Pakistan needs more statesmen and fewer soap box orators to be able to deal with the complex political and economic challenges it is facing. That there are serious law and order problems in the country is a fact of life. What is needed under the circumstances is a cool appreciation of the situation and a balanced approach in dealing with the issues. What one sees happening is unfortunately the opposite.
Early this month PML(Q)s provincial president Amir Muqam lambasted the PPP, ANP and MQM trio ruling Sindh for failure to stop what he called the Pakhtuns target killings in Karachi, forgetting that the victims belong to all the provinces of the country including Sindh. He called on the federal government to take tangible measures for the halting of the killings. As if this was not enough, he suggested that Karachi should be handed over to the army which should launch an operation in the city. Not to be left behind, PML(N)s loose canon, Rana Sanaullah, jumped headlong into the fray last week. Holding the MQM responsible for the target killings in Karachi, he urged the Sindh government to carry out a military operation in the metropolis to restore peace.
While few would be willing to support giving the military a role in restoring law and order in the urban centers of the country, what both Muqam and Sanaullah were demanding was the calling out of the army to help the civilian government in line with constitutional provisions. What Altaf Hussain said on Monday, however, crossed the line. He has called on the army to impose martial law in Punjab to put an end to what he calls growing crime in the province. An irresponsible statement, as martial law can be imposed only in violation of the constitution.
Karachi is currently the worst hit city by lawlessness. More people have been killed in a year in Karachi as a result of target killings than in the worst terror ravaged areas of the country. An appeal for martial law or calling out the army for civilian help, however, is no answer. It could turn out to be another deathly blow for democracy. Instead, the political parties need to enter into talks to find out a way to bring peace to Karachi.
