The writer is Editor of The Express Tribune
There is a lack of transparency. We also don’t know the whole story of NA250. Why was polling delayed in the first place? And what action has the ECP taken against errant polling staff. Given that those polling staff who refused to do their polling duties in sensitive areas of Balochistan were threatened with arrests, why have we not seen the same stick being used in Karachi? Who do we have to hold responsible for the misdeeds of that day?
Who will tell what really happened in Karachi on May 11. Where did voting material disappear and then re-appear. Also, can we say with solemnity that aside from NA250 where voting was delayed and denied, in all other constituencies things were clear and fair? This is a question that the Chief Election Commissioner seems to be avoiding. Given that he has done an outstanding job otherwise, the media has not followed up on this.
Karachi will continue to confound and frustrate whichever government comes to power. One is not sure how to proceed. Currently the city is being seen as a battleground for different forces, not all of them political. Law and order remains the city’s biggest challenge. The police seem to have turned mercenary and the Rangers only intervene when pushed and prodded.
By and large, we are told that control of the city remains with the MQM and the PPP. Possibly this is not as clear-cut as we think it is. In the meantime, we are waiting to see who takes over as the province’s chief minister – the province’s chief executive. Names in the run include Nisar Khuhro, Owais Muzaffar and even Faryal Talpur. Then we will wait and see who will be appointed the home minister – the portfolio that manages the city’s law and order. It is a thankless job where the stakes are very high.
Two former home ministers seem to have been banished to oblivion. Zulfiqar Mirza is out of the public eye even after his commendable stage performances. But one wonders whatever became of Manzoor Wassan, a respected politician known for his dreams, who also left the country for Dubai but came back and was shunted here and there. We hope the home ministry is taken more seriously.
Things are changing. It is noteworthy that the PTI has emerged as the alternative voice for Karachi, given the numbers it has polled in most of the seats in the city. That is possibly what is upsetting the MQM. But this is by no means a transition that some seem to suggest. The MQM remains the city’s most popular party.
Last week, once again the city saw the senseless killing of a public figure. PTI senior member Zahra Shahid Husain was shot by men who the police suspect were robbers but Imran Khan suggests otherwise. Any loss of life in such a manner should be condemned. The challenge for the PTI is to make sure that the killers, whoever they are, are brought to justice. Too many times have we seen public figures being killed, possibly for reasons that we are unaware of. At the same time we should be wary of jumping to conclusions.
In the run-up to the elections, PML-N leaders repeatedly talked about fixing the city’s law and order situation. Will that be possible if the provincial government is in the hands of the PPP? And if the federal government goes for an operation, will it be able to be even-handed? For one, will it be restricted to this side of the mountain or will it also be extended to the other side, where the TTP holds the reigns?
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2013.
COMMENTS (16)
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Yeah it’s an ignominy that the agenda of Karachi according to the law enforcing agencies is basically in the hand of “Namaloom Afrad” for whom this place has become a puppet show. While in spite the people who rigged Election 2013 are in front of us, but we can’t get justice, so how can we think that the killing of Zahra Shahid and other party workers will be brought into justice soon? (as in these cases like rigging there are no valid proof or snap of culprits yet). Apart from this the question I want to ask from the elected government that is the security of precious lives and maintaining peace in Karachi was not the part of their manifesto, which they proclaimed before the election? If answer is NOT then they should keep in mind that if they won’t fulfill their promises with in the “time limit” then already frustrated people can’t lead them to govern any more as “Silence is betrayal to the Pakistani Nation now”. And in this aspect i think the government needs to remind the “Arab Revolution”.…
Post election situation is not satisfactory at all. these protests , sit ins has become routine nowadays. the future of Karachi has now become a question mark. instead of increasing rivalries with each other the powerful parties in karachi should be united for the sake of city.
On the other hand the assassination of Zahra shahid hussain is a very regrettable event no doubt but in my opinion Imran khan's reaction on that mishap was not fair at all. Now his rivals have got a new reason to do planning and propaganda against him. He should be very careful in a situation like this in future.
Yes, Indeed, MQM remains the 'all powerful' and PTI took NA250. But what these two parties are forgetting is that instead of fighting each other they should construct a strategy to tackle the ongoing law and order situation in Karachi. As for 'Chief Minister Seat' its obvious, PPP will have its own candidate there. But just like previous 'Mr. Qaim Ali Shah', it is not supposed to have any PPP candidate is going to make any difference here. Operation in Karachi doesn't look any way near soon... The city is already in shackles and need some careful planning from Para military forces. PMLN needs to think about the situation in Karachi and should take precautionary measures for the well being of its citizens. Announcing metro bus projects looks more of a lame excuse to keep themselves away from the ground realities. As for the home parties, dharna's and rallies are not so practical options. The lads should grow up and extend a hand of solidarity toward each other instead of mudslinging.
If you guys own Karachi then show it to the people by your ACTIONS, not your WORDS.
Media peoples in karachi are puppies in the hand of MQM can u descriped it why...
A great effort by the writer to put down the most messed up things about Karachi so nicely in this write-up.
ECP promised "free and fair elections", but yet again that didn't happen. Will there "ever" be elections without rigging in Pakistan? Since NADRA was involved in the election process, ECP should take their help in order to verify the voter data, especially the thumb impressions.
Whoever plays around with Karachi, they are never discovered, and titled "Na-maloom afraad". Are they aliens or what, that it becomes SO HARD for the security forces to capture them? PPP is once again ruling Karachi, I wonder what they'll do on provincial level when they didn't do anything good, worth highlighting, when they were ruling Pakistan as a whole.
When thinking about Karachi, one should remember that it is not only where Muhajirs live(so MQM should stop trying to make decisions about Karachi on that basis), but people from other provinces are living here as well, and also from countries like Afghanistan and Iran. And now, things have become even worse as the TTP is spreading its operations in this city. Karachi is a mess, and needs to be handled with utmost care. The previous governments did not do anything to make Karachi a peaceful place to live in, and now this challenge is on the shoulders of PML-N. Agreeable that peace can not be brought in Karachi in one go, but the government should at least make an effort to do something about it. I hope the new government bans a 'particular political party' from announcing "youm e soug" and useless strikes, in which they paralyze Karachi. PML-N, please do all that is possible to bring back freedom and peace back to Karachi! The Karachi that we Karachites live in today, is suffocating.
MQM, itself a terrorist organization, must be dealt with as they feel the TTP should be dealt with. That will go a long way towards bringing peace back to karachi. its really not that hard. if the situation gets out of control which we all know it will, the federal government should simply impose governors rule and clean Karachi's clock once and for all. A red line should at least be set in this regard. Cross it, and you're done.
No matter who runs the provincial government in Sindh..MQM calls the shots please. Let us accept this.
@Mirza: PPP has won only the interior Sindh's seats. And we all know how much free and independent is the electorate there. Suffice it to this, 33 or some feudal lords and Makhdooms won those seats for PPP. As for PTI, it was there first ever election yet they have secured more votes than the PPP. It got second hoghest number of votes in Karachi, Lahore and all over the country. Now they have a whole series ahead of them unlike PPP which is on its death bed.
@Sindhi_Sufi:
Since millenia SINDH is the same, no infrastructure development, no health , no education. Even today it gives an unfortunate look of a stone age era despite numerous SINDHI CMs have ruled it since Independence. WHY?
@Aysha: You forgot to mention another reason for MQM's popularity..... you turn up dead if you oppose MQM....
An excellent and wisely written oped on the issues that face Karachi and made lives of citizens an endless misery, where nothing is secure. The irregularities were well orchestrated and were expected with likes of Fazalullah Pechuha occupying senior bureaucratic positions in Sind, inspite of their known political affiliations and track record.
Since centuries, Sindh has been abode of tolerance, love and peace. But it seems for last 3 decades or so, my Sindh has changed, she witnessed violence, hate, intolerance and blood. Brother is killing brother, thinking that this will alleviate his problems, but it wont, until permanent dwellers of Sindh (New and Indigenous Sindhis) come close together, stay united for making our province prosperous and peaceful. Violence and hate as propagated by certain elements is against the interests of common people. Lets own Sindh and dont let others divide us on secterian, religious and racial basis. We all Pakisanis want a better life, peace and prosperity. Lets extend hands of brotherhood, shun differences, unite for prosperous Sindh and Progressive Pakistan. A Message of love and peace for every one. May my motherland Pakistan prosper.
250 polls low turn out (Only 20 pc in posh areas) busted PTI's popularity baloon in Karachi.
A very balanced Op Ed that asks lots of principled questions regarding the even handedness and transparency of elections. This is one election that is never ending and the results are changing almost every day. In almost all cases the advantage goes to the two TTP supported parties. Why the EC is not even handed? They want to finish the job which TTP support could not finish. Despite the destruction of secular parties by TTP and a walkover by PTI and PML, still PPP came out as the second largest party in NA. Poor Khan cannot even claim to be leader of opposition let alone PM. In other words PPP in its worst day did better than PTI on its best day! Hence the quest for a handful of seats, which is an ongoing work. There has been very little voter turnout in today's partial elections but the desired results are obtained.
MQM remains the most popular party because they have performed and the following reasons;
1.party leader never contested elections or aspired to hold a public office, so truly a genuine leader (needless to say leads a humble ordinary man’s life, can often be seen in TESCO T shirts instead of Versace suits, adorned by some e.g former PM Gilani)
no dynastic politics
no relatives given party tickets (instead brother and nephew martyred)
no attempt made to fill personal coffers
MNAs and MPAs, educated and intelligent people none of them with fake degrees
MNAs and MPAs do not become rich over night, some even live in rented houses
zero tolerance for corruption or nepotism in MQM
MNAs and MPAs stay in touch with people of their constituency and constituents
MQM promotes ethnic and religious harmony (e.g. MPA Reza’s and his bodyguards funeral prayers led by sunni and shia clerics and all followed in their immat, unprecedented event in tainted history of religious discord between shia and sunni in Karachi)
Raising voice for the oppressed (e.g. openly condemning persecution of shias and Ahmedis)
Produced shadow budget for the first time ever in the legislative history of Pakistan
Land reforms bill and de-weaponization bill
Mustafa Kamal phenomenon/model, Pakistan had never seen such enthusiasm and dynamism in a public representative ever before
Distribution of support in disaster area in the length and breadth of Pakistan regardless of ethnicity and religious belonging
and above everything,presenting a model to Pakistani politics that middle and lower middle class people can make it to parliament houses, which were largely meant for fuedals, wadras and industrialists
The list goes on,