A motorcyclist passes by burning tyres during a city-wide shutdown. PHOTO: INP/FILE
The situation is, of course, a familiar one in Karachi. But given the current state of affairs it augurs ill. A targeted operation is currently under way in the city and the arrest of Hashmi seems to be a part of this. The reaction of the MQM to the events of the last couple of days has been one of anger and condemnation. It insists that Hashmi is not involved in the case of the killing of two policemen with which he has been charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The chief of the party, Altaf Hussain, speaking to leaders from London, has said that the operation in Karachi is a form of ‘ethnic cleansing’ much like the one that took place in 1992. That said, it is worth remembering that the MQM is no longer a party representing only the ‘mohajirs’. It was, after all, renamed ‘Muttahida Qaumi Movement’ in 1997 and should as such stand for all people regardless of their ethnicity.
Leaders of other parties, including the PPP, which rules in Sindh, have pointed out that arrest of their workers and members have also been made in the past. At no point was an ethnic motive claimed for these. The problem of Karachi is that criminal gangs have become closely linked to political entities and the result is the chaos we see today. For any operation to succeed, the cooperation of major political parties in Karachi is essential. Some sort of order and peace must be brought to this metropolis and given the situation we see today, it is clear that that will not be an easy task. It is time that all other interests be put aside to save the city from spiralling further into the cycle of violence and unrest that seems to have consumed it.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2013.
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The deteriorating security situation in Karachi is a serious concern for the nation of Pakistan. Karachi is the largest city of Pakistan, and the ongoing surge in violence impacts the rest of the country. We’ve always emphasized Pakistan’s importance in the region. We cannot have a safe and secure region without a safe and secure Pakistan. We stand by the government of Pakistan in its effort to bring the situation under control. We have full trust in their abilities to negate the threat of violence in Karachi. We wish to see peace prevail throughout the city, and we wish a safe and secure environment for its residents.
Ali Khan DET, United States Central Command
The problem with Karachi and Sindh in general is the mentality that once elected into office, a public office bearer feels not responsibility towards the same public that voted him, in fact, he thinks they have given him a license to feed on their blood. This is the same mentality that PPP brought to the centre. and this is exactly what MQM is braying about when it cries about public mandate. Public mandate does not mean that you are above the law. . One should understand that what's happening in Karachi as a result of this targetted operation is only implementation of the law of the land, which is the same whether you have the mandate or not, whether you are a public office holder or not. In fact, it is more strict for public office holders are they are an example for the masses to follow. So any complaints by the provincial govts. that their mandate is being stolen are simply not true. They still have their mandate, and the power to govern the province as they like, but not to demonstrate criminal negligence or promote terrorism and brutality.