Karachi’s ‘surgical’ operation

The police were given the back seat in this operation due to the high number of political appointments in their ranks.

To understand the ongoing operation in Karachi, it is necessary to go back to the events taking place in the city at the time it was decided to launch it. Karachi’s major political party, the MQM, had demanded the deployment of armed forces in the port city to control the law and order situation in the city which had killings taking place in double digits. This demand met with severe criticism from the government, but it did instil upon them the urgency to deal with the situation in Karachi. It was eventually decided that the army would not be called in but the Rangers would be empowered to carry out this so-called surgical operation.

One of the reasons why the police were given the back seat in this operation was due to the high number of political appointments in their ranks. There is no denying that the police are most aware of who the criminals are in their jurisdiction, however, they are also notorious for cutting deals and bending under political pressure. But with the Rangers holding the reins, the police became reluctant to share their expertise. A few officials even admitted that the lack of faith in their department has reduced the morale among their men.

Nevertheless, the operation started and soon it became nothing more than a competition to prove who is more competent. If the Rangers arrested 30 suspects in five raids, the police would claim arresting 150 men in twice the number of raids. However, what is most worrying is that for the most part, the arrests have been insignificant. No influential group of extortionists or kidnappers has been busted and none of the highly sensitive neighbourhoods — especially those occupied by the Taliban — have been searched. One hopes that this will soon change and the law enforcers will show that they are actually prepared to do their job with commitment and tackle the mess that the city has become. The alternative is too dismal to contemplate.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2013.

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