Political violence : ‘May 12, 2004 and in 2007 were city’s darkest days’

Party calls for national conference to stem violence in metropolis.

KARACHI:

The carnage that took place in Karachi during the by-elections in May 2004 and 2007 was one of the darkest hours in its history, said the Jamaat-e-Islami on Wednesday.

On May 12, 2004, 12 activists belonging to the JI lost their lives when violence broke out during by-elections, while more than 45 people were killed during clashes on May 12, 2007.

“May 12, 2004 and May 12, 2007 are the blackest days in Karachi’s history,” said Professor Ghafoor Ahmed who held a press conference with Mohammad Hussain Mehnti at party headquarters Idara Noor-e-Haq. The families of the victims are still waiting for justice and inquiries into the clashes have yet to be completed.

The change in Karachi’s social fabric since the mid-1980s was the highlight of the press conference. According to Professor Ghafoor, it was until 1985 that Karachi was only known for its vibrant culture, education and social life. However, since then certain elements have instigated hatred based on ethnic lines and Karachi has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons. In 1986, a student Bushra Zaidi was killed in a bus accident, sparking violence that hit Orangi Town particularly badly.

He blamed both civil and military rulers for giving terrorists leeway to “roam around the city and kill innocent people”. Karachi has become vulnerable after the events of May 2007 and the violence that took place in the past three days indicates that the city is plunging into an abyss. The federal government has been approached several times to curb violence but no substantial steps have been taken.

Professor Ghafoor pointed to the abduction and murder of one of their party’s union council members, Junaid Zahidi, in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

For his part, Mehnti said that law and order had completely broken down in Karachi. It  is easier for criminals to “kill with impunity”. However, he added that the JI would try “till its last breath” to change the situation.

The JI will be holding a national conference to try to come up with a solution to end violence, and all stakeholders will be invited. However, Professor Ghafoor said that the biggest party in Karachi, namely the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), will only be invited if it “changes its mindset”. The JI leader said that the operation against bin Laden may have come as a relief for the US but the JI has doubts over whether the outcome was successful. “The pictures that were released after his capture look doubtful,” said Ahmed. “It is unknown whether he has been killed or not.” However, he added that even if Bin Laden is dead, he deserved a burial in line with Islamic traditions.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2011.