Crime and no punishment
Among the sections of society most affected by the anarchic conditions in Karachi is the business community. Businessmen have been the favourite target of extortionists who force them to pay hefty amounts month after month. Kidnappings and threats to personal security also make the community restive. The frequent strikes in the metropolis have caused huge losses to industrialists and traders while in the case of exporters these have deprived them, sometime permanently, of access to erstwhile secure markets. This explains why the leaders of the FPCCI, KCCI and various traders’ organisations have approached provincial government, federal government and army for help.
The issues were taken up during a meeting of the community leaders with PM Gilani on Friday. Dissatisfied with Gilani’s assurance that target killings have ceased, they reminded him that extortion still persisted and the gunrunning remained a perpetual source of unease. As suggested by the SC earlier, they also underlined the need for new legislation to stop violent crime. They also proposed that imports through dry ports should be stopped till the installation of scanning and other facilities. On Wednesday, a group of industrialists had called on Kayani to apprise him of their concerns regarding lawlessness and violent crime. The COAS had directed the Rangers to set up checkposts at entry and exit points of Karachi’s industrial zone.
While Gilani assured them that Karachi will not be left at the mercy of the criminals, the promise cannot be fulfilled unless the government decides to launch an across the board strike against criminal mafias. What one sees happening indicates a lack of will on its part. The way crime and politics have got intertwined in Karachi apparently hinders the government from taking bold decisions. As the IG Sindh told the SC, his hands were tied as a fairly large chunk of police officials happen to be political appointees. The government needs to undertake the necessary legislation, extend the period of the Rangers deployment and take action against criminals irrespective of their political affiliations. It is yet not clear if it has the will to do it.
