Curfew fears: Residents worry about routes, CNICs and ruthless law enforcers

Most people are less than happy about the decision to impose a curfew.

KARACHI: As the death toll in Karachi continues to climb, residents chalk in the newest addition to the obstacles in their daily life: a ‘semi-curfew’.

“The school driver has refused to pick and drop my children,” said a worried Zeenat Bibi, who lives in Aligarh Colony. The situation in her area is already tense because of the almost daily firing bouts. Her husband and son are already finding it hard to hang on to a job and the imposition of a curfew would just add to her problems, especially if the curfew lasts for a few days, added Zeenat.

The government’s tentative announcement that a temporary curfew would be imposed in the most sensitive areas of the city has created anxiety across the city.

While details have yet to be finalised, the residents in the affected areas have been advised, or warned, to carry their computerised national identity cards (CNICs) at all times. Patrolling and snap checking would be increased and aerial surveys would be carried out. In case of police encounters, law enforcement agencies would be transported via helicopters. Meanwhile, pillion riding (double sawari) would be banned at night, from 9 pm to 5 am.

Changed routes

Zareen, who lives in Block-14, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, said that life in that area is already disturbed. “All the bus routes have changed,” she said, adding that while it is only some areas that are constantly under fire, such as Pehlwan Goth and Hazara Goth, the rest of the locality too is affected because schools have to be shut down, vans have to take different routes and residents cannot even go out to buy groceries.

The university student said that she was off for a few days because of exams but the rest of her family was sure to be bothered by the curfew. Her father, who works at the PIA International cargo department, used to take an inside route that passes from Rabia City to get to the airport but now he has to take the longer route from Sharae Faisal.

Meanwhile, Farhan, a young man who lives in Block-10 Gulistan-e-Jauhar, has worries of his own. “I’m really forgetful, how will I remember to carry my CNIC all the time!” he fretted. He lives just five minutes away from the notorious Pehlwan Goth and felt that the curfew would ruin their daily routines. “I could often hear the sound of bullets in my bedroom but I know that with this curfew, life will be worse for us ordinary people,” he said. Farhan said that those responsible for the constant violence have political backing and they would not be affected by these new strategies.

Daily-wage labourers

Several residents expressed their reservations on the decision, saying that this is just going to be another excuse for the law enforcement agencies to harass people.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Amjad Qureshi of Qasba Colony said that people living at the junction of Kati Pahari and Qasba Colony Chowk are already suffering due to the perpetual ethnic conflicts in the area. He was of the opinion that a curfew would not solve anything and it would only make it harder for the common man to find work. The worst-affected would be the daily-wage labourers, he added. “The government should ensure that people are not hurt because of this curfew and the elected representatives should stay in constant contact with the residents of the affected areas,” he said.

Anwar Zeb, who runs a cloth shop in Ali Garh, Orangi Town, agreed. “Many of the residents in Orangi are daily wage labourers, who earn Rs500 a day if they can find work. If a curfew is imposed, their children will suffer because they will not be able to make any money,” he said.

Tahir Yusaf, a school teacher in the Frontier Colony, also condemned the decision. “Already schools are shut down too often and there is very low attendance,” he said, adding that a curfew would only worsen the state of education.

Meanwhile, residents might also have trouble when it comes to health facilities.

Dr Sher Bacha, 40, runs his clinic in Bukhari Colony and said that if a curfew is imposed then he will have to close his clinic. The doctor said that curfews are imposed when a government fails to control the law and order situation in an area. This only serves to add to the people’s problem, he said. “The government knows who the killers are. Why doesn’t it arrest them directly?”

Fahim Sheikh, a resident of Gulistan-e-Jauhar, recalled that during the last curfew,  law-enforcement agencies had “behaved brutally”. Residents had felt like they were under a siege and the police had taken innocent men to undisclosed interrogation spots. The authorities should know who is to blame and only the suspects’ houses should be raided, said Sheikh. He also suggested that the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan should be taken on board to prevent any unjust action on behalf of the law enforcement agencies.

Optimists

However, not everyone met the decision with apprehension and fear.

“I think imposing a curfew is a good idea because the law and order situation in the city has deteriorated drastically under the current government. It’s about time someone comes in to control the situation, even if it means taking measures that are inconvenient for residents of the area where they will be imposed. “Every night, we hear gunshots at all hours and I worry about my children who come home late from work,” said 40-year-old Tanveer Hassan, resident of Nazimabad.

Additional input from Samia Saleem, Sohail Khattak and Rida Sakina

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th,  2011.