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Target killers turn wrath to dutiful law-enforcers
July 20, 2012
People having diverse religious, lingual, sectarian and ethnic orientations live in Karachi. Therefore, peace in the city is a must not only to attract foreign investors, but also to encourage local businessmen to make extensive investment in the country.
The anti-Pakistan powers are well aware of this fact. This is the reason the law and order situation in Karachi is spoiled in a very organized way. Certain political parties are also involved in engineering violence in Karachi and the evidence for this was revealed as a result of the arrest of political workers from time to time and investigations made in this regard. The role of police in Karachi has always been important in this context.
There was a time when the Karachi police fought in an organized manner with the criminal elements. Sometimes, these criminals achieved their heinous objectives while the police remained a silent spectator. The reason for such negligence is politically-influenced hiring of policemen which is why the public suspects the role of police. On the other hand, killings of dutiful policemen go on rise when preparations are made on a large scale to launch operation against the target killers.
The main reason behind such a state of affairs is that policemen and police officers inducted in service on political grounds become informers against their colleagues who take action against criminals in the city. In this manner, the target killers easily victimize such responsible police officers and policemen.
Thirty three police officers and 13 constables fell victim to target killing in Karachi during this year. Most of these police officers and constables were either involved in operation against target killers or active in investigation of such incidents.
Two police constables named Anees and Javed were killed in Orangi town area of Karachi on 15 July. According to police, Anees was working with CID department and Javed with Special Investigation Wing. Anees had a break through in investigation against target killers and was gunned down before he could arrest them.
On 29 June, ASI Ghaffran was killed in the jurisdiction of site (A) police station. Head constable Nisar Abbasi was killed in Ajmeer Nagrai on 25 June, while Adil Mohammed was killed in jurisdiction of Baloch police station. Constable Rasheed Ali and sub-inspector Wazir Ali were killed in Sir Syed town on 24 June. Policeman Mohammed Khan was killed in Mangho Peer on 21 June.
Another policeman, Naseem, was killed in Sir Jani town on 17 June. On 14 June, ASI Abdul Rauf and constable Abdul Qayyum were killed in Garden. Ali Hassan was killed in PIB colony on 15 June. Two policemen, Mohammed Khan and Mohammed Arif, were killed in Mochko on 17 May. Sub-inspector Sabteen Shah was killed in Mangho Peer on 4th May. Two more policemen, Mohammed Shahid and Aqeel, were killed in Bhatti abad on 30 April, while on 29 April, constable Fayyaz was killed.
On April 27, Police constable Abdul Hameed was killed in Lyari and policeman Ghulam Dastageer was killed in Kallakot. Gul Muhammad was killed near City railway police station on 15 April. ASI Aslam was killed in Malir Khokarapar on 10 April. Raj Muhammad was killed in the limits of Kalri on 9 April. Police constable Rizwan was killed in the limits of Sohraab Goth. ASI Dhani Buksh, Police constable Ramzan Barohi and Nisar were killed in the limits of PIB police station colony.
Policeman Imran was killed in the limits of soldier Bazar on 30 March. Policeman Muhammad Yaqoob was killed in Aram Bagh, while Shamshad Ali was killed in Alflah on 15 March. ASI Raja Moheen was killed in Sachal and constable Ayub near Yousaf Plaza. Ghulam Abbas, a constable, was killed on 13 March. Constable Raja Khalil was killed in PIB colony on 9th March. Terrorist killed policeman Fahim on 1 March in Paredi. Abdul Jabbar of Traffic Police was killed on 8th February in Feroz Abad, while in Sher Shah, ASI Rahim Shah was killed on 4 February. Policeman Nadeem Abbas and Sajjad was killed in Manghopeer on 3 March.
Constable Yousaf was killed on 27th March in Aram Bagh. Some unknown persons gunned down Constable Shahid Khan in Town on 24th March. Sub inspector Asghar Tarar was killed on 19th January in Town. Constable Ghulam Muhammad Pasha was shot dead in Quaid Abad dead on 16 January, while Head Constable Sher Afzal Mehmood was killed in Quaid Abad on 11th January.
These were the policemen who were busy battling criminal elements, and have laid down their lives. While on the other hand, there are those policemen who were politically appointed.
Traders of the Jama Cloth Market were left wondering whom to turn to for protection from extortionists after three men of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) were caught allegedly demanding ‘Bhatta’ and beaten by shopkeepers. Witnesses said that the policemen – later identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Javed and Constables Waseem and Muzaffar – arrived in a police mobile unit and were demanding extortion money. However, the traders of the market decided to take matters into their own hands and started beating the law-enforcers. The traders managed to overpower two of the men and handed them over to the Arambagh police. The police, however, told a different version of events.
The bottom line is that such a mayhem simply cannot be allowed to continue. For a long time, Karachi has barely seen a day of peace. Things have continued along a path which spells disaster for the people. It is obvious that the killings are a result of growing political tensions in the city that has divided people on the basis of both their ethnic background and political affiliation. The absurd statements made in the past by members of the ruling party have only added to the tensions and exacerbated things – much like the vines and creepers of a forest taking over a garden within which people had for some time enjoyed at least relative harmony.
It is clear that, whatever security plans exist for Karachi, they are not working. Rangers and police personnel have reportedly stood by and watched as the killers taking people out. Normal life has been shattered and, as has been noted on more than one occasion, the ongoing instability means a devastating blow to an economy which already stands on very shaky ground. Worse still is the formidable human cost of the unrest in a city torn apart by bloodshed.
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