Supreme Court order on Karachi

The SC should ensure that this aspect, that the Taliban are not the only reason for the violence, is not ignored.


Editorial November 04, 2012

The Supreme Court, nearly a year after issuing an order in its case on the law and order situation in Karachi, has now given an interim report demanding the police take action based on its recommendations. The primary order of the Supreme Court is that the Taliban threat in the city should be taken more seriously, with particular focus on illegal immigrants. The step is both bold and courageous but perhaps, does not take account of the entire picture of why violence occurs in a city the size of Karachi. It has been known for some time that Taliban militants are operating in Karachi and are responsible for a lot of bank robberies and kidnappings for ransom so that they can raise money for their cadres in the tribal areas. For that reason alone, it is impossible to fight militancy in Pakistan while ignoring the Taliban’s presence in the country’s largest city.

This does not mean, however, that the Taliban are the only actors involved in violence in the city. In fact, these extremists probably account for no more than a small fraction of the violence. Primarily, the law and order situation is caused by political parties and groups that have become used to practically owning certain parts of Karachi and which are more than willing to use guns to defend their turfs. There are several political parties operating in the city, which have armed gangs willing to follow up their threats with brute force. Disputes among these parties are settled through targeted killings, not negotiations.

Singling out illegal immigrants as potential suspects is also unlikely to help in the fight against the Taliban. Most of the Taliban in Karachi are legal citizens of the country, with very few foreigners in their midst. Targeting illegal immigrants will only end up making scapegoats of the Afghan refugee population and igniting further tensions between different political parties. After a period of relative calm, that is the last thing Karachi needs. The peace in the city is fragile and people continue to be killed at an alarming rate. No doubt the Supreme Court’s intentions are good but it should ensure that this aspect, that the Taliban are not the only reason for the violence, is not ignored.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2012.

COMMENTS (1)

Shehryar | 11 years ago | Reply

Well said ET!!!

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