Yesterday’s violence in Karachi claimed another 18 lives. It seems that virtually there is no law and order in the city and innocent civilians are suffering badly due to this menace.
Police has a central role in maintaining law and order in the country. However, it seems that police has no control over criminals and target killers who remain at large. Rangers have also been permanently deployed in the city but citizens of Karachi have grown suspicious of their presence because of a recent episode in which Rangers officials killed a young boy in a cold blooded murder. Karachi remains the most important city because of it being the financial capital of the country. Still, the law enforcement agencies pay little heed to the ever declining financial activity in the city.
It is a distressing situation, not only for the citizens of Karachi, but for most of the Pakistanis too. Terrorism in Pakistan has different facets and the target killing spree is one of its ugliest faces. Unless, all the political stakeholders don’t get together on a common platform and give priority to the grievances of people, there is no hope for a peaceful Karachi.
ZULFIQAR HAIDER
Islamabad
