May 12 investigations

Eleven years ago, some 50 people were killed in violent clashes between workers of rival political parties. Although we have had multiple recorded statements by the likes of certain alleged criminals implicated in the cases confessing to involvement, lethargy on the part of the prosecution prevents justice from being served. It is evident from this attitude that the state’s prosecution department lacks the will to create an environment of law and order. Or, it may be that conflict of interest is causing hesitation and delays. Until this paradigm changes, restoration of justice and harmony in Karachi will not be achieved.

Factually, taking Kamran Farooq’s confessional statement into consideration, we are a country that allows criminals to hold power and control the masses. That Farooq was a member of the Sindh Assembly and confessed to his involvement in the May 12 massacres proves that we permit criminals and political mafias to hold positions and be a part of government. Assembly members and other politicians are assigned for the purpose of ensuring rights for their followers and members of the general public. Instead, however, those same persons await conviction trials for creating disorder and disturbing the peace. The passing of over a decade since the incident and the lack of police action despite admissible court evidence and multiple confessional statements suggest that we cannot consider the police to be our protectors any time soon.

Going forward, the first person causing violent agitation should be stopped before carnage spreads. We need someone who will stop criminals from roaming free and stop the police from allowing criminals to do so. The named criminals must also be brought to hearings with strong consequences for continued absence. Case investigations should continue with all evidence being introduced in court. For the time being, there is no truer example of justice delayed being justice denied.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2018.

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