The situation could take an ugly turn
Karachi could turn into a powder keg during the forthcoming polls. The bye-election in NA-246 on April 23 will be followed by hotly contested polls in six Cantonment Boards of Karachi two days later. Scores of groups with mischievous agendas await opportunities to create lawlessness that makes their task easy. Any major incident with political ramifications has to be avoided as it could act as a trip wire.
The MQM had barricaded a number of areas in the city considered sensitive by the party. It allowed access only to those it wanted and debarred others from entering the area. The party needs to reconcile with the ongoing moves to end the no-go-areas beginning with the removal of barricades.
The attack on the PTI members who visited the Jinnah Ground on Wednesday is highly condemnable. The stand that if they had earlier ‘informed’ (read sought the permission of) the MQM, the incident could have been avoided is unacceptable. No political party can claim exclusive right over parts of the city requiring others to seek its permission to enter.
While challenging the MQM in NA-246 which is considered to be its heartland, the PTI needs to act as a responsible political party. It must not pose as if it is going to conquer Karachi. Its leadership would do well to shun the kind of provocative language that characterised it during the Islamabad sit-in. As Governor Ishratul Ibad told the local leaders of the two parties, they need to avoid targeting each other’s top leadership.
It is time the ECP plays its role by strictly implementing the code of conduct. The code was devised before the last general elections and needs to be further improved in the light of the experience of 2013 polls. For this inputs should be sought from political parties. The security agencies and the Rangers will have to remain extra vigilant before, during and after the April 23 bye-elections and Cantonment Board polls.
