KARACHI:
Although there has been a reasonable improvement in the law and order of Karachi, this peace is transitory and not permanent, came the assessment from Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik here on Saturday.
“The government is working on long-term plan to bring permanent peace to the city,” he added.
The minister met the business community at the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry where he came to discuss ongoing government efforts to improve security in the city. Businesses were up in arms over the kidnappings for ransom and extortion that had risen to unimaginable proportions.
In one example, Malik referred to a Rangers raid on Sunni Tehreek offices before Friday’s strike. He said that people would see more raids if any political or religious party tried to force shops and businesses to shut down during strikes they call. “Yes, I ordered [it],” he said. “I own up my orders, as I want to give a tough message to those who want to ruin the peace of Karachi.” He went on to say that powerful gangs who thought the government could not catch them, are now behind bars. “People will see more action against all criminals regardless of their political affiliation,” he added.
When questioned, the minister assured that the Supreme Court decision on target killings in the city would be implemented in letter and spirit. “I respect the verdict,” he said. “Those alleged target killers who are in police custody will be booked if they are found guilty in investigations.”
The president has approved Rs5 billion to improve Karachi’s security and half of this money will come from the federal government, with the remaining from Sindh. The money would be used to train and recruit police officers and buy them vehicles to increase their reach. He took the occasion to announce that three high-ranking police officers would be awarded the Pakistan Police Medals for playing key roles in arresting criminal gangs.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 9th, 2011.
COMMENTS (4)
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Rehman Malik has atleast spoken the truth with this frank admission. This statement is not only applicable to Karachi but other parts of Pakistan as well since the state is on the backfoot against the sectarian and terrorists attacks all over the country.
As long as the core issues ,the long lingered injustice towards the majority of Karachi's specific linguistic group is not adressed , this kind of temporary and eerie peace will not last .
Mumbo Jumbos from upcountry never savvied the root cause of all the ills of Karachi . And I doubt they ever would .Be It Malik , Kiyani the CJ .
This is purely "Look Busy and Do nothing" operation in Karachi.The strong holds of MQM are not even touched.This operation is just lip service operation to misguide nation and judiciary that an active operation is going on and criminals are being apprehended.But ground facts suggest otherwise.Unless the breeding ground and power houses of terrorists, extortionists and drug mafia are rooted out, the rate of crime and blood shed wont stop.
If PPP would have been sincere for restoring peace in Karachi, Zulfiquar Mirza would have been given free hand to do clean up operation.As PPP's agenda is to woo his alliance partner at any cost, they will not go for any such big clean up operation.
This is not the job of the police.
Like Middle Eastern cities such as Beirut that were riddled by civil wars, only the army could restore order by putting soldiers on every major street corner - and none more than 200 meters apart. This will require a few thousand troops.
This is what Karachi, Pakistan's most strategic city in terms of the economy, needs right now. People both in Karachi and the dependents outside (the entire population of Pakistan is dependent in some way) need this to happen now. Nobody can wait for a weak police force to be retrained (with many of its members probably part of the racket) to take action.
On more thing we need is for found criminals to be hung publicly - such as on traffic lights or major road crossing so that criminals have the fear of God in them.