The writer is Editor of The Express Tribune
But that is not to be and yet another layer is being added to the city’s multilayered security apparatus. While one can appreciate the PM’s desire to fix things in Karachi, what is clear is that his advisers are telling him the wrong things. Possibly, they themselves do not have on-ground knowledge. In Karachi, a time-tested rule of thumb has been the more the law enforcers, the more the crime.
Coming back to the decisions by the PM, there was some rejoicing amongst officers in the Sindh police over the appointment of Zulfiqar Cheema as Sindh’s new police chief. But this was premature because our provincial government would have nothing to do with it. The PM had to take back his decision, blaming the media for prematurely announcing the move.
If one looks at the present situation, the crux of the problem is two-fold. First, is the government really interested in fixing Karachi’s law and order situation? And second, will any arrangement be workable? There are different stakeholders in the province. The centre and these parties are pursuing opposite agendas.
Let us give credit where it is due. The federal government has a genuine desire to fix things. It is not a stakeholder in all the mafias that operate here. It benefits from things getting better. The Sindh government, on the other hand, does not seem that serious about law and order.
If the provincial government had its way, things would continue the way they are. Fighting crime and terrorism is not a priority for the Sindh government as we have seen in the past five years. Their focus is more on generating excuses to hire more policemen, so poor law and order suits them.
Much cannot be achieved with the route that our PM has chosen. While he has been sensible enough to insist that the attempts to fix the law and order situation in the city is not an operation, entrusting this to the Rangers is a bad idea. The Rangers are now an economic stakeholder in Karachi, running marriage halls and poultry farms. Despite the fact that they eat away a large chunk of the city’s law and order budget, they have little to show for it. And they are an outside force comprising almost entirely of non-locals. Different agendas are being pursued.
The second question: can we come to a working arrangement for addressing the city’s law and order situation? Possibly. But on ground, it seems unlikely.
The federal government cannot bypass the Sindh government as it moves ahead in the initiative to fix the city. But should it wait for a stamp of approval from an administration that is happy with how things are? The press conference by senior Sindh police officials in which they insisted that all is well at a time that the PM was in the city to look at deteriorating law and order was a message to Islamabad.
That is why, what we see now is that the Rangers seem to be the compromise for both sides. Syed Qaim Ali Shah is willing to give the Rangers powers that put them on a par with the police. But such a move will create more problems than it will solve.
Not much will change. After an operation of sorts, the situation will go back to square one. The biggest losers in this will be the people of Karachi who are looking towards their prime minister for help.
And despite all his well-meaning efforts, he is not able to rise to the challenge. What is frightening is that some say that this effort by the PM may well be the last chance to save the Quaid’s city as it slips into anarchy. If Mian Sahab fails to bring sanity, the mafias will take over whatever is left of the state in this city.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (7)
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@ Ch Allah Ditta has a point. His suggestion tantamounts to establish state with in state that should not be allowed.I agree Rangers, Police, Army is no solution to the problem.First and foremost task is to demolish all the encroachments small or big and clean the city of encroachment mafia ruthless lessly,it will give clean look and 70 percent of the Karachi problem will be over. Since these encroachers flourish under the patronisation of political and relgious parties as it generates lot of money there will be resistance.To overcome put the sympathisers behind the bars. Once this is done we can move forward for phase two to start de weaponisation starting from end to the other. Start should be made from Bilawal House by demolishing un authorised structures and bring it back to its original position, I am sure this will send message to all that government this time is serious.Nothing short ofbthis will work, otherwise you kee chasing the shadow in the dark
@I hope no one is listening to you: Mr. Ch. Allah Daad has a very valid observation. Those who come to the city without any resource are the most likely to get involved in crime. Can you go to Lahore and occupy a land and start living there? No, you can not.
Why cant they use the magic trick Musharraf used for peace in Karachi? As a tv anchor briefly showed the graph the other day, killings were minimal in karachi during Musharrraf time.
@Ch. Allah Daad: What a moronic suggestion!! Not unexpected given your political affiliation
I hope someone from the PM's camp is listening. You need to revamp Karachi's police force to ensure long term order in the city.
The biggest problem with Karachi is its un-checked population growth. There are more than 200 million people and millions of these are unaccounted for. No army, rangers or police can bring normality in this lawless city until some drastic laws are not introduced. Police and rangers are already part of the problem, if this city is given to army, very soon army will also become part of the problem. The reason being, Karachi is a free place. It has no boundaries and no laws to stop its expansion. Un-hindered expansion is the mother of all diseases. This is my suggestion. Let's give Karachi a semi independent status with secured boundaries. After declaring its status and controlling all entry, exit points, start providing residency papers to all its people. Those who do not own or rent a property, do not have a registered business or valid job in government/registered businesses, not enrolled as students/patients should be asked to leave Karachi voluntarily. Once Karachi sheds lots of weight, visitors with valid documents and pre-paid accomodation receipts or written requests of Karachi residents, students and businessmen with proper documents should be allowed to enter Karachi. Control the growth first, profile every citizen and then start hunting criminals.
As the Naya Pakistan takes its shape in KP there is real chance of mass migration to this city from KP. which means more slums more crimes thus more challenges to city administration.