The on-going Karachi violence has subsided a little for the present primarily due to the SC’s suo motto hearing in Karachi and because the Rangers have been entrusted the job to clean up the mess and capture the killers irrespective of their political affiliations.
Before the current action, the PPP was under immense pressure from the citizens and Karachi Tajir Ittehad to call in the Army to take control. But, it was seen that the government and its allies in Sindh got jittery and wanted to avoid it at all costs. This ultimately forced the rulers to take the situation seriously. It is feared that the miscreants who have the backing of some leaders in Sindh, and have gone into hiding or run away to far off places, may return.
The present and all such future governments will not be able to tackle this problem alone in which probably some foreign rogue elements have also been involved. It is worth noting that Karachi has a foreign population of 2.5 million. Their activities must be put under surveillance.
If Karachi is really to become a peaceful city, tough decisions like deweaponising the city must be taken.
RASHID MAQSOOD
Lahore
