The speakers at a seminar on Friday stressed the need to de-politicise police force in order to make Karachi a stable and economically a strong and vibrant city.
“Integration of Karachi into national fabric is crucial as it is our economic hub and securing Karachi is today’s issue which should be sought on priority basis,” they said while addressing a seminar titled “Tackling Violent Conflict and Extremism in Karachi” organised by Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS).
Addressing the Seminar, PIPS Director Muhammad Aamir Rana desired to exterminate the menace of extremism from the port city which was inevitable for country’s peace.
“At the end of the day, it is the people of Karachi who suffer, whether a person belongs to any party, group or any ethnicity,” he remarked.
Senior journalist and author of “Karachi in Turmoil”, Zia ur Rehman in his speech stated that Karachi was going through a serious turmoil from the last many years which needed to be catered to at any cost.
Pointing towards the unrest in Karachi, he maintained that one of the main reasons for uncontrollable situation in the port city was the meagre size of police force as compared to population.
Addressing the seminar, Aktis Strategy Managing Director Andrew Rathmell highlighted the lack of coordination between different civic departments in the city. He was of the view that there was a dire need to enhance and strengthen the local police system while equipping them with the latest resources.
Rathmell also spoke at length for the involvement of community in the whole process as that could help building people’s confidence on local police system and they could feel like part of decision making process.
The speakers also urged to evolve short and long term strategies in order to de-weaponise the city and also to make it drug free metropolitan. They were of the view that the time demands a leadership role for tackling violent conflict and extremism in the port city.
