Two plain-clothes policemen take part in an operation in Karachi. PHOTO: PPI/FILE
Attorney-General Munir A Malik on Thursday uncovered the existence of yet another shadowy group that is believed to be sowing trouble and is responsible for the shock-and-awe situation in the city.
In a report submitted at a hearing of the Karachi suo motu case, the attorney general laid bare the role of the so-called ‘Muhajir Republican Army’.
Malik filed the report in response to the Supreme Court notice to the federal government to present its stance on assisting the Sindh government in curbing unabated violence and crime in the metropolis.
The report suggested legal action against the group if and when its members are identified. “All-out efforts are required to identify the members of the Muhajir Republican Army and action taken against them under the law,” it said.
The larger Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising justices Jawwad S Khawaja, Gulzar Ahmed, Muhammad Athar Saeed and Sheikh Azmat Saeed, was hearing the suo motu case that was initiated in August 2011 after Karachi went through one of its bloodiest summers.
In October 2011, the bench had ordered implementation of its verdict to curb targeted killings and calling political parties to stop supporting crime groups. Due to the recent spate of targeted killings and other violence, the Supreme Court bench resumed the hearing.
The interior ministry wrote in the report that Karachi is confronted with multi-dimensional threats. Besides other forms of organised crime, major threats are terrorism, targeted murders, sectarian and ethnic killings.
“Over time, criminal gangs have matured into formidable syndicates which have developed alliances with terrorist cells,” the ministry claimed, adding, “Unfortunately, they have also developed political patronage.”
Helping Sindh
The attorney-general submitted a report in which the interior ministry assures that the federal government would fulfil its responsibilities under Article 148(3), extending all-out assistance to the Sindh government. At first, he said the report was confidential but later said it may be made public. In the report, the interior ministry submitted that when the incumbent government took over in June, the law-and-order situation in Karachi was in a shambles. The interior ministry would resolve the situation by helping the provincial government and utilising the strength of its federal institutions, including the paramilitary Rangers, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and National Alien Registration Authority (NARA).
The report advised that NADRA’s fingerprint-matching capability may be used to identify criminals and wanted foreigners.
The federal government has increased operational coordination between the police and Rangers and provided Sindh police officers with anti-terrorism training abroad, it said. The interior ministry’s aerial wing was also available for surveillance when required, the report informed.
To put an end to the use of illegal mobile SIMs possibly by criminals and terrorists, it has been decided that if those SIMs numbering 4.47 million cannot be verified by September 15, they will be permanently blocked.
In addition to coordination with the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the interior ministry asked the agencies to identify the first and second line of leadership in the criminally involved communities in the no-go areas.
The interior ministry has urged Rangers and the police to muster up more force urgently to increase patrolling in all areas but it said an outright major operation should be avoided “at all cost” since it could an open “a new front”.
More security forces need to be placed in Katchhi-dominated areas, in coordination with the local communities, it stated.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2013.
COMMENTS (40)
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@ Aysha M
Believe it or not, but it was a complete surprise for me to see you commenting like this. I really appreciate this piece of writing. I hope you keep writing this way rather than just blindly following any political party. Keep up the good work!
Yeh Firdous ki lawn aapki hoee!
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/18671/bring-the-army-to-karachi/
Excellent blog Arsalan We in Karachi have trained ourselves to be passive and what we see today in our beloved home city is an outcome of decades of our indifference to the city which not only feeds us but the country. We are supposedly the most educated segment of the population in Karachi but we have never been able to develop a vision for the future of our city. We have never raised the fundamental questions. We the civil society of Karachi has been criminally negligent of our collective responsibility to watch over our interests. Two things I would like to know more about. From where is all this weapon coming into Karachi when there is not a single manufacturing factory in the city. Why can it not be seized before making it to Karachi? Why can we not have a powerful city government? All mega cities around the world have independent and effective city governments with political, administrative and financial mandate. City governments have policing, transport and utilities under them. If you don’t want to look at London, New York, Sydney or Paris, look at Vietnam, manila or Bangkok, even Dhaka. Life in Karachi will never be fixed until managed by elected representatives and not appointed bureaucrats.
I like to believe that solidarity among Karachities is subcutaneous. Karachites may they belong to MQM, PPP, PTI ANP, JI PML-N, PML-F or ST, any other political force will stand together and fight for a powerful local government, nothing else can fix Karachi.
All are welcome to work in the citybut they have to demonstrably become a Karachite and behave like one, which means that all need to look beyond party lines and fight for a strong city government.
A famous catch phrase by Tom Cruise, ‘HELP ME HELP YOU’ . I request all, ‘HELP KARACHI HELP PAKISTAN’. We in Karachi would like to earn more for you and continue and even enhance our contribution to the country’s economy, but for that we need help from the whole of Pakistan. Please support us in getting Karachi a city government that functions. The civil society, political parties, the media, the judiciary, the army, whatever it takes please help us help you
Lol can care to share the refrences of your study or did you just type the numbers that just looked right to you@malik59:
@ Namaloom!
I would like to add a line to your comment.
I completely agree to what you have stated above.
@Namaalom!: Well said!
What 2.0 Million ...??
these myths of sacrifices should be objectivly researched ....again.
what i have found out so far is .
1- 12-13 Lac people were killed during the 1947 Punjab's Holucaust.... 10 lac of them were punjabis . 2- 14.2 Million peoples were displaced .... 9.3 Million in Punjab ... 4.7 East to west , 4.6 West to Ease..... 3.2 Million were displaced in Bengal ...then after 48 ...when things have become relatively normal .... 1.2 Million educated middle Class Sindhi was forced to migrate ..go figure out the rest.
3- Communal violence s were started with a deliberate strategy ... first in Aug 46 in Bengal ..when Direct Action day was called... and the same story was repeated in Punjab ... on 3-4 March 1947 ...in and around Pindi area ...when Muslim Leaque ..whose hierarchy was dominated by non-pujabis , non-bengalis, and non-Sindhis for that matter ...unleashed its Razakars .... which then massacred 5000-7000 non muslims ...predominately Sikhs .... pushing the Sikhs against the wall and to a point of no return ...ensuring the communal violences later on ... Soljs at that time were negotiating with Jinnah for their position in Pakistan ..post independence ...
so ..the ball was rolled ... communal violence ensured for instill FEAR of survival in the muslims ...especially in the muslims of the majority provinces Bengal and Punjab ...so that some one could get a land .. a la revival of Mughal Empire based on Pidram Sultan Both mentality ...... aka the Victor mentality ... ..and this victor mentality is the cause of all these cliche claims of sacrifices....!!
@ karachiwala
My brother, I appreciate and second your thoughts. No one can disagree to it. However my only point is that we have already dismembered ourselves into small bits and pieces; and we cannot afford anymore.
What I have observed here is that some of the commentators are just closing down themselves behind the boundaries of Karachi. Their world starts and ends at Karachi. Believe it or not, most of them even wouldn't have step out their feet beyond Karachi throughout their lives. And then they start to criticize everyone without knowing the problems of common men throughout Pakistan.
As a karachi-wala myself, I also feel the same pain which you do. But I also feel the pain of the residents of other cities. Don't you see the comment above stating :
Do not forget it were our forefathers who struggled and sacrificed 2.0 million people for the creation of pakistan and freedom of sindh and punjab from hindu and sikh domination
Isn't this the complete fabrication of history? As per the census of 1951, 7.226 million Muslims went to Pakistan from India, out of which 5.3 million were from Punjab. The rest were from other states of India.
This is the mindset which needs to be changed. Denouncing everyone and becoming the champion of everything will not benefit anyone. Everyone is the representative of his/her city, but please also keep in mind that there are other people too living in Pakistan. Create an environment of harmony, rather than confining yourself into smaller area.
60 years back, it was us (Muslims) and them (Hindus**). Then it turned out to us (West Pakistan) and them (East Pakistan). Then again, it turned out to as us (anyone from his own province) and them (the opposing province). Now again its us (Karachi-wala) and them (Sindh/Punjab/KPK).
How much far we want to go? We (Nazimabad-wala) and them (Lyari-wala)???
Have some mercy on our poor country!
** No offence intended to Hindu readers.
ET my comments are mild and only meant for common good, why am i penalized for my political inclination, my response for comments directed at me are not put through. Please support productive discussion on the page and print all meaningful comments
@Namaalom!: @ Aysha MCan you please share the link to that blog. I am sure I and everyone else will be really delighted to see you commenting as a Pakistani.
No: The link was made of ice, it just melted away in the heat!
@Namaalom!: Although you have replied to another contributor, but as a Karachite, I feel your comments need a reply Why do you think that if one thinks of Karachi, he/she is not thinking about the whole of Pakistan? After all Karachi is a part of Pakistan and if Karachi bleeds, as its doing now, the whole of Pakistan bleeds. Its a part of a whole. If in a body, even if a finger bleeds, the whole body is affected. As a Karachite, I represent the whole country/population. What makes you think otherwise? Of course I own whole of Pakistan. " Are you known as a Pakistani or a Karachite?" What a ridiculous question How can you equate the two. One is a part of the whole. If a Lahori can proudly say “Lahore, Lahore ae” why can’t I talk about Karachi. By saying that, does it make him a “less” Pakistani? NO. He is proud of his city and so am I. “Let’s be Pakistani …. just for a day.” My friend…..I am a PAKISTANI every day of my life, not just for a day….and I don’t need a certificate from anyone
@sohail khan: @ Haseeb:Do not forget it were our forefathers who struggled and sacrificed 2.0 million people for the creation of pakistan and freedom of sindh and punjab from hindu and sikh domination.........
21st century Naseem "Hijazi" deserves a Nobel Prize in "Manufacturing History." Sindhis and Punjabis are eternally grateful for your James Bondsy effort but 170 million Indian Muslims are still waiting for modern day mujahid, The Knight on Camel, Ghazi Sohail Mahmood Babar Ghaznavi Ayubi to come and rescue them from Hindu and Sikh domination. When can Joe Public expect next action filled epic in cinema near his home?
@ Haseeb: Do not forget it were our forefathers who struggled and sacrificed 2.0 million people for the creation of pakistan and freedom of sindh and punjab from hindu and sikh domination. I think MQM is sincerely trying to go with old sindhis with hand in hand, but unfortunately, the sindhi parties PPP and sindhi nationalists have taken oath to oppose muhajirs in every matter may be it is sindh local government or any legitimate rights of urdu speaking sindhis. You can see how old sindhis have grabbed all the sources and posts in karachi and urban areas, deprived the urdu speakings from their rights.
@M. Emad: Fools they reward neither here nor there
Indian muslim refugees (1947) --- the Muhajirs (now 3rd/ 4th generations) --- are fearful about their future (in Pakistan). They see the fate of Bihari Muhajirs in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Pakistan was not considered a stable country. After creation of Bangladesh, many question the ideology behind creation of Pakistan. Two books written by (A Dilliwala Muhajir) Brigadier (r) A. R. Siddiqi documented the muhajir worry: (1) Muhajir mindset:Creation of Pakistan (2) East Pakistan: The Endgame.
People of Karachi should be united against the terrorists. All political parties who are representative of the port city and Sindh province, should distance them from the armed wings. Militant outfits should be eliminated by the law enforcement agencies. Foreign hand should be unveiled and punished for conspiracy against the economic hub of Pakistan. This will restore the peace in the city of lights. In Sha Allah!
@ Aysha M
Can you please share the link to that blog. I am sure I and everyone else will be really delighted to see you commenting as a Pakistani.
@Reader: First with due respect, read Ayesha's comment...she said all Karachites and that obviously includes all.....you are trying to put words in horses mouth by your one sided comment....such action by you and people like you exposes your negative mind. All people living in Karachi irrespective of their race, religion, tribe or ethnic background are called Karachites and when Ayesha says all Karachites means this.... Pls do not create something out of nothing to create a wedge between different people in Karachi through your such comments.MRA inshallah will also turn out to be like Jinnahpur which was accepted as figment of establishment imagination by no less a person of Lt Gen rtd Asad Durrani stature and it is on record.....sanity should prevail and positive solutions should be found out instead of negative and one sided perceptions.....this is not 1990 era and the issue of Karachi should be handled with a cool mind.....if we have people like you we do not need enemy. ET pls print my comment as truth must prevail and people who try to twist things should be put in their proper place.This country including Karachi is ours and must be protected at all cost.If we fight among ourselves, external enemy does not need to use their expensive armed forces and equipment to harm us if we are the enemy of our own.....
@Reader: We have to think because this where we live And in this city unfortunately about 10 innocent people lose their lives everyday
@Sir Kashif: She has said: "each Karachites is a spokesperson of the city.".....so......
@Mishrab: What are thinking that splitting Sindh/ Pakistan is so easy, problem with us (karachities) is that we are living in fools paradise and going to be happy by passing these comments. Violence in Karachi should be controlled at any cost. to increase investment and make country prosperous.
@Omer: Our Home Minister has already withdrawn the AG's report about this outfit So now you realise that this was another Jinnahpur !!!!
@Usman: What about the other cities? Are there saints there?
Sindhi people give us (so called mohajirs) their home land but still we are living in false paradise of mohajiristan. we should unite to save Karachi, save Sindh, save Pakistan. Mohjir republican army is another attempt to make grounds for blood shed in Sindh by dividing in Sindhi and mohajir/ rural and urban. we youngsters should raise voice against this. my grand father tell me how Sindhi supported us when we reach with bare hands. british / amerians have interest in Karachi so they are intervening.
@Sir Kashif: @Namaalom!:
Please read my comments to a blog on Karachi, thanks @Reader Definition by its very nature reflects commitment to analysis. Please define a Karachite for me
Its high time to take steps and eradicate such BLA or MRA milliants.... We demand peace in our country, the army has been successful in Swat and it has the potential to bring Karachi back into harmony...
@ Aysha M
Why only city or a specific ethnicity? Why can't you be a representative of your whole country or whole population? Don't you own whole Pakistan? Are you known as a Pakistani or a Karachite? Why do you close down yourself within the boundaries of Karachi?
Let's be Pakistani .... just for a day. I am sure everyone here will be very happy to see you that way.
@Aysha M: why you MQMrs always think that you are the only karachites, this is the root of all problems, respects rights for others
@Aysha M:
Who told you that you are a spokesperson for Karachi? This is another figment of your imagination.
Where are the people who voted PTI in karachi hahaha
@shah: I am spokesperson for my city KARACHI, and each Karachites is a spokesperson of the city.
@ Ayesha M
are you the official spokesperson for the muhajir community on tribune's website. You always leave a comment,a totally biased and defensive comment. always.....
Is PPP going to creat another Bangladesh by disrespecting mandate of Urban people ?
MQM and PPP did nothing for the betterment of Karachi and province at large
@ Aysha M
So because the group's name has "Muhajir" in it you just have to discard it?
I am not saying that such group exists or not but I am open to the possibility that perhaps it does. You should too.
What happened to the nexus between Peoples Aman Committee and Baloch Republican Army?
AG is simply weaving stories rather than tackling real issues and causes. Laughable!
Seems like a crude attempt to divert attention from the Lyari criminal gang patronized by the powers to be. Where did the name "Muhajir Republican Army" come from?? Is there an organization by that name? Are they leaving their signature imprints after the killings of innocents???? If a problem is not dealt with in a transparent and professional manner taking the civilian populace in confidence, and with fairness towards all, it tends to boomerang in unpredictable directions. That the problem will have to be handled one day is a given certainty. But after how much damage to the national economy and after how many innocent civilian lives is the question. The ruling parties and their cohorts may hiss today at MQM's demand for calling in the Army to control the situation, but they will themselves be calling for it when the situation gets out of control. Pakistan is not known in the world for taking timely action to combat serious issues and is doing a good job of maintaining this tradition intact. And, what exactly is Pakistan???? We the public. Make no mistake about it.
The tragedy with Karachi is that the real criminals are in political offices. If the SC has the guts, it should at least expose all these players if not bluntly order the police to arrest them.
‘Muhajir Republican Army’ - another figment of imagination like Jinnahpur
this is the most ill fitted report I have seen from AG sindh. I think he is spending more time in CM or bilawal house rather in his own chamber's.