Desperate times
Attempts by the government to patch up with the MQM have failed on account of the latter’s demands. On Monday, 11 more people were killed in Karachi indicating that there is no respite to the killings. With armed gangs attacking communities, buses and police vehicles, the situation has become highly worrisome. The rise of numerous bhatta mafias is further adding to the people’s discontent. While the situation continues to deteriorate, Zulfiqar Mirza and Rehman Malik do not seem to be on the same book. The unending spree of targeted killings has finally led the SC to take suo motu notice. It appears that more and more people are losing faith in the government’s ability to restore peace. After the industrialists and traders, the transporters too are demanding the induction of the army to put an end to the killings. A section of the nationalist parties is also supporting the demand.
It is quite common in the world to call in the army in emergencies like earthquakes, hurricanes and floods. What Karachi faces however is not a natural disaster but an infighting between two coalition partners which has turned the city into a killing field. It is the government’s constitutional duty to enforce the law and ensure that the lawbreakers are punished. The decision taken by the Sindh cabinet in the presence of PM Gilani to make optimal use of the Police and Rangers to bring the situation under control should be urgently enforced. Those involved in killings have to be brought to justice irrespective of their party affiliations. Planning of all operations should be handed over to the Police and Rangers who should be authorised to chase the killers wherever they go. There should be no intervention in the work of the Joint Investigation Team.
Over a hundred people have been killed by the gangs in less than a week. A perception is fast taking root that the government is not sincere in maintaining peace. It has little time at its disposal. As Gilani put it, if the government does not take action someone else would. Theoretically speaking, the army needs to be kept away from civilian affairs. But in desperate ailments people look for desperate remedies even if they aggravate the disease.