Karachi was once again set on fire on Tuesday when Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said that some armed men entered the house of Mansoor Mukhtar, a member of the party’s PIB sector committee in PIB colony and shot him to death.
The early morning attack also led to the death of the victim’s brother Maqsood Mukhtar who was earlier injured in the firing and later succumbed to his wounds.
The statement issued by MQM alleged that elements of the Lyari gang-war were responsible for the incident. The MQM demanded that the president, prime minister, chief minister and other authorities ensure that those responsible for the attack, be arrested and brought to justice.
The MQM Rabita Committee condemned the killing of its activist and announced a day of mourning all across the province.
However, what we see in the city, and in other parts of the province is not an environment of silent mourning, but instead a battlefield of angry citizens who are bent upon destroying public property and pick up weapons as a way to display their rage at the situation.
Regardless of which party is targeted or which political activist is killed, what we always see happening is the suffering of the common man. The common man who is thrown of a bus which is set on fire. The common man whose exams have been cancelled and university sealed. The common man who becomes a prisoner is his own home because all he can hear outside his window are gun shots.
Be it a politically motivated killing or the energy crisis, it has become a sad reality in the country for people to demonstrate their anger by destroying public property and perpetuating mayhem among the masses. But how does that ever solve anything?
Have you been a victim of this chaos? Do you have any information from your area to share with us?
Peaceful protestation of MQM always left people to death. Today, about 10 people have been killed.
A number of buses and cars have also been burnt. People are forced to remain at home. life of labors is totally miserable. All Pakistanis according to constitution have full right to own and defend Karachi not just one party.
Though, it is condemnable that MQM workers have been killed yet what is the fault of common citizens of Karachi? What was the fault of drivers of buses,coaches,rickshaws and passer byres?
Time has come to de-weaponize Karachi by launching operation clean up and whosoever has been involved whether he who belongs to any political party should be hanged publicly.
Otherwise, few thousand people will always hostage 2 crore people of Karachi.
In Dhoraji i saw the face of scared Qadri store wala, scared like chicken. Saying “yar saab band ha.. band kara diya ha ha”.
From Khan Store on juhar road you will complaint under his lips, about paying bhata of Rs2500/- month.
Both blammed MQM., Khan store some time blames ANP from Sherpao basti.
And while i walk by all of this i curse this ccountry ironically of which i am part of.
Silent majority? You think by writing what you have above, you have spoken up? Please reconsider these words: “a battlefield of angry citizens who are bent upon destroying public property and pick up weapons as a way to display their rage at the situation”. This is not the truth and its about time you and rest of the media that is so terrified of MQM, learns to tell it like it is.
No doubt that it is sad that one of their members, more importantly a fellow human being, was brutally murdered today. But does this really call for terrorizing the innocent population who never had anything to do with this mess. They are the real victims and unless they stand up and say enough, MQM, ANP, ST, PPP and others will always keep them terrorized and submissive.
We are all responsible for this situation…we hv elected a govt which is weak & which is blackmailed by its coalition partners…we hv an opposition which can only object….so the situation will remain like till someone like Khomeini emerges from within to save this country…otherwise, all ingredients have been made available by vested interest in Sindh ( especially Karachi ) , Baluchistan, Punjab to create anarchy & civil war…..it is now our moral responsibility to obstruct this nefarious design….otherwise our generation nor history will ever forgive us.
The silent majority in Pakistan will never get a chance to speak up until these feudals, political families and army keep manoeuvring to loot the wealth of the country. All parties, without exception, are part of this. Isn’t it strange that coalition partners of successive governments in Pakistan carry out these heinous crimes of burning and looting properties of law abiding citizens for want of more power and ministries ever so often?
Is destroying public property the only way for a common man to display his miseries in Pakistan?
it is because they find no other alternative to draw the attention of senseless politicians of our country
How come everytime MQM is targeted their response is anger and violence and then on another platform they talk about peace and integration. Their leaders should vociferously demand of their members no matter what they face the reaction should be peaceful and understanding so that the cycle of violence can end. Ever since the MQM has been around the violent tendencies in Karachi never ended. Something to think about MQM the fault lies at you doorstep. Set your house in order if u want to live peacefully in Sindh.
I don’t agree with words used “citizens”. do u?
MQM not only announced a day of mourning but also provided a reason to mourn to hundreds of people Karachi.
whenever MQM call for a day of mourning should we be held hostage in our own city and be forced to mourn. Life goes on those who wish to mourn let them and those who wish not to mourn let them. Freedom to ALL not to a few. MQM should practice what they preach.Holding a city in hostage does not create harmony and support. U think?
I agree with Shamsunisa. Why is it always that whenever MQM decides to mourn or even becomes a party to strike no one dares to open business and who does gets serious damages. I guess everybody know that who is doing everything and who has the power.
MQM has been in power in Sindh and most importantly in Karachi for more than a decade now, but the situation is getting worse. They always are part of the Govt but whenever such situation arises, they very conveniently dis-associate themselves from Govt and start accusing others.
Everytime there is any problem with MQM or their associated party members, the whole Karachi starts burning.
ssshshhhh.. don’t anyone dare name the leadership of any party here… the media would not like that
I was traveling by bus with at least 8 to 10 passengers today when 4 men with guns stopped us near the Nazimabad number 2 area. While ordering us to get off the bus, they threatened the driver and shot several times in the air.
Once off the bus everyone ran for their lives. I turned back to see them pouring petrol on the vehicle and setting it ablaze. They then rode off on their motorbikes.
The streets instantly grew thick with silence, with not one person in sight.