Continuing chaos

In Karachi, there is as yet no end in sight to the violence, which has killed 86 people in three days. We do not know what the toll will be by the time things in the city calm down. There is indeed no guarantee this will happen any time soon. Targeted killings have continued unabated in Karachi since the start of the year, with 686 people being murdered till the end of July. No one has yet come up with a plan to rescue the city from its perpetual misery. Human rights activists, appalled by the murders,with its sectarian and ethnic undertones, have suggested political parties come together to solve the problem. This, however, is easier said than done. Animosity, generated by months of bitter hostility and the ceaseless trading of accusations, will not vanish immediately. Right now it is hard to see the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Awami National Party discussing things in a rational fashion, though, as the senior-most coalition partner, the Pakistan Peoples Party should be pushing both towards this goal.

Almost all the killings we have seen so far have come as a result of shootings. Figures suggest Pakistan has one of the highest volumes of small arms in circulation anywhere in the world. When so many guns are present they are likely to be used. These weapons need to be removed from the hands of the people. A de-weaponisation drive needs to be initiated and carried through forcefully. Similar efforts in the past have failed miserably. The condition of Karachi today makes it plain there is no further room for failure. The only way to safeguard the life of its people and reintroduce a measure of security is to ensure the killings do not continue. This can happen only if permanent measures are put in place with the active assistance of all stakeholders in the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2010.