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Turning back the clock: Sindh reverts to bureaucracy-run system - 09 Jul 2011
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Karachi violence: Children find themselves on the wrong end of the gun - 09 Jul 2011
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What needs to be done in Karachi
The country as a whole suffers since the city has a vital position in Pakistan’s economy.
The writer is consulting editor, The Friday Times
The recent escalation of violence and senseless butchery in Karachi serves to remind us once again just how the state is withering away in Pakistan. State-building has always been a neglected project in Pakistan’s largest city. Ineffective and weak institutions were commandeered by large, organised mafias often with public support on the basis of ethnic identity. This spurred other groups to organise themselves in a similar manner and now Karachi is a playground of ethnic battles and fascist tactics with violence seen as a legitimate instrument to achieve and exercise political power.
In recent years, the PPP-MQM détente had given a faint hope that the two parties might be able to reorganise the parameters of urban governance and introduce the much-needed pending reforms. However, all this could not materialise because of lack of trust between the two groups and the PPP’s tilt towards a new power broker in Karachi, the Awami National Party (ANP), which represents the city’s burgeoning Pasthun community. In addition, the rise of the Lyari Aman Committee as a claimant to urban power confounded the elusive consensus needed for institutional reforms.
Pakistan’s largest metropolis therefore is divided between politico-ethnic factions who draw their power through armed factions, ‘death-squads’, extortion and other informal governance mechanisms. The formal state has virtually disappeared. Like the rest of the country the undoing of the local government system in 2008 has impacted the metropolis adversely. The current delimitation and electoral grouping ensures that MQM gains in any such election, which is unacceptable to other ethnic groups.
The erosion of the state has grave implications. First, the lack of an adequately staffed and trained police force makes it impossible for the provincial government to maintain law and order; and federal paramilitary troops have to be relied upon. Second, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that al Qaeda and its allied sectarian groups operate with impunity in Karachi. This mayhem suits their ends. Thirdly, the country as a whole suffers since the city has a vital position in Pakistan’s economy and any adverse effect there impacts the rest of the country. Finally, the lack of security and arbitrary ethnic killings make communities rely on their ethnic networks for protection thus preventing social integration.
The ruling coalition in Islamabad is at best indifferent and the provincial government appears to be utterly incompetent in dealing with the violence. The proposal to reintroduce the institution of commissioner and revival of various districts in the city is an old, failed model of governance. To begin with, it is a contested recipe and the MQM is not going to be keen on it. Similarly, the myopic solution to send in more Rangers and other paramilitary troops to do a ‘clean-up’ operation has been done time and again with no sustainable results. There are calls for an army operation as well. Earlier operations by the army failed to change anything and provided at best short-term relief. In any case, by resorting to an army operation, the political parties will be digging their own graves, as Pakistan’s experience would suggest.
Karachi needs a strong, well-resourced local government that can take care of the citizen’s issues of entitlements (such as security) and basic social services. Furthermore, there is simply no alternative to have a functional police system. Little has been done in this direction but a beginning can be made. Community policing becomes a part of this agenda and there is nothing that stops the provincial government to undertake these reforms. The intelligence apparatus in the city is also dysfunctional with a weak capacity. With growing terrorist networks and criminal gangs operating, how can the state dispense this function in the name of political expediency?
All these reforms require a political consensus and process of negotiation. The leaderships of the PPP, MQM and the ANP need to enter into a meaningful process of engagement where they can agree on the urgent reforms. The long-term institution building must be part of this reform-agenda. A ceasefire between death squads of political parties must be effected at once to save the people of Karachi from the daily dose of fear and insecurity.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 10th, 2011.
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Reader Comments (35)
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“The leaderships of the PPP, MQM and the ANP need to enter into a meaningful process of engagement where they can agree on the urgent reforms.”
Wishful but necessary thinking. Well analysed, Raza.
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The city that runs Pakistan deserves more.
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Today people of Karachi are harvesting the crop which MQM had sowed for them in 1985. It was MQM which had constituted HIT SQUADS and established the torture cells to subdue their opponents. Whenever any clean up operation was under taken by the Government, it had to stopped half way due to the hue and cry raised by MQM. Now things have changed. ANP followers and PPP, under the cover of Liyari Aman Committee, all have piled up weapons and are fighting open battles to strengthen their grip over Karachi. Seeing the prevailing turmoil, the Al-Qaeda operatives have also joined hands. We should have no doubt about the presence of Al-Qaeda and Taliban in Karachi. Attack on Mehran Base provides ample proof of their presence in Karachi. Many terrorists after attacking Mehran base managed to slip out and there after till this day they remain to be untraceable. The terrorists have their sympathizers and hide outs in Karachi. Intelligence system in Karachi must be reinforced to locate the terrorists and their hide outs. A detailed and effective plan should be prepared to de- weaponize Karachi. Curfew should be imposed in troubled areas and extensive search operations should be carried out. Provincial police should be de politicised. The Government has to demonstrate strong political will to handle the situation with a firm hand.
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Rumi wrote “Karachi needs a strong, well-resourced local government that can take care of the citizen’s issues of entitlements (such as security) and basic social services. Furthermore, there is simply no alternative to have a functional police system. Little has been done in this direction but a beginning can be made. Community policing becomes a part of this agenda and there is nothing that stops the provincial government to undertake these reforms.”…whether anyone likes it or not…this is what MQM has been saying…but since it empowers the citizens…PPP and ANP would never want it since it reduce the powers of their ministers. To all people outside Urban Sindh, given a choice between ANP, MQM, PPP and PMLN, majority, even non-urdu speaking would prefer MQM especially after experience with the local govt under Mustafa Kamal…this is a fact…live with it.
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In addition, an empowered police force should begin by ending tolerance to petty crime. You give an inch, and armed thugs take a mile. Their should be no space available for any illegal activity.
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The CDGK was doing so great as Karachi was under the control of MQM that holds KHI and due to the political support it gets from KHI .It was easy to work for them here in Khi to get the seats and to build up their reputation.
The cameras that were installed by the CDGK are nowhere to be seen. Even the culprits that are shown by the few remaining one are released.
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A Cricket match.
hahahahaha
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I sometimes believe that the recent episode of killings in Karachi is yet another SOS to the Military establishment to come over and take the reigns of the country, or perhaps a move by the establishment to pave ways for the Army yet again. Not to forget that the second tenure of Benazir Bhutto as the Prime Minister, ended with extrajudicial killings in Karachi counted as one of the major reasons. I am no fan of PPP or Zardari but really believe that our educated masses should see through the present pattern and be able to solidify our democratic institutions.
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And the funny thing is all three parties, ANP,PPP,MQM are secular. And we blame poor illiterate mullahs for the mess this country is in. These roshan khyaal secularists and mulhids have damaged the country far more.
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@ Abdul Rehman Gilani
How are ANP,PPP,MQM secular parties?
Do they work towards separating religion and state, have they done anything secular.
PPP was the party which initiated Islamization and interfered in religion. MQM and ANP have never done anything secular.
Let me give you an analogy, if you called yourself a girl assuming that you are a guy, it does not mean that you are one.
This is just like these parties, who might call themselves “secular” but they are nothing like this.
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@Thinker
You don’t seem to think much.
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@Abdul Rehman Gilani:
what a stupid point…
mullahs have brought people against each other…
venom against Qadianis, abhorrence towards Shias, Fatwas against Barelvis…
its the JI that was largely responsible for introducing this weapons culture among the youth…
its our mosques that have been teaching rebellion against things they don’t approve of…
its your mullahs that have made the life so cheap by issuing fatwas of wajib-ul-qatal for petty religious arguments… when your society as a whole is preached such a careless attitude for a human life, it will manifest itself in different forms or shapes…
now you want to step away and rid the mullahs of the blame? wth…
they are equally responsible if not more…
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@Raza Bhai, a country subdivided on ethnic lines, is a recipe for the impending disaster. Is it me or has someone noticed this as well. How quickly the city descends to anarchy within hours. Never there has been an attempt to weed out the root cause. Ethnic political mind set is the actual issue. Reform that first, rest wil happen in due course.
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Make Karachi a separate state, like New Delhi is now called NCR (national Capital Region) , or a Union Territory.
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Valid points. A strong police system is mandatory to provide a sense of security and justice for the people. Police reforms include increase in constabulory, training, mentorship, increase in salaries, promotions, firing and suspension of politicized elements within Karachi police & training in terrorism and intelligence.
As a start a long term venture could be, entrepreneurs can come forward and open a police academy, build and sourced with funds in a public private partnership involving districts the entrepreneur to train and source police cadets to the police force.
There are countless solutions for change. Karachiites need to develop as sense of propriety to their city and apply their own solutions to problems.
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Raza, this is a very well thought out balanced writeup particularly in these dreadful times where Karachi has lost 100 plus of its souls.
To the list of suggestions presented, allow me to add a few here:
Stop the population migration to Karachi
Create economic opportunities in other cities/towns/provinces
De-Weaponization should be a state policy, isolated approach is not the solution
State has to stamp its writ on ALL regions of Pakistan including the troubled FATA.
Setup a Truth and Reconciliation commission for Karachi
Encourage inter commnual activities other than the blood sport such as cricket matches, city clean up, education and healtcare.
For this country to survive in its present state there is much to do, it is no easy task, let us hope for the best.
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Divide the country into 27 provinces, starting with Karachi. The taxes earned by a province should be spent on its own development (only 10% to be given to the Centre for defence, currency and foreign affairs).This is the only way the country can make progress.
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Any one wants a change from all kinds of ills and evil? Any one?
We have to work for it. Yes work hard for it. The first hard work that overwhelming majority of us need to do is to change ourselves first.
Does anyone remember the Arabs, very weird Arabs living in a state of Jaheeliyah. The state of Jaheeliyah we all are heading into at full speed. Does anyone want a proof? It is all in front of us. Those Arabs changed their habits first to bring a change to become winners.
Yes we all have to change ourselves. Our bad habits are the cause.
Arrogance is the worst and most widespread.
Iblees traded Heaven for Hell-fire due to “arrogance”, so does everyone who has any trace of arrogance in their thoughts, words and deeds.
When people give up their bad habits and practice “Justice” in their everyday life they can very easily come together. Come together to work to bring improvement in their moral and material life. The Arabs 1400 years ago did just that and then never looked back.
Today the same Arabs have abandoned their winning ways to become slaves, so are we.
We never see things in the right perspective. We have never acquired the ways of the winners. The ways of the winners is “Yes we can do” attitude. This attitude requires people of a locality to come together and start to build their lives collectively to bring the most extinct commodity i.e. Justice to become wide spread and common. Justice will become common when everyone of us will get into habit of practising it. When people start coming together with “Yes we can do” attitude then it is guaranteed that sky will become the limit to the height of moral and material progress they can achieve. Nothing is impossible.
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The situation in Karachi is so complicated. Pakistan is losing its power of statehood. I agree with Mr. Rumi that short term solutions will not work and it is time for greater reforms.
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Thanks for the feedback and the great suggestions. Due to word limits and the nature of op-ed writing, one is constrained. Will take up some of the themes flagged in subsequent op-eds.
Thanks again
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Consider the insistence from the US foreign policy to impose globalization forward; with the focus now on fighting terrorism, it will simply be harder for institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization to pressure governments to liberalize.
Many of those governments will now be in position to use their role as a political and military coalition partner with the United States to bow to local protectionist interests and resist.
The way around it would be to promote and support home grown companies.
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@Shakir Lakhani:
Not a bad suggestion, Lakhani Sahib!
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@Sanjith Menon:
I agree with you, Mr. Menon!
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~Larao aur hukumat karo~ is an old saying which is still valid in this country. If ther is will and sncerity, there is solution. Best rulers are those who work.only and only in the interest of Public and remain neutral in case of group differences. Hatred is now the order of the day and should be controlled in the interest of country. Factors of ills i.e about a few dozens strong mafias are to dealt with strong will and Power :Some of them are drug mafia, arms mafia, smugglers mafia, land grabbing mafia, Madarsah mafia, tanker mafia, transport mafia, Bhatta mafia, abduction mafia, street crime mafia, beggars mafia, children abduction mafia, car lifter
s mafia, black marketeers mafia, hoarders mafia, Gutka mafia, counterfeiting products mafia, Jali peer mafia, Jali hakim & doctors mafia(Quakes) etc etc are to to be dealt with strong hands who are not spoiling only Karachites but spoiling the whole society and culture.of the coutry.Recommend
Let’s be clear. The situation in Karachi is a result of decades of neglect that our successive stories have shown in statebuilding in the metropolis. It is our own fault much as we love to hatch and cite conspiracies. It is time to save Karachi and Pakistan from anarchy and stateless zones where militants/death-squads/mafias are active.
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I think, a lot bigger factors are involved in disturbing the peace. Internal differences are the part of tradition. No one cant wait until political parties develop a consensus. People need to focus upon the bigger picture of these series of violence. Foreign connections, financial aspects of such terrorist activities and stakeholders are to be identified. After all this happening no one can be sure of what their goals are!
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PPP and PML (N) were never in favour of the Local Government System introduced by General Musharaf. PPP was looking for an opportunity to get rid of this system but were hesitant because of their partnership with MQM. Now that MQM had parted ways, PPP did not bother even to give it a second thought. I know it will be very painful for MQM reconcile with the mere thought of losing their umpire in Karachi. MQM should better be realistic about the coming times. The entire plan which PPP is now unfolding is aimed at cutting MQM to a manageable size during the next election so that they lose their capacity to dictate terms for any future political dispensation in Sind or in the center.
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Just hand it over to the Chinese PLA… they will take care of all ur problems…:))))
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@Raza Rumi:
Agree totally with you, Rumi Sahib!
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Well about a hundred innocent citizens killed over 10 days. And they were not even ‘pelting stones’ at anyone.
And we get all riled up over Kashmir?
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Pakistan needs two things to achieve law and order in the country and esp. Karachi. First, to have the same police system that peaceful, successful and advanced countries have. Revamp the current system that is colonial and designed by the occupying power. Second thing Pakistan needs is to create more provinces. Each province should have no more than 9 million people. Empower the people at the lowest level. The elite should trust the people to govern themselves. Many countries in the world have population less than 10 million.Recommend
Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza has always been adding fuel to the already burning financial capital of Pakistan. Under the patronage of the highest office of our country he is always keen to demonstrate his bravado but if his friend was not there to protect him he would have been hiding some where in the interiors of interior Sind. At best he can be described as an erratic and eccentric personality which is quite capable of spitting venom without having any about the end result. Mirza is the main trouble shooter, put him behind the bars, at least 50% of the problem in Karachi will be solved within no time.
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So called liberal parties fighting with each other!!!God has completely exposed hypocrites.Pakistan needs an honest,upright and capable leadership in the form of Imran Khan.He is our only savior.
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Economic crisis create political and ethnic issues. How can you expect good governance from corrupt political leaders? Nor angels will drop from sky. Pakistan’s people have to solve all problems. Political leaders are the one air the ethnic issues for their own benefits instead of solving problems of poverty, power shortage, ever increasing commodity prices. Is there any impact of all these problems on Zardari/Gillani’s personal life?
When these leaders will stand in petrol lines, and load shedding in governor house and president house, probability they will realize common citizen issues in this country. It is easy for them issue statements from air conditions rooms and Inns from London. Look their history. They are not “Friends of Pakistan” or its people.
TR
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As long as we have and our System tolerates DOUBLE STANDARDS proliferation, we will have big and little little karachis .
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