The death of a fly

Without evidence, without fleshing out bones of the report, any ‘counterterrorism operations’ are utterly worthless

The pre-monsoon heat feeds into the political heat in Karachi, ramping it up a notch or two, with a range of players all applying the Bunsen burner to sensitive parts in pursuit of their not-necessarily parallel or complementary motives. First up to the plate is Major General Bilal Akbar, the DG Rangers, who briefed the apex committee which has oversight of the implementation of the National Action Plan. What he had to say was not new news to anybody who has lived and worked in Karachi for the last quarter-century. An ‘evil nexus’ of political leaders, bureaucrats, gang lords and sundry mafias is deeply involved in organised crime in Karachi. They preside over an empire worth an estimated Rs230 billion a year and are seemingly completely anonymous, faceless and nameless. Without the evidence, without arrests, without fleshing out the bones of the report, any ‘counterterrorism operations’ are utterly worthless. The time is long past when ‘sensitivities’ had to be considered. If these criminal elements, political or otherwise, have the city by the throat then don’t come teasing us, Mr Major General Bilal Akbar. Exercise your legitimate powers.



Which brings us to the visit to Karachi by Prime Minister Nawaz sharif on June 12. He condemned the culture of strikes that so often paralyse the principal commercial hub of the nation. Even the “death of a fly” provokes a shutterdown, observed the PM, going on to say that he wished to see the mafias smashed and their patrons unmasked. Well, really? Perhaps he should make a call to the aforementioned, Major General Bilal Akbar, who appears to be in possession of some key information regarding these mafias and their patrons. He went on to talk about a range of mega projects dear to his heart, made a promise to use Thar coal in the fuelling of future power stations and was soon on his way, job done. Could it be that these two very powerful men are in reality beholden to the very mafias, crooks, murderers and extortionists that they profess a desire to take down? Actions speak louder than words. Go to it, gentlemen.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th,  2015.

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