We all saw the bomb blast on the Ashura procession on December 28 and now we have also seen its aftermath through the video footage provided to the TV channels courtesy the City Nazim Karachi. While the City Nazim lamented the inaction of the law enforcement agencies (despite MQM being at the helm of affairs), it reminded me of other similar incidents. On May 12, 2007, when the CJP was prevented from entering Karachi, the law enforcing agencies were conspicuous by their absence. The MQM, if I may point out, was also in power then and was, in fact, instrumental in blocking roads with containers. The young lads that appeared on the streets carrying arms and went on a spree of killing, burning and looting on camera were also alleged to be their party men. If those who looted and plundered on December 28 were not the Aazadars as is being claimed, then the obvious conclusion is that these were people in cahoots with the administration, which as we all know, is being headed by the PPP-MQM combine. The MQM chief must refrain from raising the bogey of Talibanisation of Karachi as he does not have a leg to stand on as far as this issue is concerned. The need of the hour is an independent judicial inquiry without any fear or favour but I feel this would not be possible because of the goons of MQM that go in overdrive whenever such a possibility is created. One must not forget the inquiries of May 12, which resulted in the eventual burning alive of the lawyers in Karachi. -TALAAT KHURSHID, Rawalpindi, December 31