A Karachi court has ordered to register murder case against the police officer who led the April 27 – May 04 Lyari operation. During this botched operation, police faced a spectacular resistance from the well-armed and well-positioned alleged criminals against whom the operation was launched. This is evident from the fact that despite tall claims, police party was unable to move beyond the Cheel Chowk and Faqir Eisa Khan Road even in eight days. There is no doubt that it was an ill-planned operation, initiated without taking all the law enforcing agencies on board (Rangers didn’t take part despite their presence in the vicinity). But putting aside the shortcomings of the operation, no one can deny the fact that a number of criminals and gangsters, who are invariably involved in kidnappings, murders, extortion, arms-trade, drug pedalling and gambling, are taking refuge in Lyari. Instead of taking on the criminals, various governments, including this one as well, have preferred to deal with this or that Lyari-based gang. This has strengthened them to the teeth.
We understand court instructions to police to register the first information report (FIR) against its own officer, but how about the criminals who were firing rockets, throwing grenades and spraying bullets on the police force during the operation. What about the six police officers killed in action while scored injured? Who will take up police case against these gangsters? Also who will bother to find out who armed these gangs at the first place? Who will highlight the fact that fall out between PPP and its blue-eyed boys of PAC was the main reason behind this operation? Unless politics and criminal activities are differentiated, this and many operations are bound to fail, not one time but every time.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
