Karachi bleeds... By Fazal
05 March, 2013
Karachi, Pakistan's jugular vein and business hub, has been profusely bleeding for the past half-decade. The citizens of Karachi are being ruthlessly killed every day and no one knows by whom. While the killing spree goes on unabated, the blame game continues to be audaciously pursued by different groups against each other. The killings of innocent people in Karachi seem unstoppable. Not a day passes without people getting killed in double digits. Every day, Pakistan's print and electronic media are replete with heartbreaking news about the shameless murder of the people of Karachi by some cruel, unknown killers. A brief pause in the killings does bring some respite to the scared and grief-stricken people but this is only for a very short span of time. Much to the shock and dismay of the people, the trigger-happy and merciless killers come back with a vengeance. The killings in Karachi have now acquired a new dimension. Earlier, they were considered more sectarian in nature and partly linked to the extortion mafias in the embattled city. Later, security personnel and strategic installations also became their target. Now, bomb blasts and suicide bombings by target killers have started taking a heavy toll on the people of Karachi. The terrible mess that the business hub of the country is in has become a cause for serious concern for every segment of society except those at the helm of affairs both in the city of Karachi and the country. They seem to be totally immune to the rapidly deteriorating law, order and economic situation that is making the city fall apart. It is being said that the business community of Karachi, because of the prevailing situation in the city, has chosen to move their businesses to countries like Bangladesh, India and some countries of Central Asia. That already a large number of industries have moved and several are on the verge of moving to these countries and elsewhere should be a matter of grave concern for Pakistan. Those who should be perturbed and should be passing sleepless nights seem to be the least concerned about whatever is happening in Karachi. Day in and day out they are intensely preoccupied in political wheeling and dealing and serving their personal interests. Every segment of Pakistani society, including the judiciary of Pakistan, is highly concerned about the volatile situation in Karachi, and is demanding the government take immediate cognizance of the matter. No one in the corridors of power seems moved or ready to retrieve Pakistan's business hub from its current predicament. What are the administrators of the city and the country waiting for? Will they please rise to the rapidly deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi and act before the city is turned into rubble? M FAZAL ELAHI
Islamabad
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