It’s not a party playground
On Wednesday, a former PPP MNA from Lyari was shot dead while 13 others belonging to Lyari also died in acts of targeted killing. Two police officials maintained, and were later supported by the MQM in a press conference, that the killings were a result of rivalry between non-political gangs. As if the discovery of a number of dead bodies bearing signs of torture and packed in guinea bags was not enough to give many a sense of the deja vu, the relatives of the deceased took out a procession to the CM house demanding action against the MQM. Had this been merely a gang war between two Lyari groups, the dead bodies would have been discovered in Lyari rather than in distant PECHS, Sadar and Soldier Bazar. What PPP Karachi Division President Najmi Alam told the protesters also indicates that the killings were connected to the break up of the alliance in the province.
The disagreements between PPP, MQM and ANP have played a crucial part in the unprecedented targeted killings since 2008. The three partners are on record having repeatedly pointed fingers towards one another. The present year when differences between the PPP and MQM peaked, leading the latter to leave the coalition a number of times only to come back after its demands were accepted, has turned out to be the bloodiest with 1,100 people killed in the first six month of the year and about 400 more in July and August. It goes to the discredit of the partners, therefore, that Karachi continues to bleed.
Prime Minister Gilani and MQM maintain that the trouble has been created by those opposed to the alliance of the two parties. This fails to explain the chain of killings since 1988 and the charges levelled by responsible leaders of the two parties against one another. The politicking on dead bodies must end. Lawlessness in Karachi is highly detrimental to national security and the economy. What is needed is firm action against all culprits irrespective of their political affiliations. Safeguarding the interests of the two parties must not be allowed to play havoc with people’s lives. The law enforcement agencies should be ordered to proceed against the criminals whosoever they are. There should be no appeasement and no partisanship.