The repercussions of Karachi violence

Call these violent acts sectarianism or terrorism the fact remains the same. Karachi has been thrown back into the mid 80’s era under Zia, which was the bleakest spot in its history.

The Chief Minister of Sindh, Sardar Muhammad Ali Mahar resigned on June 8. He cited personal reasons as the cause of resignation. The real reason is anybody’s guess. The violent situation in Sindh had escalated way beyond his control and the criticism from the opposing parties as well as people in his assembly was the primary cause. It is widely thought that at this time Sindh is in dire need to be ruled with an iron fist so that the terrorists can be hunted and bought to justice. Only time will tell if Arbab Ghulam Rahim can take this challenge head-on with success.

Apart from the general condemning of the events occurring in Karachi the shockwaves of the violence that is rocking Karachi are felt in almost every part of Pakistan. Speaking metaphorically Karachi is one of the vital organs of the body (Pakistan). Its’ anguish is felt in every other part (city) of the body.

How can Muslims kill Muslims in such a brutal and random manner, devastating the lives of countless human beings? Leaders are vowing to curb terrorism and ministers promising to take new steps to control violence. In the meantime newspapers and televisions are bringing images of the mayhem in Karachi and no one is left untouched by these horrifying images. Many people living in other parts of the countries have friends or relatives in Karachi. Their safety is cause of great concern for non-Karachites. Even if this is not the case the people suffering in Karachi are our Pakistani brothers and to witness such bloodshed strikes a chord in our heart. Nationwide strikes are occurring condemning these acts vociferously.

The political instability in Sindh is a major cause of concern for the provincial and national assemblies. The opposition the majority party PML-Q is facing by the PPPP and the MMA and even MQM and its own coalition forces have led to politically unfavorable and hostile conditions in the assemblies. This is hazardous to the development of the country. If the ruling parties are with daggers drawn at each other how can the situation possibly be bought under control? This hostility has seeped into the political setup of the country and can damage it irreversibly.

Karachi is a port city and the Keamari Port is the largest one in Pakistan. It facilitates a large portion of the imports/exports of our country. The disorder in Karachi has led to the deceleration of trade and industries in the northern areas are suffering because of lack of trade. Karachi is also the commercial hub of the country and numerous industries are located here. The anarchy in the city has caused industrial productivity to decline and this is having a destabilizing affect on all sectors of the economy.

Moreover the violence in Karachi has led to wide scale sectarianism in all parts of the country. The hunt for the elusive terrorists is still on and only time can tell if Karachi will live to see the day when it is free from ethnic strife.