The killing of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker Syed Raza Haider on Monday August 2, triggered a week of bloodshed, arson and vandalism. Seventy persons were killed in the first three days; by the end of the week 90 were dead. Why did these others die? Who were they? The victims remain as faceless as the killers.
This pattern keeps repeating. The death of one high-profile (usually) political figure sets in motion a spate of killing of people who are nobodies. The death of the politician is mourned, the death of these others ignored, except for conciliatory statements such as announcement of compensation to the victims, which is never paid, inquiry and promises to catch the culprits, which never take off the ground.
The confrontation in the bloody week was said to be between the supporters of MQM and Awami National Party (ANP) which the former accused for the killing of their partyman. For nearly a week both parties remained at daggers drawn. The city sank into anarchy as the Police and Rangers could do little to control the mayhem. Even Interior Minister Rehman Malik's highly irresponsible order to shoot on sight did not stem the tide of bloodshed, arson and vandalism. (By the way, when will Malik realise this is a democracy and not military dictatorship? His methods are militarist, lacking in intelligence or tolerance).
By Friday August 6, the two political parties, who are members of the Sindh coalition government which includes PPP, MQM and ANP, meekly accepted Prime Minister Gilani's gentle rap on the knuckles urging warring coalition partners to stop blaming each other and settle their differences through talk. Both parties have gained something from their separate meeting with the Prime Minister, who had rushed to Karachi. The MQM got a firm promise that the culprits of Haider's assassination will be caught (really?) and the ANP was promised compensation to Pathans who were killed, whose shops, buses and trucks were torched (will they?)
Fact is, both parties have merely scored political points. They are not really interested in the fate of the nobodies who were victims; they were mere collateral damage in a power struggle. Well, the whole business of the 90 dead has gone on the back burner while analysts, press and television channels have shifted their focus on the greater, nay the greatest, tragedy of lives, property lost and millions displaced in the devastating floods.
While the damage caused by the floods is beyond human control, the damage caused by rioting is. Especially in Karachi. It is time to study why it is always the innocent who pay for the misdeeds of the powerful, be they political rivals or terrorists, or land and drug mafia.
In the recent bloodshed in Karachi, since the MQM and ANP were in the picture it was assumed that the confrontation was between Mohajirs and Pathans. This is to believe that all Mohajirs are loyal supporters of the MQM and all Pathans of the ANP. Nothing could be further from facts. The demographic picture of the city shows the largest population is of Pathans, second Punjabis and third Mohajirs. Yet it is the MQM which won the greatest number of seats in the last general election. How could that be possible without the votes of Pathans and Punjabis?
Little attention is paid to the nature and character of the Pakhtuns of Karachi. The majority of Pathans in Karachi are transient, even if they have worked in the city for over two or three years or even for decades. They are here for work they did not put down roots in the city, they are not domiciled here, they are registered voters in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and FATA.
The ANP is bent on improving its political standing in the city. Hence, in a concerted move it has been encouraging the land mafia to grab land for settlement of Pathans. The problem is that it is hard to distinguished a genuine Pakistani from an Afghani Pathan. Consequently, a great number of militants of Taliban and al Qaeda have been entering Karachi ever since international security forces geared up their operations, and due to Pakistan army's operations in Waziristan, Swat-Buner and other places which were the terrorists strongholds.
It was five months ago that an expert on regional politics, Professor Fateh Muhammad who has been closely monitoring developments in Karachi (reported in Daily Qudrat of March 30) that among the two million aliens living in Karachi, the police would not be able to locate militants. He regarded al Qaeda as one of the most organised militant groups. They can easily develop bases in the city, he said. He also stated that the influx of Afghan militants into Karachi and Quetta appeared to be a planned conspiracy against the Pakhtuns. He predicted that it is those Pathans who have been living in Karachi since last 40 years will come under fire on one pretext or other.
The recent bloodshed in Karachi should be seen in the light of Professor Fateh's analysis. The recent wave of killings, such as those against Shias, the attack on the Ashura procession and destruction of Pathan livelihoods does support the professor's contention as both Taliban and al Qaeda hate Shias.
The Pathans who died in the bloodshed of last week were ordinary people who have been living in the city since years. A cobbler in Nazimabad who sat in the same spot on the street corner was a familiar figure. No one had any enemity with him. He was shot pointblank. A fruit vendor had been selling fruit in the city since years. In his locality he was as well-known as one would know those who sells provisions, foodstuff and fruit. He was also shot pointblank. In short, these were targeted killings that could not have been acts of vengeance for the death of an MQM legislator.
But the authorities continue to put labels on ethnic groups. Hence the people of Orangi had to suffer a ban on using motorcycles. Why are they victimised? Is it assumed that all Mohajirs are supporters of MQM especially if they happen to live in Orangi.
There is no attempt to handle the city's troubles in a professional manner. The police and the government of the province have stuck labels on ethnic groups and believe politically too they are supporters of ethnic political parties. It is always the innocent who pay for the ambitions of political parties and, of course, of the evil elements like terrorists, land and drug mafia, all of whom are organised operators.