Standstill in Karachi
we must ask if strike calls are the right way to protest or if there is political point scoring in the strike call.
A view of the houses damaged by the Abbas town's blast, which killed over 50 people. PHOTO: REUTERS
As if it has not known enough chaos over the past months, Karachi was thrown into further anarchy on March 6, when the MQM issued a strike call to demand the capture of those behind the Abbas Town bombing and to protest the government’s failure to do so.
The majority would, of course, side with the party as far as its stance over the official failure to improve security in Karachi is concerned. Many in the city remain stunned by the bombing, while others are collecting aid for victims, many of whom still lie in hospitals.
But this having been said, the fact is that the sudden MQM strike call threw the city into complete disarray as schools closed, panic mounted and people rushed to the safety of their homes in the face of chaos and mounting uncertainty.
The sense of insecurity which pervades Karachi adds to the mayhem created when events take yet another turn. The disappearance of transport from road, the closure of markets and offices mean a complete disruption in life.
Not unexpectedly, violence was also triggered during the strike, as incidents of firing shots in the air took place and vehicles were set alight.
People remained at home, uncertain as to what to expect in the coming days. As pressure mounted from aggrieved citizens and businessmen, who felt their city could simply not sustain further unrest, the strike was called off after five hours by the MQM with some semblance of normalcy finally returning by the evening.
The MQM may have meant well — the cause that it took up was also a valid one — but we must ask if strike calls are the right way to go about this or if there was an element of political point scoring in everything that happened. Karachi can simply not afford this.
This is a time to reassure citizens, to make every effort to make them feel safe and to keep the city from complete chaos. It needs all its mainstream, all its groups of citizens and every other force to work together to keep peace in the city, prevent further economic loss and avert a still more grave breakdown of law and order, in a situation where it has been wrecked already as a result of the many incidents we have recently seen.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2013.
The majority would, of course, side with the party as far as its stance over the official failure to improve security in Karachi is concerned. Many in the city remain stunned by the bombing, while others are collecting aid for victims, many of whom still lie in hospitals.
But this having been said, the fact is that the sudden MQM strike call threw the city into complete disarray as schools closed, panic mounted and people rushed to the safety of their homes in the face of chaos and mounting uncertainty.
The sense of insecurity which pervades Karachi adds to the mayhem created when events take yet another turn. The disappearance of transport from road, the closure of markets and offices mean a complete disruption in life.
Not unexpectedly, violence was also triggered during the strike, as incidents of firing shots in the air took place and vehicles were set alight.
People remained at home, uncertain as to what to expect in the coming days. As pressure mounted from aggrieved citizens and businessmen, who felt their city could simply not sustain further unrest, the strike was called off after five hours by the MQM with some semblance of normalcy finally returning by the evening.
The MQM may have meant well — the cause that it took up was also a valid one — but we must ask if strike calls are the right way to go about this or if there was an element of political point scoring in everything that happened. Karachi can simply not afford this.
This is a time to reassure citizens, to make every effort to make them feel safe and to keep the city from complete chaos. It needs all its mainstream, all its groups of citizens and every other force to work together to keep peace in the city, prevent further economic loss and avert a still more grave breakdown of law and order, in a situation where it has been wrecked already as a result of the many incidents we have recently seen.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2013.