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How to end violence in Karachi
Karachi is too big a cake for any political party to eat alone. New migrants will have to be integrated into the city.
The writer is an Islamabad-based journalist whose reports frequently appear in The New York Times [email protected]
Karachi is on the boil again. It is not ethnic. It is not linguistic. It is a vicious and brutal political war of turfs and patronage. The simmering conflict needs a political solution. But for now, all major power players in the city are keen to use muscle to outmanoeuvre their rivals. Politics is eclipsed by militancy. Brinkmanship trumps dialogue. Negotiations are just a euphemism for capitulation by one side or the other.
On a broader level, Karachi, which is an administrative nightmare anyway, represents everything that goes wrong when the writ of the state withers and gets diluted. As the Taliban insurgency rages on in the northwestern parts of the country, the Pashtun population has, over the years, trickled into Karachi in search of safety and livelihoods. Their numbers have increased and will continue to do so in the near future. With this, it is only but natural that their appetite for political and other benefits would increase multifold.
The MQM has foreseen this shift and is already dreading the consequences. The Muhajir demographics have changed in the last decade, and they are no more in a majority. But the MQM wants to ensure its iron hold over the city and the revenue it generates. It does not want any redistribution or restructuring of municipality demarcations.
The MQM makes the right political noises but the tough tactics and bare-knuckle politics of the party pose a challenge to any government in Islamabad. The ruling PPP government faces the same dilemma.
Furthermore, the MQM has flexed its muscles in the past and continues to do so till now. The ANP, for its part, isn’t afraid of this either, in Karachi. ‘Target killings’ are the ugliest manifestation of the political tussle that is going on between the MQM, the ANP and the PPP. There is no ‘hidden hand’ or ‘third force’ that is trying to destabilise the city. The culprits are amongst those who claim innocence and ignorance.
But there are no easy or quick fixes either.
For now, there is perhaps a need for a new set of power brokers and political firefighters. The interior minister’s patch-ups are temporary and get upended no sooner than they are stitched. Someone else from the PPP needs to be in charge to act as a mediator and negotiator. All political parties will have to sit together and figure out a way to deweaponise the city, devise a system of proportional representation and share the responsibility of maintaining peace. Turmoil in Karachi serves no interest of the country. But threats of sowing instability and perpetuating the spree of coldblooded killings — if demands are not met — is sheer blackmail and nothing else. This has to end.
The MQM has to accept the changing ground realities. Karachi is too big a cake for any political party to eat alone. New migrants will have to be integrated into the city. Forcing them onto the fringes or thwarting their influx won’t work. On the other hand, both the ANP and the PPP need to stop patronising and protecting criminals who are masquerading as political workers and operating in the slums and outskirts of the city. The calls for a military operation, even if limited in scope, are, however, a recipe for further disaster. Bringing in paramilitary and army troops won’t address the root causes of the malaise that is crippling the city.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2011.
Reader Comments (17)
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Salman: I had hoped you had known better, being a well known journo – MQM is not concerned about the ethnic side of Karachi or any “disbalance” – MQM has more Pakhtoon in its ranks in Karachi than ANP itself – here, listen to it from the horse’s mouth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuQj3TzSRlQRecommend
Salman Masood, all I can say for you is to come down to Karachi and live here for a while. You need to take Karachi 101. It is easy to write an article from a cozy room in Islamabad. Infact all the ppl who don’t live in Karachi but try to give there two cents should first visit Karachi and see things for themselves. And even if you are in Karachi then don’t stay in Defence, Clifton, PECHS or Gulshan. Go and stay in Orangi, Korangi, Liaquatabad, Banaras, Site, Lyari, Qasbah, Kemari, Gaddap, Gulistan-e-jauhar/Pehlwan Goth, Sohrab Goth area. Meet the local businessmen and the common ppl. Then see for yourself that who is doing what. There is some truth to the turf war between the political parties, but issuse more than that. MQM is not party of angels, but they are not the cause of the issue. Even with all these issue, ppl from all corners of Pakistan prefer coming to Karachi, live and work more freely in MQM dominated areas then others. To get better understanding go and dig up history and find out how karachi was treated in 60,70 and 80s, before MQM was created. Karachi has given a lot to successive governments and ppl of Pakistan and continue to give, but did not get anything in return. Karachi became financial hub, or “brain of Pakistan” not because of governments’ patronage but by the hard work of the ppl of the city, who have accepted everyone, starting from partition till now. The problems are caused by the powerful ppl who just want make quick money and treat this city like a “pros*‘, then use ethnic strife to escape justice. If anyone is to lose from all this is MQM, since due to the last 8ys of work they had gained lot of popularity even among the ppl who were anti-MQM.Recommend
Karachi has turned into a political battlefield. Any person who lives in Karachi is not safe. During General Musharraf’s government things were much better in Karachi. Daily dozens of people are being killed and most of them are poor people who work hard day in and day out to make both ends meet. Karachi is the economical hub of Pakistan and every citizen of Pakistan has the right to live in Karachi. Government must take strict measures to maintain law and order in the city, so that the people of Karachi may live peacefully and feel safe. Recommend
Biased piece, especially the word about MQM to eat alone the vote bank. Labour influx from KP was quite high in karachi during 2004 – 2008 due to the factor of Infrastructure development as compared to 2008 – 2010.Recommend
Mr Salman the city which you are referring to as a cake is my home and I wont allow anybody to eat it. Everyone coming to Karachi should love it like their home and respect it, and do not consider it a cake, and follow the law until then the problem will not be solved. The people who wanted to eat this cake already massacred 20,000 natives in the past and it wont happen again. ANP people are encroaching upon shops and open lands which the Karachi people have bought with all their life savings.Recommend
The PPP thinks that by compromises with parties whose criminals have destroyed the peace of Karachi, they can maintain peace in this city. Such compromises are made by mafia godfathers with rival gangs not by constitutional governments. Criminals must be nabbed and punished in accordance with law, if any peace is to be restored. Rahman Malik type peacemakers can only worsen the situation. He just bought more time, but than things became worse than before. This is what has happened. Those who thrive on extortions have only increased their revenues by more crimes. Police will not act, if the political govt has no political will to restore rule of law. The police have had their men killed in revenge killings while the PPP stood by. These are hardened criminals who do not understand any language except strict criminal justice system. There are no willing witnesses because the government is not willing to protect either the police or the witnesses. Put into place a witness protection system and see the results. Give these witnesses safe passage to Gulf so that they are secure there, till such time peace and law is restored in KarachiRecommend
Do you have any valid statistical analysis to support your claim that the Mohajirs are no longer in majority?Recommend
I dont know if the mohajirs are no longer in majority or not. But as a Karachite, i totally agree with Salman. Its all about the turf and territory. MQM is loosing it and therefore its retaliating. Take the example of Sohrab Goth, Mohajirs are no more in majority in the entire area/district now, it’s easy to make out just by driving through the area, statisitics don’t matter.
MQM needs to drop it’s methadologies of severe retaliation and extreme views on the ownership of Karachi. Secondly, it needs to stop being the Wadera’s of Karachi.Recommend
Time to call a spade a spade!Recommend
Salman you were euphemistic on terming the MQM strategy as tough tactics and bare-knuckle politics. They gain strength from the mohajir population by spreading fear of other ethnic groups and then presenting itself as the savior. This is the sole reason why Karachi was relatively more peaceful in the absence of an active MQM. Pushtuns and other groups were there but there were no ethnic riots or target killings.Recommend
The State has failed to protect its citizens. Obtaining an arms licence for a tax payer is a no go area. On the other hand criminals and terrorist are set loose to use wepons of their choice.
The right of reponsible citizens to bear arms shall be the greatest detterent to law breakers.
Sincerely / Sharjeel Jawaid Recommend
Since when Urdu Speakings have become minority in Karachi ? Anyway check this link to get an idea of how terrorists have made Karachites’ life miserable in their own city. See how police mobiles sheltering the armed terrorists in Qasba colony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJKECsryJcE&feature=player_embeddedRecommend
Urdu Speakings no more a majority in Karachi, from where have you derived this analogy, mind sharing the source ?Recommend
Salman! terming the MQM strategy as tough tactics and bare-knuckle politics is a bit euphemistic. MQM is the root cause of the problem. This party gains strength from the mohajir population by spreading fear of other ethnic groups and then presenting itself as the savior. This is the sole reason why Karachi was relatively more peaceful in the absence of an active MQM. Pushtuns and other groups were there but there were no ethnic riots or target killings before Musharraf allowed them again to ruin the peace of the city. Recommend
Karachi belongs to Karachiites and it is ours to harness and protect against any unwarranted and malicious acts of intimidation and plunder.
The ‘Mini Pakistan’ is home to all ethnicities of the Country and all those who live in Karachi should do well to keep it on a progressive path rather than succumbing to the tyranny of hate-mongers.
The ANP is following a ‘fraudulent’ agenda when it comes to the mega city’s progress and is utilizing every means necessary to bring the city to a stalemate. This, most unequivocally cannot be allowed and shall be resisted by every true Karachiite.
As far as remarks about MQM are concerned, you need to get hold of the practicalities that prevail in the City.
One can easily conclude that the writer has overtly exhibited and made use of his prejudice while penning down the ‘piece’.Recommend
I have never been to Karachi, but certain things stand out in common among people that have posted on this site:
Karachi is starting to become home to a diverse number of ethnic groups. This is leading to confrontation between groups.
Many people from KP are migrating to Karachi,Mohajirs are falling in numbers.Not sure about the other ethnic groups.
The MQM has governed the city reasonably well.
Bearing the above facts in mind and considering that no city can absorb infinitely large numbers of poor people, perhaps the government should reduce the flow of people moving to Karachi.
The city is large enough with 18 million residents to meet the labour requirements of the city. The growth of poor/illiterate people from KP is going to create friction and put huge burden on the city infrastructure. Including gas, electricity, traffic, pollution. By halting the influx of people the city will raise the living standards of everybody.Recommend
Interesting article on the issues affecting Karachi. I agree that Karachi belongs to all Pakistanis and we have to appreciate this fact. All cities have changing demographics. Why should Karachi be any different. We just need to integrate everyone better.Recommend