“Terrorism” has been defined as an organised system of intimidation or the practice of using violence to obtain political demands. But in the world of today this word has acquired deeper and wider meanings. Now terrorists indulge in suicide bombing,mass murders,burglaries,arson,hijacking, idnapping,for ransom,and torture of the worst order. All this is happening not in some particular country but almost all the countries of the world are facing the most horrible threat of violence.
Terrorism are operating with impunity with no regard to justice or injustice. One can recall the English Philosopher, Thomas Hobbes,who in 1651 described human life in the following Words: “No arts;no letters;no society;and which is the worst of all, continual fesr and danger of violent death,and the life of man, solitary,poor,nasty,brutish and short”
Isn’t this the social and political milieu we are living in today in Pakistan,terrorism has assumed a frightening form. Every day the newspapers carry horrible stories of organished violence,murders,bomb blasts, rapes corruption,torture and brutality. People are now divided aloong the lines of ethnicity,sect,tribe,clan and biradari-based politics. Pessimism,mistrust,animosity and cynicism are rampant. Vast areas of the country are beyond the pale of the law. Tish deplorable and alarming situation demands serious and sincere consideration and some instant solution.
But before trying to find out some viable solution to this problem we must analyse the factors that are causing this evil to spread so rapidly and widely. In Pakistan there are three main causes of terrorism:Political,religious and economic. More than 80% of our population is illiterate. They cannot distinguis between good and bad. So they can easily fall a prey to temptation or intimidation. Our selfish and power-hungry politicians take advantage of their simplicity and stupidity. They put sush slogans in their mouth as help them achieve only their vested interests negating the larger interests of the people or the country.
Mushroom growth of the political parties have worsened the sitation. People have been divided into small political,religious or regional groups. They are made to fight with one another on the ground of just petty issues. Similar is the game that some so-called religious leaders are playing with the religious emotions of the innocent but ignorant people.
