Regrettably, there is a general breakdown of law and order in the country but the situation in the northern Sindh districts has shockingly worsened. Kidnapping for ransom has acquired the ‘status of industry’ in that region.
The Hindus and other business communities have started migrating from Sindh to UAE, Malaysia and India. Even last week more than 600 families have migrated from Jacobabad and other adjoining districts. Tribal killings have alarmingly increased. Everyday a large number of innocent people become the fuel of tribal feuds.
The tribal chiefs instigate the spoiled men of their tribes to gun down the innocent people of hostile tribe(s) and so far hundreds of people including women, children and elderly, have been killed. Everyday more than a dozen women are ruthlessly killed on petty pretext, especially, in the name of draconian tradition of honour killing (Karo Kari).
Police is also involved in this whole situation. Police officers have become “godfathers” of criminals. These anti-social and anti-people police officers instigate tribal killings. They kill the people of a tribe so as to fan the fire of tribal revenge. And then they do not arrest the killers intentionally. They do not even arrest those whose names are given in an FIR. They terrorise and torture innocent people so as to extort money from them.
These ranker police officers usually terrorise people when the educated and people-friendly SSPs/DPOs are out of station or in the superior courts for hearing of different cases. These notorious promotee police officers also instigate the tribal chief terrorists (knows as sardars) to file petitions against the SSPs/DPOs in the superior courts so that they remain always engaged in the court matters and these crime-friendly police officers get a chance to cash in on their absence.
The people have been watching and looking up to their rulers but they have become utterly disappointed.
One can easily imagine the plight of law and order in a province whose Chief Minister is famous for “sleeping and dozing off in his chair” and whose Home Minister is known for dreaming and predictions.
One can also easily read from the situation in upper and lower Sindh in the wake of doom and destruction caused by the monsoon rains and floods that the time is not far when these deprived, denied and terrorised people will rebel against the rulers. We are living with a time bomb. The rebellion that could come from the people is far more dangerous than what we have seen with the school children.
However, we must strive to obey law and create some order. We must build a culture where the rulers must act in accordance with the law, and they must at all times obey the law. We must build a culture where the police must respect the law they enforce.
In our situation, the police do not look at the law; they look at what the appointing authority wants. That creates impunity but this attitude is, indeed, ominous and will take this country to dogs.
HASHIM ABRO
Islamabad