Cleaning Karachi

The operation — ongoing — against the militant and violent wings of mainstream political parties in Karachi was never going to be tidy or trouble-free. That there has been a reduction in violent incidents since the operation started, there is no doubt in purely numerical terms; even if grassroots perceptions do not always match the official figures. There are almost daily raids, large and small, by security agencies. One political party in particular is firmly of the opinion that the entire operation is focused upon it virtually to the exclusion of all others, and is designed to break its hold on power in the city. The MQM is demanding that a monitoring committee be constituted to oversee the operation, effectively seeking an oversight of the Apex group that is managing operations. This has had a chilly response from the federal and provincial governments.

As matters stand, the MQM looks like it has grounds for complaint as reports of operations against other political parties are thin on the ground; and certainly there has not been the activity-directed focus on other parties at the level that has been directed towards the MQM. The Sindh and federal governments need to dispel this image because if they do not, they may be accused of conducting a witch-hunt — which would hand an advantage to the MQM were this to be the case. The prime minister has, thus far, played something of a hands-off role in the operation once past its initial stages. He needs to be more proactive and make unequivocally clear that the operation is against all who would disturb the peace, and not just the MQM — and not only proclaim but translate his words into deeds. The prime minister lost an opportunity to make the argument for equitability by not visiting the critically injured MQM leader Rashid Godil in hospital. It would have cost him nothing politically, but been symbolically powerful. A clumsy move, Mr Prime Minister. The battle to clean Karachi is going to be long and hard, but it has to be seen to have been fought fairly if it is to be successfully concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2015.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.