Seven more people were killed and dozens other abducted from various parts of the city on Saturday, as the Karachi police charged seven people for their alleged involvement in the attack on a bus carrying police commandos in Korangi late on Friday night in which four policemen were killed and 40 others were seriously injured.
The Karachi police registered FIR No 368/2011 in Awami Colony police station against seven people including Kamran alias Madhuri, Sohail Commando, Shahid alias Chamman, Shahid alias Burger, Abu Bashar Bengali and Farhan. Kamran and Sohail are being treated for bullet injured at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital while Shahid Chamman and Shahid Burger were killed in the crossfire with the police.
The death toll in the four days of violence that has paralysed the country’s financial hub has now reached 78.
According to details, two men were killed in Shadman, and one each in Shahr-e-Noor Jahan, Khokhrapar and Orangi Town. An employee of the Water Board was killed in Gulshan-e-Hadeed area of Bin Qasim when unidentified men opened fire on his car.
In a meeting with the city’s business community earlier in the day, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said security would be provided to businessmen in Karachi. He said the country’s enemies wanted the Pakistan Army to be engaged in Karachi. He said 100 target killers had been arrested and would be presented before the media soon.Malik said extortionists enjoyed the support of powerful quarters, but claimed that the crime rate in Karachi was lower than other mega cities of the world. “I am not trying to justify the crimes,” Malik was quick to add though.
He also strongly criticised the media, especially a private TV channel, saying that “the media is also involved in provoking violence in the city. I will ask PEMRA to take notice of such irresponsibility by the media and judicial inquires will also be conducted in such situations”.
Visit: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani will also visit Karachi today (Sunday) to review the law and order in the metropolis.
Talking to reporters after saying the funeral prayers for three police personnel killed on Friday, Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wasan said police was capable of controlling the law and order in the city, however, he said, “What should we do, there is a problem when we can’t arrest criminals, and there is a problem when we refuse to set them free.”
He said families of the police martyrs would be given Rs 2 million each while Rs 0.2 million would be given to the injured.
Sindh Additional IG Saud Mirza said three attackers had been killed and two had been arrested red-handed.
Calls: Meanwhile, leaders of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as almost all the main business and trade associations, have demanded that the army be called in to control the deteriorating law and order in the city, but it is unlikely that the army will heed their call because of its reluctance to get involved in political disputes.
“There is law in Karachi but there is no order,” said Khalid Tawab, vice president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. “Everything is going from bad to worse.”
“The police have failed to restore peace, and now we need the army to come in and do that, and bring to an end the sufferings of the people of Karachi.”
Asked about the military’s plans for Karachi, army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas declined to comment, but said the military would carry out the orders of the civilian government.
The persons who have been named in the FIR 368/2011 belong to the MQM. I have read a report in a newspaper published from Karachi that Madhur aka Kamran was 'commander of the death squad of the MQM in that area'. The newspaper also reported that some injured men including Madhuri were initially admitted in JPMC but they were later shifted to another hospital which is under control of MQM. I give full credit to this newspaper who has the guts to write in unequivocal terms without mincing words.
As regards to the words of wisdom uttered by the Interior Minister Mr Rehman Malik are concerned frankly speaking I do not give him much credence. His mindless chatter amuses as well bewilders many.
Accross the board action is needed be it bhatta mafia belong to Arshad Pappu, ramnants of Rahman alias Dakait of Aman Committee, Jeay Sindh bhatta seekers, ANP plot grabbers such as Dr Saeed alies Qatil or MQM whatever. Signaling out one outfit while ignoring Mirza's mischeivous act of making Karachi battleground is not justice…..After so many killings of one community in and outside Lyari what benefit Zardari would take since this is also a fact that military establishment has already expressed doubts on credentials of Mirza.
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