Can’t blood be seen in sky?

Pakistan or more correctly Islamic Republic of Pakistan as a whole and Karachi in particular is bleeding for years and not just months to be honest which has been voiced by many including myself at different forums but it is very much regretted that human killing could not be stopped in the cosmopolitan city of the country where each day people are killed though the figures vary on daily basis in a sense that some day it goes into two figures and other days it remains in one digit only.

Please correct and enlighten me before I proceed any further, if I am wrong, which I am not so far as my memory goes back though I am not keeping any track record of the same as to which was the luckiest day, if any, when not a single person was killed in Karachi? I will salute both collectively and individually right from chief to the last bare footed rung in police, rangers and other law enforcing agencies if I am told as to which was bloodless day Karachi in the history of Karachi not only in 2012 but even in 2008 when the incumbent PPP took over the power to run the country. Why people which include almost 99% innocent are killed and that too for years to come on daily basis is a burning question? Who are those unfortunate men, women and children who are being killed is yet a difficult question to answer simply because all type of people is killed either individually or collectively? Which section of society is safe in Karachi cannot be answered fir the very simple and obvious reason that those who are killed included poor daily wage earners, small shop keepers, politicians, businessmen, teachers, lawyers, doctors, clergy men and even those from police force itself? How the killers are not being caught and punished is a real baffling question which perhaps cannot be answered by anyone otherwise the problem had been solved long back.

Rangers is not the other name of police as one may be mistaken rather it is nothing but a Para military force which comes directly under the administrative control of Pakistan Army and therefore it is headed by a serving Major General of Pakistan Army but due to constantly depleting security situation of Karachi it was decided in the greater interest of the city that rangers be deployed to augment law enforcing agencies in Karachi. Primarily rangers has been created and deployed at borders as a support force to our army so that our territories cannot be but under the given circumstances about 11 years 10,000 men of rangers are deployed in Karachi whereas police, elite force, FIA and other law enforcing agencies are very much in the city. Rangers is fully armed and equipped with armored vehicles and fire power whereas police force also has been modernized so far as arms ammunition is concerned and it has all that what it did not own 10 years ago to tell you the truth. In the greater interest of the residents of Karachi lately Rangers has also been given police powers empowering it to arrest anyone found to be involved in any crimes. What else is needed by rangers to prove its true affectivity? Employment wise Karachi police has increased tremendously even though the population of the city has not grown in the same proportion so it cannot be maintained even for argument purpose that the police lacks in number either in officers or juniors or both unless and until some Pakistani Plato thinks that the ratio between police and Karachites should desirably be in the proportion of at least one to one if not one to two.

We from day one have many investigation cells and committees called CID in each and every police station of Karachi primarily tasked to keep an open eye on all the criminals of the area which is also assigned to dig out as to who is the brain behind criminal activities. It is no more secret that police has some paid informers as well who are neither in uniform nor they personify themselves to be linked in any way with police but yet they are expected to be none but eyes and ears for police and their reports are ought to be taken into active  consideration. These informers are always behind the curtain who and their names and photos are kept top secret while they freely mix up with the public for getting the first hand information. Each and every official working in police irrespective of his or her rank is official authorized to book anyone found to be anti social but it is much regretted that despite this is results are too poor. Police is basically a provincial subject but still we have seen that nine but Federal Interior Minister Malik Rehman in addition to issuing instructions and stern warnings from Islamabad had often been running to Karachi presiding over high profile security meetings and even giving ultimatums but yet the security system could not be improved upon. Does someone know how many times President Asif Ali Zardari or for that matter Prime Minister Raja Pervez or Yousuf Gillani had been in Karachi to sort out law and order situation? Regretfully, in Karachi our human blood has become cheap rather dirt cheap.

Pakistan Army Chief Gen Pervez Kayani seeing for quite long as to what is going on in Karachi simply could not remain a silent spectator and had left with no alternative but to fly out to Karachi and met his army commanders and discussed Karachi situation and he was awfully shocked to realize that despite deployment of rangers all along with police human life is not safe at all. He presided over corps commanders’ meeting which is nothing but star studded event where not less than Maj Gen rank officers attend, Karachi situation was discussed in depth and details. The meeting discussed all the pros and cons of the grimed situation. Gen Kayani issued necessary instructions to all the concerned to be more vigilant and diligent in controlling Karachi which is fast turning as grave yard. Army Chief with very heavy heart and saddened feelings now had to call on President Asif Ali Zardari and apprised him about the worst possible situation of Karachi.

Coming back to Karachi  let it be known that just on Wednesday to men in khaki Havaldar Muneer Ahmad Bhutto and Aijaz Ahmad Baloch both belonging to Sindh Rangers and deployed in Karachi to restore peace were abducted by someone and a day later both were found dead proves what is the ground reality in Karachi if someone realizes. At this point of time when the lives of rangers are not safe one can very well imagine how much unsafe are the poor civilians who are neither equipped nor trained. Newspapers reported that the same day another seven people were also killed in Karachi which proves in black and white that blood of all those who either live or visit Karachi is at high risk and can be bled anytime and anywhere. MQM has already advised his party members that since administration has utterly failed in protecting the lives of people and therefore the people must protect their own lives if they want to live on and die which is not less than a slap on those who are in power corridor provided  they can realize its warmth and depth.

Supreme Court of Pakistan after blasts at Abbas Town killing 48 people and injuring more than 50 people at its own has taken cognizance of Karachi situation and has issued notices to chiefs and other senior ranking officers who matter in case of law and order situation of the metropolitan city. Chief Justice Iftikhar presiding over the court bench has shown his anger about the worst possible law and order situation of the city. He has even formed a larger bench to continue its proceedings. Now in nut shell when rangers and police has failed to protect the lives of residents of Karachi, Army Chief Gen Kayani is disheartened and Chief Justice Iftikhar is very much worried my last question is as to who will guarantee and how that human blood is no more drained in Karachi.

God forbid, if no drastic actions are taken and the killers are no more financed, fed and protected and instead hanged in public I think there will be more bloodshed in the days to come because one way or the other they have not only nullified whatever deterring forces we have rather they have spat on their faces if anyone truthfully realizes. Election which is very much knocking and therefore it is quite but natural that all the political parties will have to have many public gatherings, processions and rallies involving thousands of people which as such could be very hot and favorable spots for the killers to attack and kill scores if innocent lives for none of their fault and contribution.

Wake up from somber sleep and rise to the occasion as not much time is left with us to prove our power and deterring authority to those who are blood hungry otherwise the day is not that distant away when even the sky will be blooded.

Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait