If I take your argument, then the mayhem should have been over by now. Saad Rizvi is in jail and the protesters are being dealt with an iron hand. What are the results so far?
TTP was also not made in a day. It had its parental organization TNSM, which was created after the merger of PATA in NWFP. The party had been nudged many times, but when it found a pedestal in the name of WOT, it grew out as mushrooms. Moreover, that war pushed us 50 years back in time. So, if you think it had not receded our growth, then you need to think again. TTP was geographically contained in an area, even then it proved to be a thorn twisted in the side of our forces. This TLP is spread on the length and breadth of our country.
Take another example of Bugti. Only a local warlord. But Baluchistan is still not safe.
Plus the Laal Mosque fiasco. Army had a resistance from within.
Remember, these TLP people have their support within our institutions/forces.
Last, but not the least, we are looking at a different phenomenon right now. We have also seen the sit ins in the time of Asia Bibis case, but then things were different, perhaps because the court ruled out that she never committed blasphemy. Khadim Rizvi might have resorted to be imprisoned only to have a face saving.
Not learning from our past mistakes, will only do us more harm than good. You think that while engaging with TTP, Bugti, Laal Mosque moulvi and Faizabad Dharna, we did not incur any losses, then I can safely conclude that you are really not aware of the facts on ground.