Law-enforcement agencies in Karachi break up a protest rally of nurses through unfortunate means.
KARACHI: Recently, we saw the law-enforcement agencies in Karachi break up a protest rally of nurses (who were demanding promotions) through water cannons, teargas shelling and baton charges. This act by the police was very unfortunate when one considers what ensued in the city soon after the protests came to an end.
The irony lies in the fact that in the next few days, the city was under the grip of massive violence with people being gunned down simply on the basis of their ethnicity or political affiliation. When the police and Rangers needed to play a crucial role in restoring peace to the city, they were nowhere to be seen or even if they were present, they watched as silent bystanders as violence raged on.
These are the same people who are quick to attack those practicing their democratic right to protest in a peaceful manner, but once confronted with those who are behind the mayhem and bloodshed the city witnesses regularly, they can only watch helplessly.
Haniya Javed
Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2012.
