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‘Agreed upon disagreed’ ‘ending wall chalking and removal of party flags’
June 24, 2011
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The core meeting convened by CM, Qaim Ali Shah regarding target killings witnessed the degrading violation of the finalized and ‘mutually agreed upon’ decisions of ending wall chalking and removal of party flags, by ‘coalition partners’ MQM and ANP.
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The core meeting convened by CM, Qaim Ali Shah regarding target killings witnessed the degrading violation of the finalized and ‘mutually agreed upon’ decisions of ending wall chalking and removal of party flags, by ‘coalition partners’ MQM and ANP. The coalition partners had agreed to end wall chalking and removal of party flags within 4 days time, and ANP was the first one to remove its flags from day one from all main roads and highway, amid a great fanfare of media coverage. But than both ANP and MQM (Muttihida) simply refused to follow suite to remove their flags from some very controversial and sensitive areas of the City. MQM compounded the aggravated situation by flowing more flags on ‘Yom-e-Shuhada’ (anniversary of martyrs).
As of current both MQM and ANP have entrenched themselves against each other, and warmed each other against any endeavors to end wall chalking and flag removing. This finally ended all ‘mutual agreements’ for wall chalking and flag removing. Sources inform that all MQM sectors had been directed to remove flags of other parties, as they were ‘conveying the wrong impression’. Sectors who directed units for the task faced unexpected resistance by ANP in Korangi, and Katti Pehari (Katti Mountain). The ‘London leadership’ was informed of the problem, but London leadership was determined to have the flags (of other parties only), removed, authorizing /stressing the assistance of City government and police if necessary. Police, mercifully refused to assist.
One such situation in Shah Faisal Colony was also quiet grim on the occasion, as both sides despite agreeing to the decision, simply refused to do the job and rather confronted each other with arms and regular entrenchments, which is going on. Sources have declared 7 towns as sensitive in this regard, which include, Shah Faisal Town, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, Orangi Town, Saddar Town, Baldia Town, Lyari Town, and North Nazimabad Town. Sources have informed that Shah Faisal Town is replete with wall chalking of MQM, ANP, PML, Sunni Tehrik and others. MQM activists are targeting wall chalking by all other parties while simply leaving theirs intact. This has obviously created clashes and killings. MQM activists would be facing similar kind of resistances in other areas like that of Benaras Town, Orangi, Saddar, and Jamshed Town as well. ANP has categorically advised that following the directives of president MQM, Sindh, the MQM activists should refrain from bullying areas dominated by ANP, as ANP would personally take care of their areas. Lyari town has already witnessed such bloody clashes between warring adversaries. Sources have informed that due to this inclement situation MQM activists have been advised to remain within their own ambits; while this tension has spread over to quarters dominated by other political influences as well. The focused site is Katti Pehari where ANP fired upon others, refusing to take of its parry flags, at least from here. It should be realized that besides wall chalking of MQM and ANP, other parties including the various anti-State nationalists’ also indulge in this dirt.
Meanwhile parties outside the government and its ‘coalition’ have expressed their severe reservations over the issue, declaring that government and its coalition partners were hell-bent on destroying the peace and tranquility of the City; and warned that endeavors to remove wall chalking and flags in area that fell under their influence would be resisted, if the action is taken unilaterally by either or both ‘coalition partners’, MQM/ANP. PULSE has on its knowledge that while MQM (M) was taking of its party flags, it was putting on its election flags in connection with forthcoming AJK elections and ‘Yom-e-Shuhada’’; this despite the fact that administration had imposed section 144, which forbids wall chalking and flags. MQM (M) hoisted its flags in connection with AJK elections and ‘Yom-e-Shuhada’, on Saturday night, using vehicles of KESC, as it is more safe and convenient to safe oneself from any resistance. On that very day flags of ANP, PKMAP, PML, Sunni Tehrik and PTI were also taken down from Empress Market area. MQM has also been known to have used police escorting for the purpose.
When PULSE contacted ANP leaders, they contend that during the core committee meeting it was decided that peace in City could only be maintained after wall chalking and flags of various political parties would be removed; while imposition of section 144 was also suggested. Target killings have also resumed, while son of ANP’s local president and ANP activist Islamia Colony UC-9 Zeb Khan was abducted and subjected to torture in a cell. The victim managed to escape to his zone after which tensions resurfaced. The chairman of Punjabi-Pakhtoon Itehad, Malik Ayub Awan has said that he was least bothered as to what MQM took itself to be, it should nevertheless limit these activities to its own jurisdictions; as the City belonged to all Pakistanis. JI has also voiced its concern over the fact that the troika of PPPP, MQM and ANP was hell-bent on torching the peace of the City. While Sunni Tehrik spokesman Naeem Sheikh was chagrined over lack of consensus over the decison to end wall chalking and flag removing.
PPP, leaders have announced that ‘in future’ all decisions would be taken by mutual consensus of all political parties, regardless of their status. PML-N’s Karachi spokesman Idrees Ahmad Khan was also very critical of the casual decision, declaring it as a well-contrived bullying campaign between PPPP and MQM, as was PTI’s Kamran Minhas and chairman Sindh Dost Itehad Muzaffar Hussain.
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