Even when there are other legal forums available
Despite the ongoing operation which started in Karachi in September last year, street crime, target killings, and extortion continue to take place. Thousands have been arrested since, with some belonging to a number of political parties. While other parties have generally let the law take its course, the MQM has invariably opted for protests.
With the Eid arriving, plans are afoot by the gangs of criminals to snatch animal skins by force. Law enforcement agencies have therefore increased vigilance. The Rangers insist that some of the MQM workers arrested during a raid had fired at them. A number of them were consequently nabbed, those found innocent were set free and those involve in firing were taken into custody. MQM chief Altaf Husain has meanwhile called for sit-ins as a protest against the arrests in Karachi. He has also accused the media for bias against the MQM. He has moreover threatened owners of the media houses and journalists against what he calls “airing lies”. This is not unusual on Altaf Hussain’s part as he has used much stronger language against anchorpersons and commentators in the past also.
The Ranges are in Karachi on account of the incompetence of the consecutive Sindh governments of which the MQM has been a part since 2002. Had the parties in power concentrated on improving the performance of the police instead of making political appointments and promoting incompetent blue-eyed boys, there would have been no need to deploy the Rangers. Last year the MQM was foremost in demanding an operation in Karachi. Activists of Sunni Ittehad, ANP and PPP have also been arrested during the operation. A PPP MNA has come out of jail after a year. Only MQM has taken recourse to threatening language.
There is a need on the part of the MQM to act maturely. It should take recourse to the courts to get its activists released. Seeking their freedom through protests conveys the message that they have a weak legal case.