Since violence flared in Karachi on Friday, 41 people have died as a result of targeted killings. The upsurge in violence has been attributed to a turf war between rival political parties in the wake of an announcement that local government elections would be held in Sindh within four months.
Instead of calling for peace and urging their activists to refrain from violence, the leadership of the three main political parties – the MQM, PPP, and ANP – are stoking tensions. During a Sindh Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza and Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani lashed out against the MQM and described recent killings as “politically motivated.” The federal government had to intervene to prevent the Sindh coalition from collapsing.
Meanwhile, the information secretary of the ANP, Senator Zahid Khan, threatened to part ways with the government to protest the targeted killings of Pukhtuns in Karachi. He also criticised the government’s failure to consult the ANP on the issue of local government elections.
Security measures have been taken to quell the violence: Section 144 has been imposed and the Rangers have been given special powers to shoot-to-kill for a 30-day period. But no political solutions to the local government tussle are being brainstormed or proposed.
What should political parties do to end Karachi violence? Do various political parties still have control over their workers’ actions?
The following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
Let the Police department be independent with no political supremacy over it and as strong in terms of training and pay as rangers, like we see as soon as rangers being made part of law enforcement authority,there has been no tragic incident.
Karachi should be govern by karachiites, in police,administration, others department the locals should be given preference.
Kill corruption, and *ALL* problems, not just violence will be resolved. Simple explanation, but not really a simple task.
Pakistani political parties should focus on solving the problems and presenting their party approaches to solutions. Parties should not indulge in divisive tactics of sectarian, ethnic, religious and other such emotions which promote divisions within the Pakistanis. All Pakistanis should be vigilant and identify those political, religious and ethnic leaders who are promoting divisions within the country for their selfish interests or divisive believes. Pakistan is ONE country and ONE nation. United it will stand and divided any country does not survive.
Pakistan can not stand united without all Pakistanis devoted to its unity. Any one sectarian, ethnic, religious or provincial group can divide the country. All Pakistanis should strive, work and pray for the unity and progress of Pakistan. Let all Pakistanis work for its unity, progress, education and strength of the country.
every one knows very well who is the behind of targeting killing. Those who claim Karachi is theirs and no body can enter Karachi without their permission. Situation of Karachi is worst than ever, serious action should be taken against them.
Government of Pakistan should make a very strict law that no Pakistani Citizen should have arms in their house.
Its a power struggle, to gain control and intrude into other’s domain, everyone knows it. people involved in this blood shed can never realize unless taken to task even handedly across the board, a tall order! to say the least.
The problem of Karachi is very complicated and people who comes to earn their living never own this city as their home. Criminals from all over Pakistan come here and take refuge in the safe heaven. There are the places where most of the drug, land and arm mafia live. There are hidden places in these areas and no body can go there except the criminals and these culprits have support behind them.
It is a fact that the culprits from other provinces treat Karachi as their stronghold and they carry out all criminal activities.
We need honest and educated police comprising of local population who have to live in Karachi and treat every one equally under the law. Police from other provinces are useless who support criminals and make money because they know soon they will leave this city.
We can catch these killers irrespective of ethinic, political or language base if government and its ally parties want. These are few hundred people who do all these things and they belong to all ethnic communities. These people actually never heard of law and the time is there to show these people what really law means. Otherwise these poor and hapless people will continue to be killed.
All positions political or administrative should be given to the people who deserve not to the nominated ones
First and foremost: Accept that starting and abating violence is in their control!
I think the police should be neutralized.
Ideally the city should be clean from all sorts of illegal arms and ammunition but practically now its too late.
The only viable solution is to listen and fulfill the genuine demands of that political party which is in majority.
Give the law enforcement under City Nazim Mustafa Kamal. He has the spark, energy and will to take up things boldly and take measures to eliminate the core problems.
Islamic law should be implemented strictly in all of Pakistan – specially in Karachi. That should take care of the Law and Order?
1. Disarm all political parties! (The most important factor)
2. Trial all those behind it, despite their stature and political backings.
3. Tell public their names along with pictures and put them through public trial. I repeat publish their names and pictures to media, so that the rest get the hint, that this time they wont hide!
There is only one powerhouse in Karachi and I think others should or rather must accept that. Most of us remember what happened in the 90’s when Karachi was truly burning.
I am not saying that Karachi belongs to one group of people and others have no right to it. Karachi is part of Pakistan and will stay that way but if some people think that they can take Karachi for a ride like the 90’s then they are truly mistaken as ground realities are not the same and we could see bloodshed on a much larger scale than ever before.
May ALLAH have mercy on us all.
Karachi has been handed over to political parties, this is war between parties to have control over the city.
Illegal immigrants should be removed from city.
Karachi is city of Sindh & Sindh Govt. should take strong action against all mafias without any political pressure.
Pakistan needs a revolution…..
True justice must prevail
First of all a proper commission like Hamodur Rehman commission should be formed. A proper and honest investigation should be conducted.
The claims and counter claims of all parties concerned should be well studied. Based upon the reports impartial and punitive action should be taken irrespective of any affiliations.
The basic ingredient of this exercise should be transparency and honesty.
Pakistan belongs to all Pakistanis; no doubt about it but people of a particular province interfering in other province to the extent of controlling its main cities is disputable and should never be allowed.
AH
I believe what solution we are discussing its not so easy.
Every thing has been messed up in Karachi we can only think about improving the current violent situation in Karachi isnt is the main city of Pakistan , it is the main city in building up the country’s economy
When benazir died no body was there to take care of people, they were helping their self their own.
this is the point here see people who wanted to do help they provided their best support to those who dont have any shelter , transport and other needed things and the other end those who wanted to be robbers they robbed almost they could robb
so that night there was no police no body who had any control on anything, there were only we who had ruined the city in one night.
why blaming others ?
if we are doing bad with any one , people who are good with us will do bad with us this is how it works
obviously big guys play main role in bringing up the peace for the city so I would say rather than to think what they can do or what they are not doing its better to think over what we can do and if we cannot do anything good we should think over not to do any thing bad which might effect over city.
effecting city means = one effected citizen.
How do you expect from criminals not to do a crime. I want all of the readers to be honest and impartial and decide if this city government or provincial or even central government will provide protection, justice and care to its citizen? All these three parties involve in these activities have arms and ammunitions. Tell these parties to bring their arms, you will see an 80% reduction in crime. For the sake of God some one in Pakistani Government need to show a sense of responsibly and accountablity.Take care of these innocent people, who are being killed for just political gain.
If the government follows the below given points sincerely then not only they can stop these unlawful killings in our roads and streets but also maintain general law and order in most of the country.
All that corruption and lawlessness that has taken decades to develop cannot be out rooted overnights. However, steps in the right direction can ensure a slow but sure progress and can bring peace and happiness back in our peoples lives.
1: Disarmament (recover all unlicensed weapons)
2: Install CCTV (surveillance cameras)
3: Train and equip Police and law enforcing agencies with modern day’s training and weaponry.
4: Whosoever commits a crime must be brought before the court without delay and be punished with the full force of law as soon as possible. No one and I mean no one at all should be above the law.
5: Death penalty for terrorists and their associates.
Note: Only if we start delivering speedy justice and punish the culprits immediately you will see a big change in the society.
Hi all,
I think a massive army operation is needed to disarm the politically motivated terrorist and speedy trials to brought the culprits to the justice.
we need to have another 92 like crackdown to make sure that the follow up years are full of peace and amnesty.
Goodluck karachi