For the past two years, the police have been barricading parts of Clifton and Defence in an attempt to stop the revelry on New Year’s Eve from disturbing the residents of these areas. But it seems that this strategy itself has caused great inconvenience to those people it was supposed to help.
Around 30 blockades, comprising tanks and containers, were set up in DHA and Clifton this year. “These blockades are very disturbing for the residents, but we know that many of them are willing to bear with these,” said Col. Amjad, who is the director of the vigilance department of DHA. He stressed that the residents prefer these measures over other nuisances that occur during the occasion.
“We want New Year’s Eve to be an event which is enjoyable for everyone instead of just a bunch of unruly young men. Parents play a crucial role in preventing the rowdiness that occurs on the occasion,” said Clifton SP, Tariq Dharejo.
The frustration for young men, who usually spend New Year’s Eve racing, showing-off their customised vehicles and mingling with the opposite sex, was palpable this year. There have been accusations that the security measures were a part of an elitist strategy to prevent the city’s have-nots from enjoying Sea View, which is supposed to be a public amenity. These claims did not sit well with the police. “The aim and scope of our objective is to deter crime and to keep the flow of traffic moving,” said Dharejo. The law enforcers claimed that young men show up at Sea View drunk and start misbehaving with people. Their behaviour causes accidents and provokes violence.
The law enforcers’ other aim, which was to restrict aerial firing, was only partially attained.
But this cannot necessarily be attributed to the ‘outsiders’ who entered the posh locality. “Influential people still engage in firing. Many of them belong to families that are related to the government and have private as well as official guards who fire weapons. Sometimes teenagers from these families also engage in the disruptive activity,” said Dharejo.
“If you ask me, the firing this year was a lot less as compared to that in previous years. The casualty and injury count serves as evidence for this fact,” said CPLC chief, Ahmed Chinoy.
The adviser to the Home Department, Sharifuddin Memon, said: “These measures were deployed under extraordinary circumstances. We had been informed that certain places would be attacked and Sea View was the place where terrorists could have made the maximum impact.”
The threat from terrorism and a generally high crime rate provides a blanket of cover for the authorities to take heavy handed measures to protect the public. “The fact is that people who were genuinely trying to celebrate New Year’s Eve were suffering because of the measures,” said Chinoy. “The [law enforcement] agencies have to preempt all the possible unsavory incidents which can occur on occasions like these.”
Unlike other people in the city, the residents of Defence and Clifton enjoy easy access to the beach front. New Year’s Eve used to be a night where many the residents of Karachi could share this privilege and celebrate together.
Heavy-handed measures by the police of the area are a temporary solution to extraordinary circumstances. But these may also lead to a greater division and greater resentment in an already fractious city.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2012.
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