Karachi, the economic hub of the country, has seen worsening law and order situation, especially at the start of this year. Not a day goes by without a targeted killing taking place and in the first 16 days of January, as many as 90 citizens, including a TV reporter, lost their lives in violence perpetrated by those who allegedly are members of a mafia protected by political parties.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik who dashed to the city pointed towards a third force responsible for the target killings to destabilise the city.
Calls have been made for peace in Karachi. Calls have also been made to call out the army and start an operation there but what is most urgently needed is to find a political settlement to bring lasting peace to our largest city.
If it is a war between various ethnic groups, then it must be realised that no political party or ethnicity can win this battle, even if a particular party or community is temporarily cowed down, the problem will not end.
The Mohajirs, Pakhtuns, Sindhis and Baloch cannot wish each other away. Analysts believe that the only solution is to include a political settlement, besides a serious overhaul of governance mechanism.
The police force has to be cleansed of politically motivated recruitments. Unless the scourge of ethnic or sectional loyalties is wiped, the state structure will remain nonviable.
There are certain motives behind repeated occurrence of targeted killings, which need to be thoroughly examined and remedial measures taken to ensure lasting peace.
This would only be possible if all the stakeholders extend a helping hand to the government and law enforcement agencies. The political parties which wield influence in Karachi need to accept that they must do everything possible to achieve this.
Mere commitments made at talks can achieve little. The pledges need to be backed up by genuine commitment to stop the reign of death.
F Z KHAN
Rawalpindi
