provinces of Pakistan, an eyewitness says that he had witnessed the scene of moving high speed vehicles on Kohat Pindi road carrying the coffins of their dead, an armed Jaish commander was leading the convoy of Jaish vehicles. Seeds of conflict between both groups of Jaish Muhammad are sown now, one group is lead by Asif his brother Atif is a property dealer in Kohat, the other group is known as Ather Masood group.
Extremism is mostly outcome of harsh living conditions, ignorance and economic backwardness, further paves the way for spread of extremist thinking, Riaz Mehsood political agent of Orakzai agency had told me once during my visit of Orakzai agency that most of the militants in Orakzai tribal agency were compelled to take up arms to get rid of poverty prevailing in the said area which shares borders with Kohat district.
Retired Brigadier Haroon Rashid says this tribal militancy phenomena is not new, in the days of Governor General Sikander Mirza, men of Fair Aipi have started firing at Pakistan Army convoys in Waziristan tribal area, Sikander Mirza had called political agent of Waziristan and had ordered him to take appropriate steps for provision of security to Pakistan Army convoys, political agent after great struggle had succeeded to meet Faqir Aipi, during conversation political agent had expressed his astonishment over Faqir Aipi’s men attacks on Pakistan Army convoys, in response Faqir Aipi revealed before him that he and his men were in need of money and King of Afghanistan was quite willing to provide money on a precondition that his men will attack Pak Army convoys. Political agent had allowed men of Faqir Aipi to do aerial firing on Pak Army convoys and destruction of certain old and damaged bridges to ensure their financial gains from the King of Afghanistan, but soon the King had realized that Faqir Aipi men were doing aerial firing on passing convoys of Pak Army, and bridges destroyed with explosives were already damaged bridges, the King had finally stopped doing payments to Faqir Aipi and his men in Waziristan. Eventually five decades ago a tactful Governor General and his tactful political agent have succeeded to provide security to passing Pak Army convoys.
Kohat division shares borders with North Waziristan, Kurram tribal agency, Orakzai tribal agency and Dara Adam Khel tribal area. Growing militancy in settled areas of Kohat district is a new phenomena, traditionally tribal intruders often carry out suicide bomb attacks, acts of kidnap for ransom and burglaries etc, and then return back to their respective tribal areas if not killed or arrested by police and other security agencies. Defunct Jaish has bases inside settled area of Kohat division, which consist upon district Kohat, Karak and Hangu. Spread of the conflict between Jaish groups is anticipated by many present in Caravan sarai of Teerah bazaar. But the fact is Kohat district has a large Army Garrison, police force is also quite equipped to meet any such eventualities. During past five days calm prevailed in Kohat, security forces and police patrolling vehicles are visible all around.
Public circles are not aware of the powers of parliamentary committees regarding eradication of corruption from government departments which is prerequisite for eradication of poverty and extremism from Pakistan, but media reports regarding existence of 28 trillion dollars in Swiss Banks deposited by corrupt element in Pakistan are gaining attention of public. In USA Senate committees deal with corruption in government departments are considered as mortal terrors by corrupt element, in Pakistan NAB strikes deals with corrupts and settles the cases on fifty fifty bases, which is a mockery of the principles of honesty and fair play.
Incidents of violence are at increase in all over Pakistan, extremism gets fertile ground in presence of large scale poverty and ignorance here, all the oil money, revenue collected through taxes and US aid seems to be deposited by corrupt in Swiss banks if the media reports are based upon truth. Some serious efforts on part of the President, Prime Minister and parliament are need of the hour to eliminate root causes of extremism, and to make Pakistan a truly welfare state.
To avoid spread of militant groups of extremists which are now gradually forcing educated few to go into exile or to resign from government services and public offices, speedy and potent measures on part of the elected government are required, merit based appointments in government offices, promotion of justice and rule of law, spread of education, some more democracy and improved economic conditions can help to avoid take over of Pakistan by extremist groups prevailing here.
Written by
Abdur Raziq
M.phil US Study (International Relation-History)
Cell phone # 00923339607378