This refers to the recent spate of killings in Karachi. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure security of life and property to the people but the government of Sindh has completely failed to fulfill its constitutional obligation. The politics of reconciliation – there is hardly any member on the opposition benches in the Sindh Assembly – may have benefited the ruling coalition but it has proved a total disaster for the residents of Karachi. Turf wars between political parties have resulted in capital flight from Karachi. Karachi is the economic hub of Pakistan and yet no one is willing to put an end to the killings in a city which contributes over 60 percent of the revenue to the national exchequer.
The police force is incompetent, politicised and ill-equipped and is largely believed to be incapable of tackling the various gangs active in the city. What is strange is the silence of COAS Gen Kayani and Corps Commander Karachi Lt-Gen Aijaz Chaudhry on the city’s law and order situation. What is the point of allocating a sizeable portion of the budget for defence if the life and property of citizens are not safeguarded? Even Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s suo motu on the Karachi killings did not yield the desired result as the perpetrators were not brought to justice. It is high time those at the helm devised a strategy to stop the bloodshed in Karachi, whatever its political repercussions may be. I hope and pray that my city regains its lost peace and prosperity.
Muhammed Zafir Zia,
Karachi, July 25.