Law and order in Karachi: business community urges army to help improve situation

Business community has called upon Pakistan Army to control the deteriorating law and order situation in the financial hub of the country, saying that the present government has failed to provide security to them. They blamed militant wings of the coalition partners of the incumbent government for direct involvement in the ongoing targeted killings, extortions, kidnapping for ransom and other criminal activities in Karachi.
Addressing a press conference after hours long meeting of representatives of different business groups and associations, Haroon Rasheed, Acting President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), renowned businessman S. M. Munir and others said that the security situation in the city had deteriorated. As the intervention of army had earlier improved the situation in Karachi, the same was needed to control the ever increasing crimes in the country in general and the city in particular, they added.
Haroon, while sharing the recommendations prepared by them to government with media persons at Federation House, said that at least 300 to 400 businessmen had attended the meeting and shown their serious concerns over the present security situation. "It is more alarming that armed forces especially the military is silent over the situation. Though we will not support any move to topple the government or impose martial law in the country, but our armed forces must control the situation," he said. He questioned that as to why the military, which restore peace in Swat and may be willing to move to Waziristan, is not coming to control the situation in Karachi and other parts of the country.
"Even the civil administration can call army to control the law and order in the violence hit city as constitution allows it," he opined. He requested the Chief of Army Staff to visit the city and take necessary actions to bring peace in the country's financial hub.
According to him, as the military wings of political parties, who are in government, are involved in targeted killings and other crimes, the situation was not being improved despite tall claims of the law enforcement agencies.
"No foreign elements are behind the present situation but the country's own politico military wings including extortionists, target killers and kidnappers are involved," he claimed. Speaking on the occasion, S. M. Munir said that present situation was apparently beyond the control of police and other law enforcers. The extortionists are now giving cell phone numbers to traders for making a deal with them. Bullets are being distributed along with extortion receipts, he added.
He said, "DG rangers had assured that the situation could be improved within weeks if the political and other interventions are ended." The Ranger official was of the view that those arrested by rangers were being freed from police custody due to political pressure and interventions.
He announced that a city-wide strike would be observed in Karachi on November 8, if the government failed to bring improvements in the situation. He claimed that due to forthcoming Eidul Azha, the scheduled protest was being delayed till next month. To a question, he said that besides political parties' militant wings religious groups were also involved in criminal activities in the city. He further claimed that Taliban had reportedly opened its offices in Karachi and were involved in crimes.