|
Karachi target killing neither ethnic nor war of economic woos
|
Visits
127
|
|
Visits
127
|
|
Visits
127
|
April 01, 2011
Karachi is passing through the worst phase of its history. Hardly a day goes by when terrorists don’t terrorise its innocent citizens and kill them in cold blood. Who has thrown the city into the lap of this insanity? This is a question that boggles the minds of the peace-loving citizens of this port city who wish to have a peaceful sleep and stroll on its beaches without any fear. Today lawlessness and target killings have gripped this city of lights. The irony of the situation is that killings don’t even stop on religious or national holidays. On 23rd March when Pakistan Day celebrations were in full swing the target killers were busy hunting down innocent residents of the city. In such a situation who would remember the national heroes and pay tribute to them?
|
Karachi is passing through the worst phase of its history. Hardly a day goes by when terrorists don’t terrorise its innocent citizens and kill them in cold blood. Who has thrown the city into the lap of this insanity? This is a question that boggles the minds of the peace-loving citizens of this port city who wish to have a peaceful sleep and stroll on its beaches without any fear.
Today lawlessness and target killings have gripped this city of lights. The irony of the situation is that killings don’t even stop on religious or national holidays. On 23rd March when Pakistan Day celebrations were in full swing the target killers were busy hunting down innocent residents of the city. In such a situation who would remember the national heroes and pay tribute to them?
81 people have fallen prey to target killings between March 17 and March 25. Two weeks back during the stay of President Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in Karachi 33 innocent people were killed. Challenging the writ of the government, terrorists were sending a clear message to the rulers that they were engaged in their killing spree without any let or hindrance.
Although the reign of terror in Karachi dates back to two decades, the ongoing situation is due to former ruler Pervez Musharraf who after toppling the govt of Nawaz Sharif on 12 Oct 1999 sided with a fascist organisation that works on the lines of a city mafia.
He damaged the political balance by launching a so-called operation against the Mohajir Qaumi Movement behind the smokescreen of No-Go Areas. Resulting , 12th May 2007 and other carnages came into being. This was the occasion when an MNA of this organisation sitting on an ARY private TV channel program said: “Pakistan is of Pakistanis but Karachi is ours. It is Altaf Bhai’s”.
The tone of arrogance in this dangerous and unpatriotic sentence was an indication of political instability in the city. However Pervez Musharraf who shouted the slogan” Pakistan comes first” didn’t even take notice of this just because he wanted to prolong his tenure. But not even the democratic rulers are playing their role to put the things right due to which national and international media is giving terrorising reports in view of Karachi’s’ volatile situation.
A report published ion Oct 23 2010 in Nawa-i-Waqt Lahore by a political analysts Khalid H Lodhi states” The manner in which policy to rectify the situation in Karachi is being ignored deliberately proves clearly that nowthe process of completion of New World Order has truly started”
New York Times in its report had already expressed fear of ethnic war in Karachi on the lines of Bosnia.
Just during the last month Former Speaker National Assembly and senior politician Elahi Bux Somro said in meeting held under the aegis of Qaid-e-Millat Liaqat Ali Khan Memorial Committee that “ West is pressurizing for change in geography of Pakistan and under such circumstances if Pakistan remains in its current state then it would be a big achievement”.A couple of years before this all started , on 10th May 2008, Columnist Nazir A Naji (Daily Jang) raised question in a column that only God knows what are our problems are, “ The super power of the world where leaders of big countries have no reach but suprsingly the Nazim of Karachi gets much appreciation there, I remember again US advice to Dhaka for taking external help unfortunately our leaders are only thinking about possession on regime.”
The reports of international sources revealed that Karachi target killing is neither result of ethnic dispute nor economic crunch but external conspiracy is behind the target killing to disturb the economic hub (Karachi) of the country so that those showing the dream of ‘Golden Island’ to residents of Karachi seem successful but it could be said that the people of Karachi are fed up from them. The rulers are not realizing the need of practical steps to redeem the country from terrorism and target killing unfortunately the prominent political parties seem to have failed in makeing the government realize.
Target killings in Karachi are badly ruining the industry, trade and culture of the metropolitan, panic has gripped the city but the government is not supporting the stance of people of Karachi due to which incidents of target killings have increased. The trade, economical and industrial life of the city has come to a stand still due to , lawlessness and chaos. Annually one industrial unit closes in Karachi. According to the reports of Karachi Chamber of Commerce, annually 316 units are closed in Karachi and monthly 26 industrialists units are closed while annually 500 people get unemployed. More than 500 big markets in Karachi have become deserted because the visitors have started avoiding visiting the markets and the traders are planning to shift to Punjab. The present government is still talking about policy of reconciliation. Reconciliation is not bad but permission of killing on name of reconciliation is not right. On the one hand the target killers are targeting the innocent people while on the other hand enemies of peace are torching the city. Interior Minister Rehman Malik is“ doing all to please Altaf Bhai”.
Just incase if Altaf Husain sb does not take any interest in putting an end to target killings than will Interior Minister not fulfill his responsibilities”
All around the world, countries take steps to cleanse their respective economic hubs from turbidities of all sorts and special focus is placed on providing civic amenities. But the situation runs contrary here as Karachi, the economic hub of the country has been handed over to the terrorists and people have been left at the mercy of callous murderers.
People die but they don’t matter for the rulers. Their sole motive is that their personal interests are served. Due to this attitude, liberal fascists are gaining strength in Karachi.
A seminar was organized by PANA in Lahore 6 months ago in the wake of deteriorating situation of Karachi. It was unanimously agreed that a parliamentary committee may be constituted to control situation in Karachi which could ensure peace therein on permanent basis through dialogue among all the political parties and respective stakeholders.
The participants had proposed a 7-point strategy for deweaponization of city, holding political dialogues and avoidance from military operation. But the government did nothing on this regard.
If the prevailing situation in Karachi is allowed to continue then God forbid nation may be overtaken by any debacle. The need is there that government should declare Karachi no arms area forthwith, recover illegal arms through military operation, present all the arrested target killers in the courts and bring them to justice. Stern action should be taken against all target killers indiscriminately as rate of possession of weapons per head in Karachi is higher than in all other big cities across the world in accordance with a report. That is why all the political and social circles are demanding for making Karachi arms free. Secondly Karachi should be opened to all the political and religious parties to ensure political equilibrium. Chairman Muhajir Qaumi Movement Afaq Ahmad be released as a gesture of goodwill who is kept in prison since the last 7 years under politically motivated cases despite the fact that his party had joined hands with ARD during the movement for restoration of democracy but they have being deprived of the fruits of democracy. It is a negation of healthy political norms. Thirdly a consensus political code of conduct be evolved about Karachi. In order to achieve this motive, the government should not only initiate the process of dialogue with all its allied parties and all the political and religious parties which wield less or more influence in Karachi but also seek proposals to work out code of conduct.
A specific political code of ethics has got to be approved from assembly for Karachi in the light of proposals of all political and religious parties. This should include a clause meant for banning a party which violates this code of ethics. This way no party will be able to get any opportunity to impose one party rule in the city.
If such code of conduct is given legal shape then any possibility of target killings of political rivals and innocent citizens may stand ruled out.
|