Karachi is burning and rulers are playing flute

Karachi, the gateway to Pakistan has been burning for several decades but the federal and provincial governments completely failed to control law and order situation in the port city.

The end results would be horrific the way in which the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) is putting the city at stake in the name of reconciliation. Militants and target killers are enjoying immunity of killing the people anywhere in the city.

The fact that law enforcement agencies cannot act against the killers and terrorist despite knowing them proves political manipulation.

The fresh episode of violence, which is no different from May 12 mayhem, would make even the most optimistic amongst us think that Karachi has been lost amid sea of blood.

Unidentified men opened fire on a rally took out against the creation of Mohajir Province, killing at least fifteen people while injuring over 30. Life in the old city has ground to a complete halt after the incident.

At least 7000 thousand people lost their lives in the last three years in Karachi, which is considered economic hub of the country. It would be far too simplistic to blame the violence on gangs, as most politicians have done.

Definitely, criminal gangs have been involved but it is well-established fact that every power group has an affiliation with powerful political party providing it muscle, weaponry and shelter.

The law enforcement agencies would not have speedily melted away the cause if it was a simple case of gang violence.

The nature of Karachi politics indicates that political fighting perpetually takes an ethnic touch. The question of how the city will be controlled, whether under the commissionerate system or by a local body representative, should be a mere administrative issue.

The resolution of the violence is both simple and yet impossible to achieve. The three main political parties in Karachi, the PPP, the MQM and the ANP are required to put their grudges aside for the sake of the city.

However, it is easier said than done. The unpleasant reality is that violence is just another bargaining chip in Karachi’s power politics.

Other solutions that have been suggested are likely to beget further violence. Bringing in the army or giving shoot-to-kill order to paramilitary forces, as we learned in the 1990s, will only deepen the anger and hate.

The answer lies not with the men in uniform but with the civilians who were elected to keep the city safe.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=23120

Posted by Faisal Farooq on May 23 2012. Filed under National, Opinion, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.