A more refined approach needed
There have been reports during the last few years about the TTP having established its network in Karachi. Soon after the Swat operation numerous activists of the terrorist network managed to take shelter in the city in the garb of IDPs. They found it easy to melt among the considerable Pushtun population. Initially the terrorists kept a low profile, avoiding attacks and concentrating on fund raising through bank heists, extortion and kidnappings. With the TTP declaring PPP, ANP and MQM a legitimate target during the last elections, attacks on the workers, local leaders and candidates of the three parties became all too common. The biggest sufferer was the ANP. As things stand the TTP has turned parts of Karachi as its preserve where polio vaccination is not allowed and several polio workers have been killed.
Early this month when a Karachi based local ANP leader was killed, the party claimed the killings were meant to sideline it before the next general elections. Meanwhile, MQM has also claimed that its workers continue to be targeted by TTP. The incidents have brought the ANP and MQM together and both are demanding military action in Karachi. The rationale given for the demand is that even the Rangers cannot enter certain areas of the city. Besides attacking the political workers opposed to the terrorists TTP, LeJ and similar other groups have launched several attacks on minorities, while they have killed numerous policemen and Rangers.
The operation launched in Karachi amidst a lot of fanfare has failed to produce desired results partly on account of lack of cohesion among the federal and provincial governments. What is more the working of the intelligence agencies has been unsatisfactory. If these shortcomings are overcome the police and Rangers can control the situation. Unlike the tribal areas military cannot use air force or deploy heavy guns in Karachi and is likely to be bogged down in the streets of the city.
