Pak govt under heavy fire

The Pakistani Government on Wednesday came under heavy attack from the countrys media and political parties for the Lahore attack...

The Pakistani Government on Wednesday came under heavy attack from the countrys media and political parties for the Lahore attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team.

The attack by a dozen heavily armed terrorists would hit sports hard as no foreign team would now be willing to tour Pakistan for a very long time,they said.

President Asif Ali Zardari came under a stinging attack from his former ally and opposition PMLN leader Nawaz Sharif,who asked whether the Pakistan President was serving the country or ruining it?

The conditions have deteriorated to such an extent in Pakistan that the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked on a tour and had to leave mid-way, Sharif said. Has Zardari solved the problems in Swat and other tribal areas? Is he serving the country or ruining it?

In its editorial Denial Mode,Yet Again,The Daily Times said the responsibility for providing security to the Sri Lankan team was ours and we failed on that count.

The Lahore attack was a huge security failure at all levels from poor intelligence to poor local protection for all convoy all along the route from the hotel to the stadium.

On statements from analysts that suggested Indias involvement in the attack,the editorial said: 8230; if India is indeed behind this,its intelligence agencies should be commended for getting recruits from Pakistan to mount an attack on the Sri Lankan team8230; the Indians didnt have much time to out this together in which case,if these analysts are to be believed,India seems to have done an impressive job.

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The worst thing that can happen to a state is to go into denial. How long will we deny that we have groups that have run amok and whose obvious agenda involves destroying Pakistan as a nation-state?

Dawns editorial Tragedy in Lahore lamented the attack,saying even our most esteemed guests are no longer safe in this country8230; Their approach was not dissimilar to that adopted by the Mumbai gunmen. Perhaps the same organisation is to blame for both tragedies.

Criticising Pakistans peace talks with the Taliban in Swat,it said: If the state resorts to negotiating with militants from a position of weakness,what we will get is disaster.

The News,in its editorial titled Cricket,the Requiem said: One thing we may be certain is that whoever attacked the convoy of the Sri Lankan cricket team8230; did not arrive by boat, an oblique reference to those involved in the Mumbai terror attacks.

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Referring to a PPP politician stating that this is clearly the work of a foreign hand,The News commented: The Internet was quickly alight with allegations that this was an Indian operation,or a Tamil Tiger Operation.

British daily The Times,meanwhile,mocked at suggestions in Pakistan that LTTE or another foreign hand was behind the attack.