‘Beware of the [sic] evil’: The devil drives Prado

Are the abductions in DHA a ghastly rumour or reality?.

KARACHI:

Set aside your fears and consider this for one second: how likely is it that no one called the police if a woman was kidnapped by people in a black Prado from outside Butler’s Café at 2pm in the afternoon - one of the busiest times on the street.

Even if no one called the police, at least someone from the valet parking attendants and guards must have seen something. The Express Tribune went to ask and none of them saw anything. The café is more than willing to share its CCTV coverage with the police if needed.

Through the swamp of social media posts, The Express Tribune was able to find only one person, a DHA resident, Shazia*, who says she saw the ‘kidnapping’ that has gone viral on social media. Shazia has not spoken to the police.



“At around two o’ clock on Wednesday afternoon, I saw a girl being abducted near a lane before Butler’s,” she says. According to Shazia, a young girl (about 18 years old) was dragged screaming out of a Corolla. “I could not see her face but caught a quick glimpse. Her hair was loose and a little below the shoulder. She was being mishandled and pulled by another girl, who shoved her into a black Prado. A boy stood in front of the Corolla’s door. When they succeeded, the Prado sped away, with a red car tailing them.” She added that the young girl’s driver screamed for help, but it was too late.

No reports have been registered at any police station so far - a crucial element for any action to be taken. “Up till now, no one has approached us either directly or indirectly on this matter,” says Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Clifton Nasir Aftab. “All we know is that there is fear among people who use social media websites.”

He has appealed to people to contact them if they have any information. “Let me assure everyone that we will keep the identities of the informers confidential,” he says. Until someone comes forward, it is impossible for the police to stop and search every black Prado. “There are so many of these vehicles in the vicinity of DHA and Clifton,” he adds. For whatever it is worth, the police have started ripping off the tinted film that blacks out windows in vehicles in Clifton and DHA. “You won’t believe it,” said SSP Aftab, “even our own men have come in the line of fire.” He clarified that they were not removing them from imported vehicles with original tinted windows.

The problem now is the panic, which is in some ways more damaging than a collective effort to work with the police. Facebook and Twitter posts detail gruesome unverified stories; one post - with an image of a black Toyota Land Cruiser Prado with a sticker saying ‘beware of the evil’ - has been accompanied by SMS as well. Psychologist Dr Rubina Kidwai explains how these unverified reports are causing panic. “The ambiguity surrounding the situation causes anxiety,” she says. “It is natural to be anxious about the unknown, since the human mind fills the gaps and adds to the fear factor. It makes people insecure, so they curtail their movement.”



Being more careful on the road is clearly important because there are dangerous people out there preying on solitary drivers. “On Sunday night, my husband and I were driving out of a Khayaban-e-Bahria lane a little before midnight, going towards the Sultan Masjid signal, when a car swerved directly in front of us,” says 33-year-old Rabia*. The vehicle was a “battered white Mitsubishi Pajero with a government number plate”. It blocked them. “I told my husband to reverse our car and we sped away,” she explains. “I had a gut feeling that something was wrong.” She should have noted down the licence number, make of the car and direction it was headed in and called 15, advised an officer. SSP Aftab assures that he takes all reports seriously but this comes at a price. “Take the apparent news of the kidnapping of two girls from Zamzama,” he explains. “We tracked down one caller/complainant and it turned out he was informed by a woman and that woman heard about it on Twitter or Facebook.” No one had reported seeing anything.

Small arms, big decisions

The Tula-Tokarev Model 1930 or TT-33 is a clumsy gun whose history dates to Russian Tsarist times. You push the hammer down with the centre of your palm. Pinch the chamber to pull it back (mind the gap as the flesh can get snagged). Release. Squeeze the trigger.

Magar jiggar chahye karne ke liye, somberly advises Tasleem, the guard outside the Express group office. You need guts.

Whether Karachi has the guts is the question. This is the Karachi that has been terrified for a long time but is now turning scarily cold. “My wife, an avid anti-gun person who ridicules me for my collection all the time, asked me to buy a gun for her safety,” said one resident, Shan Zafar.

Others are considering ‘safer’ options. Nazia Latif, who worked at ATCO Laboratories, is clear that she can’t bring herself to pick up a gun. “A taser can help buy some time to make a getaway - where can I get one for my sisters, mother and myself?” she asks.

Citizens (h)armed and dangerous

Confidence in the police force is at an all time low, especially with the chief of police Fayyaz Leghari recently sacked. But people need to weigh their options carefully if considering taking up arms. “If you have a weapon, you will be tempted to use it,” warns Sharfuddin Memon, who advises the home department. “If someone’s patience is low or if they have a big ego, there will be more Shahrukh Jatois.” Weapons can act as deterrents but innately they can do no “good”.

People have a right to protect themselves but Memon feels the police are still doing their job – a job that no one else can fully do.

One avenue that has worked in the past but isn’t put to use fully is citizens-police interaction and coordination.

“If people feel so insecure, they should sit down with government officers or the police community and negotiate,” Memon urges, adding that deputy commissioners and superintendents are educated people, who “also use Facebook”. While many people have decided they want to own a gun, and have bought one, much of the debate is still just on Facebook - an indication of the magnitude of the debate and its consequences. One user posted a disturbing yet relevant question: “I wonder what would happen if citizens start shooting back at the namaloom afraad?”

*Names have been changed

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2013.