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Karachi on warpath
July 15, 2011
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The ‘political coalition partners’ had ‘symbolized their everlasting comradeship’, while standing atop Orangi hills while folding each others hands, over which the hapless, irritated, scared and much frightened citizens of Orangi heaved a millions-worth sigh of relief; only it was as short-lived as any other millions of earlier broken vows and promises. A citizen was injured after which the shortest-lived spell spewed all hell over again. 15 deadbodies piled in no time and hapless, poor dwellers of more than 50 Orangi slums were once again trapped while all entry and exit points were sealed. Commuter buses were fired upon, and funerals became a routine from almost every second locality; while every second house was up for immediate sale. There was no guarantee for anybody’s life, while commodities almost non-existent. The residents say that the killers were definitely not Pakhtoons or Mohajjar community as both had had/were co-existing peacefully. Than who are these ruthless, blood mongerers, who have become more powerful than administration itself. People have simply lost patience and their sanity as they keep on digging graves and burying their near and dear ones, and rather want action, than hollow claims and words.
On 15th Jun 2011, PPPP/MQM/ANP leaders, Waseem Aftab, Hammad Siddiqui, Najmi Alam, and Bashir Jan joined hands on Orangi Town hills vowing lasting friendship and end to ruthless genocide of fellow citizens and usher in peace and harmony in Karachi, while something quite opposite and horrible is happening, in which there have been losses worth billions, both in lives and properties. And all this while police and law enforcement, mysteriously stands idly as silent spectators. Gang war between 2 factions in Pak Colony’s Golimar area, accompanied by intermittent firing continued for 3 consecutive days, while warring ‘coalition factions’ overwhelmed and freely lobbed each other with mortars, hand grenades and yes (!) even rockets! The helplessness of police force and commandoes was frightfully appalling, as it limited it’s presence on the roads, while simply refused to enter any locality. Meanwhile the women of the locality came out in volatile protests against this war and failure of law enforcement to protect the citizens. They also appealed unsuccessfully for police assistance, which was publicly refused. SP Liaqatabad was of the view that any direct confrontation with criminals could/would lead to loss of numerous lives. Ultimately after 03rd Jun one faction withdrew over failures, ushering in normalcy, but the scars the battle left were simply outrageous; walls, doors and rooms riddled with millions of bullet holes, while thousand of spent shells littered the streets.
The next arena was Korangi industrial area’s Bilal Town. The four- day battle here entailed attacks on colonies and residential areas, with countless houses torched. Police conducted its grand operation here, arresting more than 25 and finally controlling the situation. It is pertinent to note that a permanent conflict between Qabza mafia is going on in private area of Mehran Town, Zia Colony, Bilal Colony, Awami Colony, Sharif Abad, and Gulzar Colony.
Right in the middle of the Korangi Industrial war Orangi Town again flared up in volatile firing on 05th July. Rumor mongering factories started churning out their venomous tongues; with ANP’s district East announced a series of protest strikes against alleged raids and arrests of ANP activists. While the protest rally of ANP was enroute DIG East, intense firing was exchanged between two groups near Hasan Square, changing the entire area into a virtual battlefield. Businesses closed and tensions spread in nook and corner of City. While the situation in Gulshan-e-Iqbal subsided it was exactly the opposite in Orangi Town, where attack from Katti Pehari environs seriously injured ANP’s secretary information of district West and his nephew, Rumors of his death sparked a new fresh wave of killings and wounded poured in Abassi Shaheed Hospital like a hailstorm. Firing spread out to Qasba Town and other areas.
The area of Katti Pehari is famous for its name after government carved the mud hillock in order to make passages easy for Orangi Town residents. But nobody had the slightest notion that this very passage craved out for facilities of residents would be the road to hell and death for hapless and innocent citizens; as no planning was carried out to make that passage safe It is pertinent to note that under inclement situations, the entire Orangi Town becomes hostage to warring factions as they control the only accessible narrow passages, available. Rangers tried to establish their checkpoints there, which were immediately torched, demolished within minutes of their construction. The resultant6 check posts are being used by terrorist elements, who have joyously entrenched over there for their indiscriminate firings.
Meanwhile armed contingents of terrorists and miscreant elements continue their firings, torching, ransacking, and even cases of molesting women have surfaced. Vast majority of citizens have hastily relocated to safer havens, putting sale notices over their houses. The most notable factor is that Pakhtoons, Punjabi, and Mohajjar, community has always been living in peaceful co-existent harmony and closeness. While there is third new external factor, bent on exploiting the strife.
Rangers, who earlier managed to control the situation, have also been significantly lower in numbers this time, while their powers and jurisdiction had also been restricted. Reporting in Orangi Town has also become difficult, as one TV channel’s reporter was injured. However reporters are still able to make their presence felt. Police is carrying out whatever feasible operations in areas like Qasba Colony, MPR Colony, and Muslimabad SSP Orangi Town has also confirmed the presence of political activists, and firing in affected areas continues intermittently.
Police has once again tried the old trick of trade, by recommending an immediate ban on pillion riding to control the acts of terrorism. This has only served the benefits of transporters, who have started fleecing hapless commuters more. This time the newly appointed I.G Sindh, is to withstand the test of time, because he had instantly changed the administrative structure of police the moment he took charge, and had also made countless transfers. He has assured that things would take a better turn, but only after some time, as they cannot be rectified overnight.
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