Failure of security apparatus and government policies
The smoke and mirror claims of turning round the situation in Karachi were exposed by the brutal killings of 45 Ismailis in broad daylight. Stock responses from the federal government condemning the incident and promising to punish those responsible or from Sindh Chief Minster announcing compensation and ordering suspension of the area SHO and DSP, are expressions of impatient rage. Why is none from the province or the centre willing to take the responsibility and resign?
The law enforcement agencies have lost their focus. All enthusiasm to implement the NAP faded away within a month. The federal government yielded to the pressure of the far right letting the 10 per cent tainted seminaries to play games. The much talked about NACTA is still nowhere in sight. Whatever activity has so far taken place to set up the body is confined to summaries that continue to shuttle between the Interior Ministry, Finance Ministry and the PM’s office.
Who is the prime target in Karachi: the MQM or the terrorists? Political parties had rightly stressed the need to confine the focus to the terrorists who have killed thousands in the name of religion and sect, sparing other brands for the time being. The idea was to get rid of the most vicious strain of terrorism first. The policy was watered down to include all types of terrorists followed by a pronounced emphasis on taking out those from the MQM first. How safe is Karachi after the hanging of Saulat Mirza can be found from the latest Karachi attack.
Civilian agencies and police personnel from the province keeping an ear to the ground can play an effective role in dealing with the terrorist threat. Both remain in bad shape due to the decades-old neglect. There is a need to efficiently implement the tasks set out in NAP and strengthen civilian intelligence gathering and law enforcement institutions. Political parties outside government would only add to the prevailing cynicism if they tried to make capital out of the tragic killings.