Qalandar Bux Memon hears the bombs go off in Lahore

Two hours have passed since dinner when, over the chatter of television, a sound announced death. We have heard it a few times now. The window shakes a little. It’s a hollow thud – not quite as direct as a bullet shot but more disturbing to nature, like a force appearing from nowhere and shooting through the air, announcing itself. I know what it is but await confirmation. The satellite TV loses signal and I go to make an espresso in the kitchen. An SMS text message arrives: ‘two blasts heard in Moon Market, Iqbal Town, Lahore. Near Bunda Khan! Many injurd’.

A few minutes later, another SMS: ‘one blast near muslin commercial bank n other near a plaza’. I call Usman, a friend, who had left my house only a few minutes before the blast and was heading in the direction of Iqbal Town: “I heard the sound and the rickshaw jumped a little but I am OK”. My mother calls from abroad and asks if I am alright and where the bomb was. I assure her that it was far, and I am fine.

Twenty minutes later another SMS: ‘more than 25 injured are shifted to sheik zaid hosptl’. On Facebook a friend writes: ‘My beloved city Lahore is burning ... at least 11 killed and over 100 injured in tonight's suicide attacks in Moon Market (Iqbal Town.)’

As always, we Pakistanis move quickly to support the victims. Ale, a friend and blogger writes on Facebook: ‘Ale is at Sheikh Zayed Hospital. B-negative, O-negative, and O-positive blood groups are urgently required here. Those who can donate, please visit the hospital ASAP. Please check the status at Ganga Ram, Jinnah and Services hospitals as well by calling them. Injured are reported to have been taken to these hospitals’. Another SMS arrives. ‘2 brides who were getting ready in the parlour among the martyrs of lhr blasts. Please check your nearest hospital if injurd need blood’.

And so the night continues in chilling silence and dread at each SMS announcing the details of the human tragedy that came over dinner. A tragedy of our friends and fellow Lahoris – the minutes that pass will bring the names of those killed, their children’s faces, and their mothers’ sobs. We will come to know the retirement and honeymoon plans of the dead and injured. Some of us will attend funerals. But we already know one thing – it will happen again.

What we don't know is why it is happening? I read Facebook entries. Ale again:

‘I cant explain what I have went through seeing the dead bodies. Those severely injured. Those men, women and kids mourning and crying out loudly for the loss of their loved ones. You would have been enlightened to know the comments of them all. As Awais already said, to hell with all objectivity but they all were abusing Taliban and the apologists/supporters/followers/look-and-do-alikes of them like TTP etc.’

But Ashan does not agree:

‘why blasts in Mosques then? Its pretty clear the resistance is created because of unjustified presence of US in Afghanistan just like Iraq.’

Zubair chimes in:

‘the bombs that are used are the ones which specifically target the women, and every women dying in pakistan is an islamic consipiracy and the 3 year old girl died in the hospital was due to that doctor who was the taliban member and an extremist muslim’

And then Raheem:

‘Women’s education & mobility are specific targets of the latest bombing wave by islamist terrorists. Intl Islamic Univ girl's cafeteria, Bano Mrkt Peshawar & now cloth & jewellery shops at Moon Mrkt Lahore.’

Raheem, Zubair, Ashan, Ale. They all held these views before the bomb. We know nothing more of why the attacks are happening and who is behind them. We don't trust the Americans when they tell us ‘it’s the Taliban stupid’, but equally we don’t buy ‘it’s all Blackwater/America/Israel/India stupid’, and if we are stuck on this question it’s because we are not given any evidence either way. All we get is blood.

Take the example of a minister’s comments today after the bomb. He suggested it was the Taliban, but then added they were likely supported by India and went on to imply the involvement of other foreign powers who have ‘influence in the region’ – implying the United States.

Such answers get us nowhere. As more blood pours onto the streets this question must be asked by the people and answered with evidence by these tin-pot rulers and military generals. It is imperative.

Another SMS:

‘O neg blood group req at shiekh zayed’.

Qalandar Bux Memon is editor of Naked Punch