Karachi bleeds, not because of lack of law enforcement agencies or their capacity to combat this menace, but because extortion, kidnapping and threats of intimidation and target killings have become a booming business worth trillions of rupees, most of which is remitted through illegal channels to foreign safe havens. Today Musharraf leads a life of luxury, claiming he has earned these billions from his book or lectures, whilst major political party leadership who stands to benefit from this mayhem, either themselves, or their families, lives abroad, owning assets and properties that match lifestyle of billionaires.
Blood flows on the streets of Karachi, because the political stake holders and corrupt bureaucracy reaps a bonanza from these crimes. This is the unfortunate sad and harsh reality. All that we hear is rhetoric and nothing else. The Pakistani state, its executive and the establishment, have failed to fulfil their basic responsibility, which is to protect lives and property of citizens, having already failed to provide basic health, education or welfare to most deprived sections of our society.
Inspite of existence and maintenance of basic infrastructure, funded by tax payers, to enforce rule of law, those at helm have deliberately allowed this city to be ruled by criminals, murderers, land and drug mafia. In such an environment, which is conducive for criminals, the religious fanatics funded by foreign elements, have also moved in for a share of the pie.
M T Ali
Illinois, USA
