December 23, 2016

The Pakistani suspect of Berlin Christmas market attack

editor:	Shadi Khan Saif

Spread of hatred towards immigrants in Europe following the string of blatant terrorist attacks is quite natural. Words and actions in this regard however, need to be carefully used in a bid to ensure we all move towards making this closely linked world even better place than making it worst.

Events unfolding in the heart of Europe following the latest in three such brazen terrorist attacks this year so far are destined to shape the face of the world. In March this year the Belgian capital was rocked with brutal coordinated attacks that claimed more than 30 lives, this was followed by another horrific attack in Nice involving a cargo truck that killed another 86 civilians. And, now this ruthless attack on a peaceful Christmas market in Berlin that took the lives of at least 12 people.

Kudos to the European people in general and to the German nation in particular for their enlightened and tolerate demeanour so far.

Hours after the attack in Berlin, police nabbed a man of Pakistani origin on suspicion but was later released. The young man has been identified as Naveeb Baluch who came to Germany 17 months ago. Naveed is a classic example of a desperate man facing in search for a safe place on the face of earth to escape persecution in his home country. He hails from Pakistan’s poorest Baluchistan province where the law enforcement agencies are waging a strong campaign against separatists and their sympathizers.

He strongly believed in European and German values that is why he risked his life to reach here.

For those backing the rhetoric that why should Germany or Europe for that matter take ‘burden’ of the world, well, because this is the time to substantiate that amid all the hatred and stereotypes there are still people in

the world who would stand by humanity against violence and extremism.