Not a safe existence

Letter November 17, 2011
Places like Clifton or Defence are about as dangerous as, say, Orangi Town or Lyari.

KARACHI: This is with reference to the incident that took place along Karachi’s Seaview beach on the night of November 16. Most of the reports kept on saying that this took place in a ‘posh’ neighbourhood and it seems to be widely believed in the city that places like Clifton or Defence are ‘posh’ localities. This is not the case anymore. I would say that both are about as dangerous as, say, Orangi Town or Lyari. And I say this because they both have apartment buildings which are in rundown areas and where rents are very low. In such places, all kinds of shady elements can get a flat and hide themselves. After all, it was from the Zamzama area that in recent weeks at least two target killers were arrested — both were said to be living in rented flats.

People who live in these areas should wake up and realise that they are not really living in a protected or safe existence.

Muhammad Ali Siddiqi

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2011.