The killing fields
The proceedings as well as the comments of the learned judges should shed some light on what ails the city and its corrupt and inept administration. The SC has taken to task the city’s law enforcement administration, currently in the hands of an inspector general of police and a DG Rangers who both insist that all is well. The proceedings have laid bare the abuse of power and cluelessness of our civil and political administration to work towards ensuring peace in Karachi.
We have heard how billions of our money is spent by President Asif Ali Zardari on his personal security, including the state encroachment of a main city boulevard, so that his personal house can remain safe. We see how our police flouts their own rules — many cars driven by police officials have no number plates.
I am reminded of a time when an active member of civil society was called by then police chief Shoaib Suddle to explain some of the problems the city’s traffic faces. This courageous man, who will remain unnamed, said that charity begins at home and that the city’s main police officers are driving in cars that have illegal number plates and tinted glasses. Some of the cars, he added, are also stolen. The man who protested the most on these comments is today the police chief.
The Sindh home department and its shenanigans have also come to light. How are officials enjoying an army of guards and countless official facilities while police stations and government offices struggle to find money to meet legitimate expenses? In the backdrop of these proceedings, the killings in Karachi continue. Senior members and activists of the ANP as well as members of the Pakhtun community (which we are reminded ad nauseum are larger in number in Karachi than in Peshawar) are being targeted. What we are not hearing is how many people who opposed religious extremism and as a consequence fled to Karachi are being killed as well as those who refuse to pay protection money. Karachi is the last frontier in the war against religious extremism and militancy. And so far, the writ of the state continues to be challenged.
It was at the Sindh Governor’s House where I asked then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani why the government was not taking action against public hate speeches by leaders of banned religious organisations and why no notice was taken against those who threatened supporters of Governor Salmaan Taseer. With a straight face prime minister Gilani said that the only hate speech he had heard had come from outside the country.
That is why I wonder when President Zardari tells a foreign audience how difficult it was to find a lawyer for Governor Taseer. Some things simply don’t make sense. And to my mind, the government of “democracy-is-the-best-revenge” seems to be giving ground every day.
In all this, the Malala incident comes to mind. The MQM has called for a referendum asking people whether they want a Pakistan that the Quaid-e-Azam envisaged or a Pakistan run by the Taliban. To give them credit, theirs is the only party that has spoken publicly against religious extremism. In response, the Taliban has declared war on the MQM and threatened to kill its leaders.
The government has, predictably, remained silent. The apologists of the Taliban have come up with a counterargument. They ask why so much hue and cry is being raised about one child when every day, so many children die in drone attacks. Some even say that the whole thing is a drama staged to gain world attention. The only good, if at all, that has come out of the Malala attack has been how this innocent and brave true daughter of Pakistan has gained support from all over the world. The public show of support should be a source of strength for us. In response, our reluctant fundamentalists continue to cause doubt and sow fear.
One can only hope for a more focused approach on how to deal with terrorism and extremism. So far, we have only seen confusion.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2012.
COMMENTS (13)
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My Physics teacher used to say that in science there is no room for 6 sense,an idea or theory simply proves to be true or false.Now I think It worrks in PP era as well, as it has been proven beyond any doubt that DEMOCRACY IS THE BEST REVENGE.
My Physics teacher used to say that in science there is no room for six sense, a theory or idea simply proves true or false.Now' i think this saying works in PP era as well as It has been proven beyond any doubt that democracy is the 'BEST' revenge.
The question arises who will follow law here - ? Killing in karachi is a serious problem that has destroyed many happy homes and if this situation is ignored, the problem will even be the worst.The silent government will bring nothing than destruction to the nation so that every government or private official should look into this matter despite for being engaging in personal benefits and more importantly public VOICE can be the weapon to wake-up silent government to wotk on focussed approach to eliminate terrorism and extremism.
The question arises again that who will follow the law here ? With keeping this in mind that leaders should have complete focus on broad approach despite of being divided in personal benefits. The silence of government will result nothing than destruction to our own state...Let government hear public VOICE !
This has kind of become a norm here, whenever someone raise their voice against an issue 10 people turn to them saying, "So what? What about Waziristan? What about Fata? What about sabzi mandi?" In short there is no point pointing out any problem because a greater evil is already present in society. We should just sit back and let the leaders do all the money laundering they can in peace.
every citizen should follow the law...people who belong to some party are left unquestioned easily only because they belong to a political group. Pakistan will sure become a land of peace when this type of injustice will end.
Why is Karachi more amenable for politics of violence and why do these fanatics find it a convenient city for the criminal activities to thrive in? It is time that all criminals, murderers, extortionists, kidnappers etc be eliminated across the board and no equipment is allowed to come through KPT, Karachi Airport and all main highways leading to the city. This is only possible if corruption is reduced or eliminated, which is only possible when Bhatta is not collected by politicaly affiliated criminal mafias and this free for all land grabbing stops. The Taliban are brutal criminal savages who should be hanged and so should the other criminals be hanged alongwith them. Nobody should enjoy government patronage in this battle for turf, where crime pays and is becoming a booming business. Does it not surprise us why is the Sind Gov more interested in freeing the hijacked sailors from Somalian Pirates, than freeing the citizens of this city from the Pirates of Karachi?
No doubt the MQM has protested against the coming of Talibans into Karachi, but this is also the party that started the use of violence as a tool to exert political hegemony. If Karachi and rest of Pakistan wants to have peace, than there must be rule of law in Pakistan, which basically means no citizen is above the law. Every criminal must be punished irrespective of whether he is affiliated with Taliban, MQM, PPP, PML(F), ANP, PML(N), JI, JUI etc.
Looks like MQM and some teenagers are the only people left standing in Pakistan.
Remember the Aloo Andey boys taking on Taliban and now Malala has challenged them. Others are simply looking for their own safety and the safetyof their 'associates and supporters'.
"In all this, the Malala incident comes to mind. The MQM has called for a referendum asking people whether they want a Pakistan that the Quaid-e-Azam envisaged or a Pakistan run by the Taliban. To give them credit, theirs is the only party that has spoken publicly against religious extremism. In response, the Taliban has declared war on the MQM and threatened to kill its leaders." Regarding this a little correction and comment.
All political leaders including the parliament has condemned the savage act with the exception of JI, JUI, Jamat Dawa and of course the insurgents themselves. Now some argue that the Taliban are part of these so called political/ charitable organisations. What is required is a resolve from other parties that the state will not allow non state actors a monopoly on violence when it comes to violence towards its citizens especially on matters where the constitution gives rights to the citizen, for example education and the democratic process. Nor will the state allow the insurgents and their aforementioned apologists, to use Pakistan soil to target it's neighbours namely China, Iran, Afghanistsn and India. At the moment such a clear message with the option of military action being delayed has to be clearly given, by all political parties other then the aforementioned. PTI , PMLN and of course PPP and ANP have to look beyond their own election expediancies. The army has to be more transparent to let people know what exactly is the ground situation in NWA.
We want Jinnah's Pakistan - that did not envision religious extremism, AND it did not envision "Bhatta Raaj" either. We need an end to ALL violence regardless of which ideology drives it.
Religious extremism should be tackled in whichever way possible but for Karachi its not only that. Militant wings of the political parties and by extension the parties themselves are equally responsible for a lot of killings.
A focused approach will only work when we have diagnosed the threat/problem i.e. religious extremism is threatening our values, customs, liberties, lives and future.