Murder and mayhem

Karachi has seen an eventful 24-hour period. As expected, the MQM’s Saifuddin Khalid swept the by-election for a provincial assembly seat from Orangi, at least 37 people died in a new wave of targeted killings and Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, on the instructions of his party, attempted to resign but was asked by President Asif Ali Zardari to remain in office.

We see how different events in Karachi contribute towards growing tension and a general sense of mayhem in the city. Accusatory statements fly. The MQM says the PPP government is not doing enough to stop the killings. The ANP provincial chief has accused the MQM of obtaining its votes at gunpoint and though turn-out at the Orangi polling booths was high, election observers withdrew given the security situation.

We have seen targeted killings continue through much of the year in Karachi. At best there have been brief lulls. Despite several attempts to secure peace, including the signing of an agreement between major parties in the city a few months ago, levels of tension remain high. The coalition government is now quite obviously under threat and life continues at a hesitant pace with many people naturally jittery, given the possibility of violence expanding and engulfing more lives. On the streets, the least protected citizens, who most often end up as the victims of targeted attacks, live in fear.

This situation cannot be allowed to indefinitely linger on. Despite the many calls made for a demonstration of greater responsibility by all parties, we have yet to see good sense prevail. What all the political players in Karachi need to accept is that they, as representatives, are answerable to people. It is their duty to ensure that they can continue with their lives through the renewed spree of killings makes this impossible. The political games being played out add to the danger of a still more volatile situation developing and threatening the welfare not only of the residents of Karachi but of the country as a whole, given the significant role politics in Sindh play in developments on a wider scale.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2010.