Will the situation improve?
Nawaz Sharif inaugurated KANUP-2 in Karachi, the largest nuclear power plant in the country. In the afternoon he addressed the Parsi community. In between he presided over the Apex Committee meeting to review the progress of the ongoing operation in Karachi.
Despite the scale of violent crimes having come down in Karachi as a result of the ongoing operation, incidents of target killing have not altogether disappeared. Last week four policemen were shot by unknown gunmen. This week MQM Parliamentarian Rashid Godil was critically wounded in an attack. Two MQM central leaders have proceeded abroad, one for ‘medical treatment’, the other for performing ‘Haj’. Some of those who remain behind want to be reassured that their lives would be safe.
Keeping in view MQM’s past history, the threats to its leaders could emanate from inside the party. Are these people being targeted on the basis of differences with Altaf Hussain? Or is the threat coming this time from other quarters? MQM leadership’s version has already been conveyed to Nawaz Sharif through Fazlur Rehman. In the Apex Committee meeting he has heard the version of the Rangers, ISI and Sindh government. What appears from Sharif’s remarks is that there is no major change in his previous assessment of the situation in Karachi. As he put it, the operation is not being conducted against any political party, the MQM should return to the Assemblies and Senate. As far as terrorists are concerned, they will not be spared irrespective of their party affiliations. What is more, an operation is now going to be initiated against private armies. Karachi would subsequently be de-weaponised.
A meeting between PML-N and MQM representatives is likely to take place next week. MQM’s concerns like the formation of a committee to oversee the Karachi operation, provision of security to its legislators and release of its political workers can be taken up in the meeting. The Parliament provides MQM a major forum to raise its demands and to project its grievances. It is time it returned to the forum.