Is it not a scandal? At a time when all of us should be thinking-talking-acting relief and rehabilitation, our attention is diverted instead in numerous other directions in response to various developments many of which are of no consequence at all while some others are even weird and bizarre! These continue to monopolise our time, attention and energy.
On the one hand the floods and the universal, continuing misery they have wrought, and on the other, happenings like cover up efforts in the horrible incident of lynching of two brothers in Sialkot, the cricketting shame in London, unceasing acts of murderous terrorism and targeted killing which our security cannot or will not prevent, Altaf Hussain's odd proposal for "Martial Law-like" action against feudals by "patriotic generals", Nawaz Shaif's somersault in his new support for a change of government within the constitutional framework, stupid (some will say criminal) appointments of people with criminal records and without required qualifications (Lashari for one as Chief Secretary Sindh and Adnan Khwaja, PM's erstwhile jail-mate, for another as Director General of the highly profitable, heavy weight government-owned enterprise OGDCL) to positions of high responsibility by PM Gilani, and their retraction under Supreme Court's orders and (hard to believe) fresh procedural problems (as in the case of Lashari) stalling the retraction, the news that the PM has called for a list of all government officials and politicians who benefited from the infamous NRO (what took him 30 months to reach this point and will the list contain the President's name?), the sensational disclosure of a plot to assassinate the Lahore High Court Chief Justice, with the Punjab Government and the Governor engaged in an unending blame game, and now the asssassination in London of a senior MQM leader living there in exile: these have been some of the matters which have engaged our minds, our thoughts, our ears, our tongues and our energy these last several days or weeks to the exclusion of meaningful thoughts, plans and actions for the tremendous relief and rehabilitation work that lies ahead.
MQM leader murdered The latest of these diversions is the total shutdown experienced by Karachi on Friday following the news of Dr Imran Farooq's murder in London and the speculation that followed it. The senior MQM leader living in exile in London under political asylum since many years now, was stabbed to death allegedly as he returned to his flat in London located in a quiet neighbourhood, from his customary evening walk. The scene of the crime was cordoned off by the Scotland Yard and investigations begun.
People wait with bated breath for what the investigations would reveal and if any repercussions would be suffered by people of the hapless Metropolis (not London but Karachi). London's anti-terrorist police has now been also involved in the investigations. An appeal has gone out for people to come forward and share with the police any information they may have which could help in solving this crime already characterised by the police as a very thorough and well-planned and executed professional job.
As we go to press, there are unconfirmed news about the claim of London police that they are close to apprehending the culprits. There is also a report that Imran Farooq's wife (reportedly under police protection) was a witness to the murder. Sadly the floods have become a distant thought in the minds of most people in the city due to various distracting developments, including this gruesome murder.
TV footage showed Altaf Hussain the party supremo crying his heart out, grieving over what he called his life's biggest heartbreak and being consoled by his close associates. Overwhelming grief was visible on the faces of party leaders who had gathered at the house of the murdered leader in Karachi, quite in tune with shock and suffering their chief was undergoing. A 10-day mourning was declared by the Party.
It was sad however, that offices, shops, schools were all closed and transport was off the roads. Seven foolhardy drivers who brought their transports on to the road saw them burnt down in no time. The sick suffered because medical attention could not be reached. Travel plans had to be shelved and yet another day of setback to the city's and the country's economy had to be suffered.
Speculation galore! In the mean time the air is rife with speculation. Commentators have said that Imran Farooq, one of the senior most MQM faithful, has had several ups and downs with his chief and the party over the years and was reported to be not very active in party affairs in recent months. This was denied by one of the party leaders who claimed that Imran Farooq was active till the last in party affairs as Convenor Rabita Committee while another party leader has admitted that for some time now Imran had taken time off from party activity but only on personal grounds. Others have said that for two years now or more Imran Farooq was not in touch with the party. In fact, some went to the extent of alleging that the party was keeping an eye on him.
A retired General who has first-hand knowledge of the 1992 operation in Karachi, while commenting on a report that Imran Farooq was getting ready to return to Pakistan to face the charges against him pending in the courts of law since 1992, expressed the view that all those police officers who could have served as witnesses in these cases have since been killed one after another. Imran Farooq therefore could hope to be successful in having the cases overturned and walk out a free man. It has also been reported that Imran Farooq was writing a detailed account of his political and party life which was to disclose new facts.
The motive There is much speculation about the motive behind the murder. MQM people, notably Saleem Shahzad, have expressed the view that the act was perpetrated by those who wanted to sabotage Altaf Hussain's crusade against corruption and feudal rule in the country and for a meaningful change in the system. The killers or those who employed them for the murderous task wanted thereby to unnerve the MQM Chief according to some party people. Altaf Hussain's crusade for a change of system and his exhortation to the people to take direct, violent action against entrenched feudals running the country for their own benefit at the cost of people's welfare, has been the subject of much discussion in the media. This is, in effect is yet another diversion from the need to devote our entire energy towards providing relief to the flood-affected - starving and dying of various diseases - tens of millions and to work single mindedly for their rehabilitation.
Scotland Yard is different! There was general consensus, however, that every one should show patience and wait for the outcome of Scotland Yard's investigations which agency is considered by an average Pakistani to be more - oh, much, much more - trustworthy in the matter of identifying and apprehending criminals than our own police. There is some apprehension about what could happen in Karachi if and when facts about Imran Farooq's murder become known.
It has rightly been pointed out that mourning is a solemn sentiment and should not lead to closure - forced or otherwise - of educational institutions, shops, businesses and industrial units. Daily wage earners and hawkers, fruit sellers and vegetable vendors, who survive eking out a meagre hand-to-mouth income by making daily rounds, suffer the most from suspension of normal city activity.
Tailpiece Richard Holbrooke is bad news more often than not! During his recent visit to Pakistan he thought fit to rub in the fact that drone attacks with their daily toll of innocent men, women and children are being carried out with the Government of Pakistan and its Army fully "on board" - a fact already known to be at least one of the causes of some of the terrorist attacks against Government and the Military targets. However its unnecessary reiteration by the perpetrator country is sure to further strengthen the belief among the "terrorists" and others that Pakistan shares equal blame with America for the loss of innocent lives in drone attacks. One is reminded of "Chechen Widows", the Chechen women who unleash frequent suicide attacks in Russia to avenge the loss of a husband, a brother, a son, a father in Chechens' fight for independence of Chechnya from the occupying Russian army though this is not an exact parallel with the situation in Pakistan.
(owajid@yahoo.com)