Five months after it was launched in September last year by the intervention of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the joint Rangers-Police Karachi operation seems to be heading nowhere. Its lack of success so far can be ascertained by various facts. The most obvious indicator is the large number of people that have been killed, not just by the law enforcement agencies, but criminals and terrorists as well. The entire criminal justice system is underperforming. Thousands have been arrested, but the prosecution rate remains abysmal. There is not much point behind conducting such an extensive exercise, if everyone just walks away free at the end.
It certainly doesn’t help the credibility of the targeted operation when it comes under fire from political parties due to certain cases. The opposition from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) doesn’t surprise. Since a considerable part of violence in the city is related to politics, Karachi’s majority party is bound to feel the heat. However, this does not mean that cases where excesses appear to have taken place should be ignored. It is in the interest of law enforcement agencies to abide by the law. Cases involving torture and illegal detentions are undermining the entire operation. What possibly do the authorities wish to gain from such adventures is incomprehensible.
To make matters worse, this ship has no captain. Is it the IG Police who is running the show? DG Rangers? Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah? We don’t know. No responsibility, no accountability. And, what about the federal government? It was after all their initiative. The PM has now issued directions, but how familiar is Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan with recent developments? Political ownership is necessary for the success of this operation, especially if the law enforcement agencies are facing serious resistance.
No less than 79 police officers have been killed during the operation. 2014 has seen a spike in attacks, with 24 casualties suffered by the Police in January. In a system where law is given little consideration, it is very easy for things to spiral out of control. There are reports of religious militants increasing their footprint in areas such as Manghopir and Sohrab Goth. If this is happening while the forces are supposedly playing on the front foot, then one wonders if they are facing the right direction. The exercise should not be allowed to develop into a free-for-all where they kill some and we kill some, nor should it turn into a politics-centric action. The provincial government must step forward, and take responsibility. Legitimate concerns of the MQM as well as the law enforcement agencies must be addressed. It will only help achieve the ultimate objective of restoring the peace and sanity that has eluded Karachi for years now.