ISLAMABAD: The ongoing military action in North Waziristan, code named Operation Zarb-i-Azb, has a great deal of support among members of civil society. Wary of past operations that promised more than they accomplished, however, most people are concerned about the fate of those who will be displaced as a result of the operation.

In addition, beefed-up security in major urban centres has hit home for many; a major terrorist backlash is a very real possibility now.

Members of the legal fraternity, ex-servicemen, students and others Dawn spoke to, both approved and criticised the government and the military’s response to the terrorist threat.

Hamid Gul, former head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), commended the government’s strategy and said they had succeeded in creating rifts between the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its associated factions.

However, he stressed the need to focus on the rehabilitation of internally displaced people (IDPs) from Waziristan so that a humanitarian crisis could be avoided. “There is a dire need to send medical teams and medication to the affected areas,” he said.

People from all walks of life weigh in on what military action might mean for rest of the country

Gul also expressed apprehensions about retaliation from the outlawed groups targeted by the operation. “They have a presence in most urban areas and can create a law and order situation in the settled areas,” he said.

Ahmed Raza Kasuri of the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) – the political party of former president Pervez Musharraf –said that the brutal use of force witnessed in Lahore on Tuesday could cause divisions amongst the masses instead of inspiring unity.

Lahore High Court Bar Association President Shafqat Mehmood Chohan told Dawn that the military action had been initiated after all legal requirements had been fulfilled.

He said the government had brought the matter to parliament to gain political support from various parties.

Chohan too stressed the need to ensure that IDPs were properly rehabilitated and said that these measures must be carried out alongside military action so that innocent IDPs are not affected.

Barrister Masroor Shah, who is currently appearing as the defence counsel for former Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao in the Akbar Bugti case, said that First Investigation Reports (FIR) have been registered against at least two past military actions, specifically the Lal Masjid operation and the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti.

However, he said, Operation Zarb-o-Azb was different because it was being carried out in the tribal region rather than settled areas. The FIRs registered in previous cases were lodged under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which does not apply to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) as these areas are governed by the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR).

Shah drew attention to the concept of ‘collective responsibility’ in the FCR and said, “In such cases, the entire tribe can be held responsible for the wrongdoing of one tribesman”.

Maryam Gul, a student at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust), said the operation was a much needed response to the problem of terrorism, but given the lack of success of previous military operations in the tribal areas, the current operation must also be complimented by a strong follow-up in major urban centres.

She also pointed out that drones were highly precise and could limit military casualties as well as collateral damage. She was of the opinion that the military should allow drone attacks to continue alongside the operation.

A terrorist backlash, she said, was a very real threat; one she was wary of. “I’m avoiding popular areas such as shopping malls and have curtailed visits to places where people congregate in large numbers,” she said. But she bemoaned the apparent lack of preparation on part of the authorities. “I don’t think three Rangers’ patrolling vehicles will do much,” she said.

Another Nust student, Hamid Haider, criticised the government’s decision to launch the operation, calling it a disproportionate response. He predicted that the military action could lead to a rise in violence in urban areas and flood major cities with IDPs.

“Since the operation focuses solely on the tribal areas, the militants can easily leave North Waziristan and attack other regions,” he said.

Swabi-resident Imtiaz, who owns a jewellery stall in Jinnah Super Market, said that because of rampant poverty, the operation may not be completely successful in rooting out extremists. “Problems like inflation and electricity shortages will only worsen,” he feared.

He added that working in such a popular market was incredibly risky, and that other than additional patrols, he had not seen much being done to prepare for a possible terrorist backlash.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2014