LAHORE (Staff Report) – Lahore Police on Saturday took a man in custody after he was reported carrying a “suicide bomber for sale” banner.
The poster displayed by youth stated: “If any institution or agency needs a suicide bomber, they should contact me,” further adding a phone number. Media reports suggested that the man was carrying this poster as a sign of protest against unemployment. Reportedly, he has been searching for a job and after repeated failures, finally tested this tactic as a last resort to draw attention to his economic condition. Though still unemployed, through his ‘efforts’ he did manage to cause panic in the local police station.
The accused was identified as Waqar Ahmed (22), a resident of Shahdara town. “He was arrested near Davis road”, Station House Officer (SHO) Qila Gujjar Singh Nasir Khan told media.
“Mr. Waqar has been held on charges of terrorism”, he said.
According to the police officials such a protest was unlawful and considered as ‘an act of terrorism’.
However, the accused was released late night.
In the past, terror groups including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and other militant organisations recruited thousands of unemployed youth from different areas of country against heavy amounts.
Some reports claimed that each suicide bomber’s family was paid over $10,000, which is considered a very high amount in troubled tribal areas of Pakistan.
Sixty percent of Pakistan’s youth is unemployed, who have been at disadvantage due to rapidly increasing population, poverty and decades-long terrorist strikes in the country.
In 2015, Pakistan signed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, under which China will invest $46 billion in Pakistan for building infrastructure and power houses.
The project will link China to Arabian sea via a network of roads in Pakistan and ports of Gawadar and Karachi. Pakistan expects an economic revival and better employment chances for its population after implementation of the project.
