MicroPakistan

Islamabad had recently seen a bloodbath of sorts. But with the rather unfortunate end to the Lal Masjid crisis, it seemed that things would slowly proceed back to normal in the normally tranquil and almost deathly silent capital.

However, all such notions were rudely repulsed by the horrific bomb blast at the reception set for the Chief Justice. The stage and the surrounding area were completely destroyed by this explosion. Aitzaz Ahsan claimed it to be a time-bomb; but he was rudely snubbed on live tv as eye witness reports came in of yet another suicide attack.

Apparently the bomb exploded at a camp of the Pakistan People’s Party, located approximately 50 meters from the stage on which the chief justice was to address the crowd.

Thirteen innocent civilians have lost their lives while dozens more are injured. GEO, in its crude fashion, allowed the nation to experience and relive the horror again and again as the cameras ruthlessly rolled while bodies bathed in blood-and in some cases only upper torsos-trembled their last breaths.

Various news channels are stating the blast in the PPP camp to be a result of their recent support of the Lal Masjid operation. Indeed, most of the people killed belonged to the PPP.

The IM spokesman stated that one suicide bomber had come on his motorcycle and his head was later found amongst the surrounding trees, which was then recovered by security officials.

The bottom line for us though is that the Lal Masjid operation has not brought peace to Islamabad. Musharraf’s liberal-extremist policies are breeding and providing more fuel to religious extremism, quite aptly proved by the range of suicide blasts in the country since the Lal Masjid operation ended.

And the Chief Justice-in his search for glory, has once again done more harm than good, and has once again left a trail of destruction in his path…