Better indeed
It is not just the politics, or the militancy, that worries the people of Karachi. Beneath the many layers of murders, thefts, kidnappings and extortion — that have long typified the port city – are more mundane concerns like water and power. For a country unable to control its own population bulge, this is a very dangerous mix. That is why expectations were raised, for once, when Rangers began yet another operation in Karachi. Seemingly it was an awkward extension of the military operation in Fata. Evidently political militancy was deemed the bigger problem when the operation made its way into main urban centres. Hence the roughing up of MQM.
But people are now beginning to question whether the operation was really meant to be an across-the-board affair. There can be no denying that so long as the operation targeted criminals – and infamous Karachi gangs – there was little political opposition to it. But there are now growing cries of political victimisation since it is not moving on to other parties, as originally promised, especially since it’s an open secret that not many parties operate down south – or in Punjab and further north for that matter – without formidable militant wings.
That, of course, is not to say that MQM has been unfairly targeted. The operation might be taking its time moving to other parties, but MQM will have to pay for its excesses. So will, hopefully, other parties. For the people of Karachi that means a markedly different life than even the very recent past. There will, of course, be a need to see this exercise through right to the end. That will require fixing some of the more structural problems of the port city. It is unimaginable that the port city, city of lights, melting pot of cultures, etc, is predominantly deprived of drinking water and electricity. Once these issues are addressed, a better life awaits Karachi indeed.
