Editorial
Even cricket is not safe
Worst fears about Pak security situation come true
WE have heard the news of terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore with considerable disquiet, horror and surprise.
The terrorists ambushed the bus carrying Sri Lankan cricket squad injuring six players, four of them with minor wounds. Two of them were hurt seriously but their conditions are said to be stable. Thank God, none of the Lankans was mortally hurt.
All the same, the dastardly nature of the assault is amply proven by the fact that eight Pak policemen on security duty for the Sri Lankans were dead. The terrorists made good their escape. From all the tell-tale signs, therefore, it is evident that a premeditated, meticulously planned, and coordinated assault by heavily armed gunmen was perpetrated in broad day light.
Internal security threats in Pakistan have been mounting lately, in Punjab particularly, the situation has become violence-prone following the removal of Sharif brothers from power in that province. Pakistan President Asif Zardari went to the extent of saying, looking at the overall situation, that Pakistan is locked in a battle for survival. Many tend to believe that the assault on the cricketers should not be isolated from the general pattern of terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
What is important to note about the latest incident in Lahore is that this is for the first time an international cricketing squad has come under attack, although quite a few national sides had cancelled their planned trips to certain cricketing countries considering security risks in them. That is exactly the point; for, we know that Australia and India had stayed away from playing cricket in Pakistan this season out of security concerns. The International Cricket Council (ICC) had advised cancellation of the tournament, but Sri Lanka took a calculated risk. The Pakistan cricket authority's assessment of security risks seems to have been too optimistic.
The cricket lovers throughout the world, especially those in the region, have been shaken to the core by the Lahore incident. There should be more thorough-going risk assessments by the ICC about countries vulnerable to terrorism. In extreme cases, third country venue is a good option.
We wish all the injured speedy recovery.
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