Police Academy Carnage: Is Pakistan's security situation out of control?

For starters, to think that the President or any politician would resign over what is ostensibly a failures of the state is wishful thinking. They would be more than willing to "dismiss" state officials, but that is only so that the blame rests on someone else.

I think I would have to answer the question in the affirmative. We have to accept that the situation is dire. There are many reasons, but for me 2 stand out.

WIDESPREAD ARMS PROLIFERATION

One of the legacy of the Afghan War is the gun proliferation throughout Pakistan (not just in North West). Until and unless this evil is routed out we have no way of stopping such incidents. There is an underground gun industry in Pakistan which regrettably is thriving. We cannot change the situation over-night and so this is where the second reason comes in:

GUN CULTURE

This has to change. It is only when the society will start to frown upon those with arms/ guns ( I will go so far as to say even for defense) will we see any effect of the laws against gun possession. While one can appreciate the argument that it is necessary for protection on an individual level it is not a state-wide solution. Imagine 160 million guns and you will see what I mean. In the mix is our Police. On the local news channels Police were seen firing guns in the air at the end the siege. There jubilation notwithstanding, this is wrong. The obvious risk of bullets coming down and hurting someone aside the idea of touting guns in the air is no way of ending this menace. It sends the wrong message. The sooner we realize that greater/ bigger/ better guns can never be a response to smaller guns the better off we will be.

In conclusion, this should be a somber day for the Pakistani people one that should convince us that we have to take a u-turn on the gun culture. Although, and regrettably, I don't see that happening.

Shorter version posted at www://english.aljazeera.net/your_views
On the day the Police Academy in Lahore was attacked.