Pakistan: Karachi weeps again

Editorial

A brief lull in violence was once again broken on Tuesday when Karachi witnessed a string of attacks on people with marked religious distinction that gave a sectarian overtone to the entire mayhem. A Shia scholar and political leader was gunned down along with his bodyguard while three members of the Tableeghi Jamaat including two Moroccans were shot outside a city mosque. In other incidents at least 12 people were killed. The entire city fell silent as academic institutions were closed down, traffic remained suspended and businesses were shut down. As the Rangers-led operation in Karachi continues, the backlash from those on its receiving end could not be ruled out and this new wave of violence could certainly be a part of that reaction. However, a deliberate sectarian hue to the violence is a matter of concern and calls for attention. Since the sectarian spark is potentially combustible and could engulf the entire country in its flames, there is an immediate need to address the situation by arresting the offenders without delay. There could be other parts of the country also falling victim to this reactionary behaviour. Those who are involved in sectarian killings are spread across the country. We even know they are ensconced in southern Punjab. Some of the groups had flaunted their targeting of the Shias. In the presence of ample evidence it should not be difficult for the government to arrest and punish those who are at the helm of these sectarian groups. Already the big fish have fled Karachi, therefore the net of the intelligence-led police operation in different parts of the country is required to be spread far and wide if the situation is to be brought under control. Karachi has been in the throes of political violence for years now. The nature and reasons for the violence have changed form. It is terrorism, extortion, kidnapping for ransom, sectarianism, all converging into one bloody mess. Many groups have crossed over to criminal activities to reinforce their presence and make money. Therefore the entire city cannot be cleansed in one brief operation. Nor can we take other parts of the country as immune from the presence of culprits operating in Karachi. The ongoing operation has yielded some results but it needs to be sustained for a considerable period of time, especially in the light of the eruption of this new streak of violence. The Sindh government has to change its approach in dealing with Karachi. The firefighter approach can quell miscreants for some time but for a consistent and prolonged improvement, a proactive investigation and law enforcement strategy is required.