According to a media report of August 27, former home minister of the province, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza has claimed that he can restore complete peace in Karachi, provided, the police are given full powers and concurrently, the federal interior minister, Rahman Malik is detained in his Islamabad residence for 15 days to prevent him from interfering and meddling in the affairs of Karachi city.
I am a great fan of Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, a senior minister of the rag-tag provincial government of Sindh, for the comic relief he provides so abundantly and for his hilarious antics, hysterical outbursts, culminating in profuse expressions of regrets and apologies for every foot-in-the-mouth statement, to whoever he may have slighted with impromptu slander. Dr Mirza's rhetoric, accusations and flexing of muscles (sic), all disappear when confronted by a more powerful adversary, resulting in Mirza's immediate falling on the knees with profound apologies. This is an apt description of a, "tiger on the terrace, mouse on the mat" case. Ironically, there is a large poster or billboard placed on the wall of Mirza's DHA Karachi residence with his picture on it, where he has been bestowed with the title of "Sher-e -Sindh", (Lion of Sindh)!
However, one would entirely agree with Mirza's characterisation of the ongoing, so-called targeted surgical operations, being undertaken in Karachi by the Rangers and the police, as a "big drama". The surgical operation has been going on for the past five days, but not one, repeat not one, key individual involved in targeted killings in Karachi has been apprehended or shown with his completely identity and political, ethnic and sectarian affiliation. The entire surgical operation seems to be farce. Dr Mirza's admission, that the Sindh police are a lame duck having no potent power to maintain law and order in the city, comes as no surprise, indeed!
Now coming to the claim of Dr Mirza made in the context of complete breakdown of law and order and wanton acts of targeted killings in Karachi, that he can restore and bring peace in one month, without the help of army and Rangers, with the proviso and condition that (a) Sindh police be given full powers; and (b) federal interior minister, Rahman Malik be locked up for 15 days, to keep him away from interfering in the affairs of the city. It is surely an interesting assertion and that too, from a senior minister of a totally dysfunctional provincial government, being headed by an abjectly disoriented, delusional and non-functional chief minister, who often forgets the names of his own cabinet ministers!
To be fair to Dr Mirza, to prove his worth and his administrative prowess to restore peace in the out of control metropolis of the province, he should be put to the test and the federal government should accede to his demands as we all would like to see nothing but peace in the city of Karachi and of course, Rahman Malik in the "cooler', if not for a longer period, but at least for 15 days, as suggested by his long time buddy, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza. Touché'!