Stabilising Karachi: PM secures broad support for operation

MQM still insists on army role; claims Rangers, police have failed.

KARACHI:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lent an ear to all stakeholders on Tuesday, a day before chairing the special cabinet meeting in which major decisions will be taken on the Karachi law and order situation.

He held three separate meetings with political and religious leaders, business community and officials to solicit consensus and take their input.

“Different demands have been made from different parties, but all stakeholders have reached a consensus on strict action to be taken against elements responsible for the lawlessness,” he said during a meeting with political parties at the Governor House.

The leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party, which is the ruling party in Sindh, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Pakistan Sunni Tehreek attended the meeting.



He said that the government would establish its writ using all available resources to bring peace in Karachi. “We lost our government in 1998 due to the deteriorating law and order situation. Nonetheless, we have decided that our government will not let anyone destroy peace in the city at any cost.”

Other than just government action, legislation is also needed to improve the situation. “The criminals arrested are either released on bail or acquitted. There is no eyewitness protection law,” the prime minister said.

The government is yet to decide on who will lead the operation, which is the only area where stakeholders differ. All political parties, except for the MQM, want a targeted operation led by the police and Rangers. The MQM, however, demands a joint operation with a major role of the army.

“The government is considering granting more powers to the Rangers. We will give them as many powers as they need to uphold the status of Karachi as the city of lights,” the prime minister reiterated.



However, after the meeting, MQM leaders Haider Abbas Rizvi and Babar Ghauri said the Rangers have failed to deal with the unabated violence and, therefore, they need the help of the armed forces. “The Taliban, land mafia and drug mafia are enmeshed in the city. They have turned many areas into no-go areas where the police and Rangers have no access. This is why we want the army to step in,” they emphatically said.

Meanwhile, PPP’s Qadir Patel and Taj Haider suggested that the operation should be held under the supervision of the chief minister and the provincial government.

On the other hand, Sarwat Ejaz Qadri of the Sunni Tehreek demanded an operation like the one initiated by former interior minister Naseerullah Babar in Benazir Bhutto’s second tenure.

Meeting with security officials

During the law and order meeting, the prime minister directed the officials concerned to make a joint strategy with the military intelligence, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to maintain law and order. He decried the poor performance of the police.

Sindh IG Shahid Nadeem Baloch acknowledged that targeted killings and violence have increased manifold in Karachi, but complained, “We cannot take action until or unless the police are given a free hand against the criminals.”

The prime minister said firmly, “Who has stopped you people from arresting criminals? I want to see action.”

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhry was of the view that there was a severe communication gap between the police and intelligence agencies. “Intelligence officials do not share information with us properly.” We have a shortage of personnel and latest technology because most of the CCTV cameras are not working. We need a revamped surveillance system in the city, he said.

The prime minister, while asking them to be prepared for action in a few days, assured the chief minister who also holds the portfolio of home ministry that the federal government will provide equipment.

PTI boycotts but has options

Initially, the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had boycotted the meeting as the government had not invited them.

However, PML-N senior leaders called PML-F chief Pir Pagara who then sent the party’s Imitiaz Shaikh to attend.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, PTI chairman Imran Khan said his party is to give substantive proposals that can help create peace in Karachi. Time has come to address these problems through a fresh and revolutionary approach, he remarked. “PTI stands committed to working for peace and order in Karachi. We say leave aside all political party compulsions and tackle the burning problems with determination.”

He called for depoliticisation of the police, deweaponisation and removing militant wings of all political parties.


Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2013.