Who can curb target killings?

If political parties are unwilling or unable to work towards peace, the police has to do its job without bias.

The targeted killings that continue to haunt Karachi reflect a breakdown that is an indictment of the entire administration of the city, be it the political parties, the police or the judiciary. It is unfair, then, to single out any one actor for its negligence. Yet, the provincial government has done just that, placing the lion’s share of the blame for the targeted killings on the judiciary. The Sindh government claims that the judiciary is hampering efforts to tackle the problem by setting free on bail those who are responsible for it. The police have also come in for some criticism for corruption and buckling under political pressure. None of what the Sindh government says is untrue. But it is being disingenuous in ignoring the role played by political parties and the police.

While the police and judiciary play a law enforcement and punishment role, political parties have it within their power to cut off violence at its source. Too often, political parties have been content to use violence to demonise its opponents. The one exception to this in recent times was the MQM’s call for restraint after the murder of Imran Farooq. It is no coincidence that there was significantly less blood-letting than feared in the days that followed. With Farooq’s body scheduled to arrive in Karachi this morning, the MQM can play a similar calming role once again.

But if political parties are unwilling or unable to work towards peace, the police has to do its job fearlessly and without bias. One reason so many of those accused of targeted killings are able to get bail is that they plausibly claim in court that they have been arrested only because of their political affiliation. And given the incompetence of many police investigations, there is often insufficient evidence to convict the accused. A truly independent police force, one which can operate without fear of political repercussions, is needed to bring to justice those responsible for the violence in Karachi. Until that happens, the judiciary is little more than a convenient scapegoat for an across-the-board failure.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2010.