Rangers operation in Karachi

Less than a week after SSP Farooq Awan survived a powerful bomb blast in Karachi, the Rangers submitted a report in the Senate claiming that they have decimated the Taliban network in the city. The ongoing targeted killings, street crimes and kidnappings show that the all-is-well report that the Rangers have prepared on the one-year targeted operation does not represent the true picture of the state of affairs in the city. The representatives of both the ANP and the MQM rightly grilled the Rangers’ representative on the claims made in the report.

Reports of targeted killings come in from nearly all parts of the city on a daily basis, especially from the Sakhi Hasan area of North Nazimabad, which is located close to the militant stronghold, Manghopir. Even the attack on SSP Awan bore resemblance to a similar attack carried out on the Crime Investigation Department’s Chaudhry Aslam, who was believed to have been targeted by Taliban militants. Targeted attacks on law enforcers have become the norm since the operation began in September last year. Yet, the Rangers insist that they have decimated the Taliban network in Karachi. The role of the law-enforcement agencies needs to be questioned, along with their effectiveness in spearheading the surgical operation. If arresting political activists is the solution to the ongoing violence, why are people still being targeted? What about those who are being targeted because of their sects? If the Rangers’ focus is only on political activists, who may target people working for rival parties and ethnic groups, then perhaps their strategy needs to be revised. They must account for the fact that apart from battles between the armed wings of political parties, several sectarian groups are also present in the city and play a significant role in the ongoing violence.

Lastly, the government and the Rangers heads need to shed light on the claims of ANP Senator Shahi Syed that elements from within the law-enforcement agencies are aiding criminal groups. The law-enforcement agencies in the city need to address the loopholes that allow violence to continue in Karachi. Only then can claims about their good performance be accepted.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2014.

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