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.
Following should happen.
1) Increase the size of police force
2) Conduct operation and remove illegal arms, especially from the illegal afghans living there.
The solution is.. professional and non-political law enforcement. From non-corrupt, non-politically affiliated police force to neutral and expedious judiciary. This is just a dream for many and I don’t think this will happen not at least in my life time.
Disarming or any such suggestions are of no use, everyone knows who is the Badmash and who is supporting them. The only solution to this problem is a well nit joint operation by police and rangers with the support of judiciary should be carried out to finish these elements once for all, such operation should continue as long as every bit of the element is dealt with.
The political parties should use more common sense, mental discipline to promote their message rather than promote encourage social economic divide to boost party egos.
Free karachi from arms, Afghans and illegal migrants from other part of country.
The only thing which Pakistan lacks is ‘justice’. If ‘justice’ is provided to the people in every sphere of life, it can solve all the issues, whether it is political or social. Tough we talk a lot that ‘justice’ will be provided at door step, but in reality ‘justice’ is very far and beyond imagination.
As obvious the fact all political parties involved and responsible for creating the panic longs for achieving power, so why shouldn’t be established such a political setup which could satisfy all. It may involve dialogue initiation among rivals or orders be implemented by SC for some sort of power sharing structure. So in my view no one of the three would be ready to surrender so its better to take the decisions of either choice by their mutual consent.
Solution is simple and straight forward. It does not need brain to recognize that except to biased eyes and mind. Urban Sindh should be left to people to whom it belongs, who represent the majority of inhabitants, and who have political party to represent their interest.
As long as people from other provinces and parties will not respect the right of the educated class of Urban Sindh to elect their representatives for safeguarding their interest , it will only lead to more chaos and increasing dissatisfaction, which in short term will show in the form of killings which are happening at present but in longer term will result in reply of 1971, debacle.
Dr Zaidi has truly pointed out the root cause .
This is the true cause , the sooner we understand the better .
Dr. Zaida,
I would strongly disagree. Yes, we should respect the electoral vote bank but no one is above the law. If we go by your assumption, then tomorrow whatever happens in Lahore, we would say PML (N) is responsible or same thing in Larkana. We should have some independent law enforcement organization.
Karachi at the present is besieged; many mafia groups are controlling this metropolitan. The solution lies in an Independent Police Authority and should be divided into 5 or 6 six districts. Unless and until we have a clean policing system Karachi’s problem will never be solved. Presently, Police actions are politically motivated; they don’t act independently and freely. It is simple as that, and can easily be done.
In my honest opinion, there is not an end to Karachi political situation. Remember what our Quaid said and I paraphrase You cannot run a city or country without proper law and order.
Political parties must respect each other’s mandate and above all.
The HRCP, SCP, Fakhrudin G Ibrahim, Imran Khan, Cowasjee or any other law abiding citizen or org. would say, ‘prosecute all those accused of criminal activities’.
Hello ,
why violence ? lets make world a better place to live where mind is without fear !!
Allah bless you always and enlight your path.
-Ashish
Well the simplest solution is that neutral law enforcement chiefs be appointed and given free hand to end the mafias and collect the arms from everyone and no pressure be entertained from anyone.
All people should be disarmed…….only police is allowed to have arms……there should be Justice with every person……
There has to be dialogue and consensus, a continued effort.
Dialogue between the parties forming the coalition. Live and Let Live
Illegal Afghanis should be removed & recover arms from tribal parties.
I agree with you Saad Usmani as we have witnessed a sharp decline in the law and order situation of Karachi after the arrival of the Afghanis. The problem is that theyhave been able to obatin, one way or the other, the nationality and have become legal residents. But there has to be a way to have sustaniable peace for the original karachiites. I just hope that they do not try to disrupt our social , political and economical set up. In this respect we have to rally behind MQM as they have the ones condemning Afghans alias Taliban right from the very beginning.
Who will recover arms from these political parties??
Karachi needs to be freed of arms.
This is the dream of all the political parties to get control over the Karachi. Nazim system has been dissolved and the new LB election is around the corner, so every “NON Karachi Base” party want to be in front of their opponent by hook or by crook.
Solution?
There is only one solution supreme court take action immediately.
Instant ban of all weapons in the City of Karachi. This is the solution. The government should allow citizens to deposit all guns and explosive weapons in the local police station in the next 24 hours.
Once the time is up, anyone who holds a gun (Except police) should be jailed.
Only Police should have weapons, civilians are not supposed to have weapons. This is the only way to peace. This is the only way to have fear and respect towards police. Or else every one has a gun and everyone is a boss.
The weapons you are talking about are illegal, so there is no way anyone will come forward to deposit the same with the police stations, the law abiding citizens who possess legal weapons keep it for their and their families protection and for hunting purpose & therefore do not display them or use them for aerial firing. Till the early eighties, permits for weapons were only given to people who paid taxes and were proved to be responsible citizens.
Weapons are not responsible, guns don’t have sense, and the people are only human, full of weaknesses, the way out is simple, NO WEAPONS, and I don’t think it should be hard, the first step should be taken by those who claim Karachi is their city, Lets be honest, none of the political parties in Karachi be sincere if the livelihood of people are suffering,
Yes, Noel is right. 1. Focus on recovery of illegal weapons. Every recovery move by raiding in suspects, political parties protecting the culprits protest and manage to stop it. 2. Review the persons holding licensed weapons to ascertain their background.
Police has not to be an independent organization , political pressure, police and law enforcement organizations are total fail to control the situation very shame full to all collation partners of Sindh govt and Federal govt.
All political parties need to disarm.
I never understand, why these people don’t realize that who actually they are?
They are Muslims.. Aren’t they? if all are not Muslim then at least all are Pakistani.
Why they don’t think that by killing their own brothers and sisters, they are inviting others to kill their own families.
No one can change them by disarm or by taking political action against them.
They can only change themselves ..by realizing, What they are? And What they are doing?
Above all……….They are all human beings
The main reason for all above are that people are going far from our religion and when the ruler of the country is corrupt and their is no fear of Almighty Allah this happen. Allah Talla said that I will put bad rulers on you and you will chose them by yourself.
Absolutely agree with Syed
1-Action to be taken even handedly( Impartally)
2-Arms to be recovered from all groups
3-Political actions to be taken
4-Swift trials to be made(Cases to be disposed at the earliest..maybe some sort of summary courts.
Why is that every time Karachi faces the heat? Situation was much better during Musharraf’s tenure. Karachi is once again under the trouble.
In my personal view, its a ploy used by the ruling party..the same old principle:”Divide and Conquer”
1) A proper public trial should be conducted of the accused and speedy justice with appropriate punishments should be given.
2) Police has to be an independent body, not taking orders from the Sind government or the city government. Effective training and professional attitude and conduct of police officers goes without saying.