This one’s tearing at the seams
Turbulent times have become second nature to Karachi. The city has seen more than its fair share of lows, while a plethora of negative highs have also made themselves obvious. Unfortunately, its most obvious perils are not its most potent ones.
What stands out the most at a glance is the Karachi operation — the crackdown on criminal elements that is eyeing to simultaneously set a new plank for politics to walk on, in the city. Between Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Zardari taking the stage, only to vacate it for Muttahidda Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Altaf Hussain, there is little room for things like the water or electricity shortage to make a dent in the collective consciousness of the city’s people.
More troubling than Zardari’s rhetoric or Altaf’s speeches, however, is the fact that the city is consciously being pushed to the brink of crises because of the lack of very basic utilities. But how do the people of Karachi feel about the recent shifts in the city’s dynamics?
Tahir Shabbir runs a website out of the city. His work revolves around pushing news out. For him the Karachi Operation was desperately needed. “Otherwise half the city was a no go area for me. Those law enforcement authorities (LEAs) and terrorist vice lords were running the show,” he told DNA.
A more peaceful Karachi has risen from the ashes for some people. But that peaceful Karachi is still one without electricity and water. “Both problems are not easy to solve in a short while. The state has neither the will nor the resources to do so. Both these sectors require a massive investment in infrastructure development. Which does not seem forthcoming in the tenure of the current political deposition,” Tahir said.
Political will has always been something that has a different meaning when put into the context of Karachi. In terms of everyday crises such as these, politicians have little stamina to exhibit. “They don’t care. This could be seen in the cavalier manner in which the then local bodies minister Sharjeel Memon handled the situation,” he said.
A more peaceful Karachi has risen from the ashes for some people. But that peaceful Karachi is still one without electricity and water. “Both problems are not easy to solve in a short while. The state has neither the will nor the resources to do so. Both these sectors require a massive investment in infrastructure development. Which does not seem forthcoming in the tenure of the current political deposition,” Tahir said
Earlier, the Sindh government had issued advertisements to help control the rates of water tankers. As the water shortage grew more vast, the thirst for money grew, too. Complaint numbers were established so that tankers could be delivered to people in the city at only the rates advertised by the government. “Unfortunately, the telephone numbers did not work at all. Effectively proving that the entire exercise was nothing but an eyewash,” Tahir informed.
While the Karachi operation has brought peace and a sense of security to some, others don’t see it as the success story that it is made out to be.
“I think it is another way to harass the MQM (not that I have any sympathies with the MQM). Such an operation could never happen if the state had not decided to get to MQM this time,” said Sabeen Jamil, an educator and researcher from Karachi.
The operation has repeatedly been hailed as a success because it is being run by the army itself. Had a civilian government been allotted the duty the results would have been different. The case of the power and water shortage is a potential study testifying to that fact.
“The power and water crisis can easily be solved if the federal government would spend more time planning to conserve water and energy. Of course, this is also the responsibility of the provincial government but the crisis cannot be resolved without involvement of the centre,” Sabeen said.
Surprisingly, for some people the idea of ensuring peace lies a few spots above having water and power. Waseem Arain, an academic in the city, feels that the operation has made people feel safer.
“People are not able to appreciate what it feels like to be living under a constant existential threat. Karachi folk have developed special reflexes for survival. Before I would keep my phone on vibrant and never pick up a call. Now I take my phone out in public,” Waseem shared.
“Though the situation has still not returned to normal, psychologically things have changed a lot. On ground mugging is still on, but the threat of dealing with the mafia has subsided,” he added.
Utility services are also a complicated story according to Waseem. For starters, power and water are not uniformly unavailable throughout the city. Some patches of the metropolis do not suffer frequent shortages, while others cannot find respite from the same.
“Karachi is a big city and the response is different in different vicinities,” Waseem explained. “I live near Malik and there are no frequent power cuts here. Water is also available 24/7. In areas with 90 per cent recoveries there are fewer shortages. What’s important is that people develop a civic sense for the services that they use; they are not for free and in order to use them we must pay,” he said.
The water crisis also prompted the re-birth of the tanker mafia. Never had a bowzer cost as much before, prices shot up to almost three to four times of the actual cost of a tanker. “Yes, the tanker mafia has made life miserable for many. However, they thrive on the government’s inaction. If the water was pumped as a public utility they’d run out of usefulness. And I think DHA and Clifton board should do something about it,” Waseem asserted.
On one hand there are plenty of people that think the operation, despite the direction it’s taken, has done good for the city. On the other are people that have entirely the opposite experience. Nothing has changed for them — the terror persists.
A young author from the Tariq Road area of Karachi, on the condition of anonymity, told me about how she felt perceptions regarding the operation were flawed. “Well the outlawed Pakistan Aman Committee — which was disbanded — remains the true terror of Karachi that no one dares name. We are still paying a known gangster bhatta!” she told DNA.
The problem is that a ripple event can only be possible if the Karachi operation is kept indiscriminant. At present, with the emphasis remaining largely on MQM and its workers, it can only go so far. And while the people of the city may feel as though they can live without water and electricity in exchange for peace, ideals such as these come with their own expiry date
“MQM never came and shot at us or demanded money or our lives! Yet they are the terrorists? Deobandi madrassas operate unchecked with their gangs actively overtaking mosques so they can preach hate, beat up whomever they think is heretical, and extort money — but we only see MQM as the terror of Karachi?” she questioned angrily.
“I’m not a fan of Hartal Hussain but it’s a seriously misguided attempt, and the energy of these great and brave Rangers needs to directed towards actual criminals,” she said, and reiterated a list of people that she knew personally who had been attacked, harassed, mugged and robbed — all despite the operation reaping in continuous accolades on its success.
“The area where our business is remains in the grip of the former Pakistani Aman Committee terrorists. Mehreen Shah was just killed. And not just confined to a class — my maid’s daughter was mugged. My driver tells me the guys around his flat (mostly office going guys on motor bikes) are regularly complaining of being mugged or, get this, harassed and threatened by police and shown guns until they pay up,” she said.
“No one I know personally feels safe. We actually find the propaganda sick. It’s a lie and I don’t see who would benefit from this lie,” she added.
As the Karachi Operation chugs along some are even hoping the ripple effects will inadvertently help fix other problems in the city.
“The operation against miscreants will surely have positive effects if it’s done across the board. Power and water crises will be resolved to a great degree if mafias and goliaths who have an interest in depriving the city of cheap electricity and water are put to the sword during the operation,” said Maaz Ahmed. as an optimistic solution.
“I believe the operation will have a knock-on effect on every ailment this city is suffering from. Although I cannot predict when that would happen,” he added.
The problem is that a ripple event can only be possible if the Karachi operation is kept indiscriminant. At present, with the emphasis remaining largely on MQM and its workers, it can only go so far. And while the people of the city may feel as though they can live without water and electricity in exchange for peace, ideals such as these come with their own expiry date.
The only manner in which the Karachi cauldron can be kept from heating up and boiling over is if plans for long term sustainability of these issues are also set into motion –otherwise all this effort will have been for naught.
