Tuesday was the third consecutive day of unrest in Pakistan’s largest city as well as its commercial and financial hub. While target killings have been continuing in Karachi with an eerie regularity for the last three years taking its toll on PPP, ANP, JI and MQM workers, the killing of two MQM activists on Friday night and Sunday added fuel to the fire.
Everything that followed was exactly in accordance with the template. The affected party issued a call for a “peaceful protest”, knowing well it would never remain peaceful. The call was followed by incidents of shooting and arson, considered necessary to make any strike successful in Karachi. Appeals were made to transporters and traders to show solidarity with the call which they rightly interpreted as directives which they could disobey only on pain of reprisals. Consequently, many factories and mills ceased functioning during the strike. The owners knew that even if they dared to defy, it would not be possible for them to ensure the workers attendance for lack of transport. Educational institutions had to close down for similar reasons. The strike translated into thousands of man hours lost. What happened during the strike was also in accordance with the established pattern. Those who did bring out their vehicles on the roads had to pay the price. Around 13 vehicles were torched on Sunday and 25 on Monday. Incidents of firing on Monday led to the killing of five including a political worker. On Tuesday also, life was at a standstill in several parts of Karachi which remained shut and where businesses were at a standstill.
A day lost in Karachi costs the national exchequer in millions of dollars. What is more, Pakistani exporters failing to meet commitments lose markets abroad to rival exporters from other countries. Political parties are expected to look at things from the overall national perspective. The three parties who are a part of the ruling coalition in Sindh have to realise that targeted killings do not bring credit to any of them. Instead of issuing threats and ultimatums to one another as has been happening all this time, they would do well to work together to bring peace to Karachi.
