After a brief lull, target-killings have resumed in the port city of Karachi in the name of political reconciliation, with both the federal and provincial coalition governments watching the killing spree like a silent spectator.
Over 100 persons were killed in January 2010 alone. The death toll is shockingly high, as this number of people has not been killed even in the militancy-infested areas of Swat and South Waziristan. The government is watching the killings with clinical indifference. The number of people target-killed in different areas in the first 15 days of January included 34 innocent citizens and 29 workers of political parties, while 32 persons, including three political workers, were killed in the last 15 days of the month.

After the target-killings of hundreds of people in the city port city in 2009, the government had made tall claims to bring them to an end, however, despite all orders of the central and provincial governments and police steps, people continued to be target-killed. According to unofficial statistics, during the first 15 days of January, 29 workers of different political parties were target-killed in Liyari, Usmanabad, Ramswami, Garden, Dhobi Ghat, Kalri, Kalakot, Bughdadi, Ranchor Line, Leemar Caat and some other areas, while 34 innocent citizens, having no political affiliation, were target-killed in other areas of the city. According to police sources, during the month of January several clashes took place among the workers of MQM, People’s Aman Committee, Jiey Qaumi Mahaz, MQM, ANP, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Muhajir Qaumi Movement.
In every clash, the MQM was on the one side and its rival parties on the other side. According to sources, the London-based leadership of MQM directed its sector in charges not to allow the rival political parties to open offices in their areas. The sector in charges started implementing the instructions causing bloody clashes between the MQM and ANP in Orangi Town. The ANP, which is present in various parts of Orangi Town and spreading its political activities to other areas, poses a serious threat to MQM due to which it might lose several union councils in the upcoming local bodies elections.
According to sources, the ANP decided to open its office near Shaheen Hotel in Qasba Colony Muslimabad No 2 area, however, when Qasba Colony Ali Garh sector in charge came to know about this likely development, he conveyed a message to ANP through some local elite not to open its office in Muslimabad. The ANP ignored the message and sent back a reply that there was no no-go area in Karachi and threatened action if the MQM stopped it from opening its office.
The ANP workers were busy wall chalking outside their newly set up office in Muslimabad on Jan 29 when MQM workers opened fire on them. The ANP workers resorted to aerial firing to scare the MQM workers away, however, they moved towards the ANP unit office while firing. As a result, Mohammad Javed of MQM and Sharif Khan of ANP died on the spot, while one worker of MQM and three workers of ANP were injured. The MQM claimed that Mohammad Javed was the member of unit-132 of Orangi sector. According to sources, after the killing of MQM worker, Qasba Colony and Orangi Town sector in charges were directed to avenge the killings. During three days, 19 people have been killed in Orangi Town and the police and Rangers have completely failed to control the situation.

According to details, the process of clashes started with the killing of two persons by some unknown armed men Friday night in Qasba Colony which continued till Monday. The process of firing continued since Sunday morning in Orangi Town, Qasba Colony, Mominabad, Banaras Chowk, Katti Pehari and adjacent areas and police. The Rangers were on the patrol but no armed man was arrested. A child was also killed by some unknown armed men in Qasba Colony on Sunday. His body was shifted to Qatar Hospital after which some unknown armed men killed a woman and youth in the same area and their bodies were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Some unknown armed men killed Nooran alias Noor Shah near Orangi Town 10 the same day. His body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. After the incident, some unknown armed men occupied Edhi Home located in Qasba Colony and continued firing after preparing bunkers on the rooftop. Two workers each of ANP and MQM were killed in the Orangi Town clashes. Overall, 31 innocent citizens lost their life. Lawlessness reigns supreme in Orangi Town, while on Monday two Rangers personnel were injured in firing.
After these killings, Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza slapped a ban on carrying weapons and imposed Section 144, but he did not know that terrorists never sought his permission to carry arms openly.

In a statement issued from Bacha Khan Markaz, the ANP Sindh chapter leadership condemned killings in Orangi Town in the last three days and said that some armed people were attacking the minority population comprising Pakhtoons and trying to confine them to their homes. The statement said that the killing of innocent rickshaw drivers showed a well-planned conspiracy to kill Pukhtoons. It said all offices, wards and districts offices were located in Pakhtoon area that could not threaten the political interest of any lingual party.

The spokesman said that the killing of innocent people in Pukhtoon majority areas like union council 8 Site Town Kasba Colony, Union Council 12 Orangi Town Ali Garh and the whole Orangi Town was a shameful act. He said eyewitnesses had seen heavy arms being supplied in ambulances but despite that the law-enforcement agencies were taking no action. He said the government must take a serious action because if the legal heirs of the Pakhtoons target-killed in different incidents made up their mind to avenge the killings, then no one would be able to protect Karachi from turning into a tinderbox.
On the other hand, MQM chief Altaf Hussain has condemned terror incidents in various areas of the city and said that some elements were hatching conspiracies to disturb peace in the city. He said the elements killing innocent citizens for fulfilling their nefarious designs were open enemies of Karachi and its citizens. Muttahida Qaumi Movement Vice Chairman Akthar Hussain has again condemned the target-killing of 12 innocent persons by unknown armed men in Karachi and said that the citizens of Karachi were being made victims of terrorism. He said terrorists were openly challenging the state writ and killing innocent people to fulfill their nefarious designs but the ruling PPP was dancing to the tune of its coalition partner whose workers were killing innocent people.
Hussain said that they had informed the government through statements that terrorists of a certain organization had devised a plan to paralyze Karachi and killing innocent people without any rhyme or reason to appease their foreign masters. He said the killing of dozens of people in Orangi Town, Qasba Colony and Paposh Nagar after Liyari was a clear proof of the fact that the terrorists were working on some foreign agenda to economically ruin the port city of Karachi.
He said people were being killed in Karachi and the city was burning but despite that the ruling coalition was making preparations for the upcoming local bodies elections. Hussain asked the PPP leadership to stop supporting the terrorists of Muttahida and take solid steps against those challenging the state writ.

After incidents of firing and arson in various areas of Orangi Town, over 35 temporary check posts were established in different areas. An important meeting was held at the office of SP Orangi Town on the law and order situation. Muttahida Qaumi Movement, ANP and PPP leaders, DIG West Sardar Majid Dasti, Rangers Colonel Kamran and Site Nazim Izhar Ahmad Khan attended the meeting. During the meeting, the leaders of their respective parties assured their full cooperation to the police and Rangers for restoration of peace in the area and approved establishment of bunkers in the arson-hit areas. After the meeting, over 35 bunkers were established in Qasba Colony, Banaras Chowk and various areas of Mominabad.

Earlier, IG Sindh Salahuddin Babar Khattak sent dispatched contingents of police to the arson-hit areas and ordered CCPO Wasim Ahmad to increase police patrolling in the affected areas and take a strict action against extremists. After the orders of IG Sindh, police contingents were sent to Orangi Town where the police have taken up positions. On the other hand, due to violent incidents, which started last Friday night in Orangi Town and its adjacent areas, people passing through Orangi Town, Qasba Morr and Mangoo Pir Road Banaris Chowk faced severe inconvenience. Due to incidents of firing, looting and killings at these locations, Orangi Town has been cut off from the rest of the city. The police are patrolling the area but providing no security to the public transport. Incidents of indiscriminate firing took place on Sunday in Bukhari Colony and at Banaras Chowk and Qasba Morr.
According to sources, the ANP wants to establish its unit offices throughout the city on the pattern of MQM, however, MQM wants to stop it from opening offices not only in the areas of its influence, but also in the Pakhtoon-dominated areas. The PPP-led federal government has adopted silence to keep the alliance intact and has also directed its Sindh leadership to do the same. However, Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad is monitoring the law and order situation.