Governance issue: MQM chief demands martial law in Sindh, PPP disagrees

Altaf Hussain made this call after the continuous killings of party workers

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has demanded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declare martial law in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, given the poor law and order situation.

Hussain made this demand late on Sunday night in interviews given to news channels. "The prime minister should advise the president to declare martial law in Sindh," he said, adding that, at times, unpleasant and unpopular decisions have to be taken in order to protect the lives of the citizens.

"Target killings and violence is continuing every day in Karachi and the law and order situation is getting worse," he said. "People are left at the mercy of the Taliban and those terrorists belonging to sectarian outfits."

He felt that the Sindh government remains indifferent and unconcerned about all these problems. Even on Sunday, 10 people including police officers were targeted and killed, he pointed out.

Hussain said that if the prime minister thinks that this is an inappropriate move, then he should allow residents to obtain arms licences. "Licences should be issued so the citizens can buy weapon and take care of their own safety and security," he suggested. "Neighbourhood watch committees should be formed formally."

Accusing the provincial government of patronising criminals and gangsters in Lyari, he said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government was responsible for the worsening law and order. "The Sindh government has recruited those people in the police force who are criminals and their aim is to spread terror," he claimed. "The police pick up innocent men, demand hefty bribes and kill them after torturing them."

Meanwhile, MQM leader Farooq Sattar interpreted Hussain's demand for martial law in the province. "He wants the authorities to seek more help from the armed forces in the province," he said. "[The situation has become such that] we are forced to demand the armed forces to take over for a year or say six months," he clarified. Sattar said that the army should be brought in to fix the law enforcement agencies as the system is "crumbling".

"It is unfortunate that the law enforcers have not been able to work efficiently under the democratic government," he said. "If the armed forces can be involved in courts, then why not in law enforcement."

Referring to Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah's recent statement that target killings have stopped in Karachi, Sattar asked how Shah does not know that so many people are dying every day.

For their part, the PPP dismissed the demand as irrelevant. "The situation in Sindh is not ideal but, compared to previous years, crime figures have been reduced," claimed PPP Senator Saeed Ghani. "Sindh is the only province where more than 900 terrorists have been killed by the police and Rangers."

Ghani said the MQM comes up with a new demand every day, which is damaging the party's own credibility.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2015.