Adil Najam
Pictures on the television show Karachi burning. The city is at war. Morchas everywhere. Clashes, violence, firing, deaths.
The Chief Justice is holed up at the airport and the streets are ruled by mobs. Aaj TV is being fired at and Talat Hussain reports that the police and rangers are unable to get their to help because the roads are blocked (to stop the Chief Justice). Of course, these road blocks have not stopped the killers who are firing at the TV station. As of now 15 are reported dead. Over 100 seriously injured. Hospitals in Karachi have declared an emergency. The Prime Minister has called an emergency meeting of his own to respond to what the government is calling a ’security situation’ but which sounds, smells, looks and feels like the beginning of a war on the streets of Karachi. Flights in and out of the city are stalled. Train traffic is stopped. The city seems to have descended back to its darkest days of street violence.
Meanwhile, the petty blame game continues. But things are changing too fast for one to analyze them. But one thing is certain. Things have gone out of control. Totally out of control. Totally out of everyone’s control. It is a sad sad day for all of us.
I wish I had something more profound to say. All I can hink of right now is what someone wrote on our comments section recently: Khuda Khair Karray!
(Picture credits BBC and The News and pictorial story at Bilal Zuberi’s blog; great blog coverage at Karachi Metroblog).
Salamalikum,
I was born and raised in ’80s/’90s in Karachi in 100% “MQM area” to muhajireen parents, and I say today that MQM is responsible for this mess. They are the biggest enemy of religion, of anybody who opposes them and the biggest thugs that roam this city.
Previously on ATP comments, I’ve tried to explain that MQM is no more worst than all the other political parties and that although I never condone MQM‘s any activity, “tali dunno hatoN say bajti hay” should be kept in mind while talking about MQM. And, in some sense those comments might seem like defending MQM although it wasn‘t. But, after today and after looking at how blatantly they have thrashed Karachi and after realizing that such violence didn’t occur in other Pakistani city where CJP went, I change my view: They are worst than any other political party. They have blood of more innocents on their hands than any other party. Allah’s curse be on those thugs who kill and destroy property.
It’s high time for people of Karachi, especially the muhajireen, to completely remove their support for MQM. May Allah destroy MQM and protect the people of Karachi from any sort of retribution, ameen.
Mush is not a visionary. He is a jackboot whose mentality is akin to MQM supremo and both of them think of their interest. Mush’s support to the fuehrer will cost not only dear to him but Altaf as well. Perhaps these are defining moments not only for Sindh province but for whole Pakistan. MQM can not go on applying brute force against those who oppose them.
I was disgusted to hear Altaf reciting verses of holy Quran. Isn’t it travesty of Islam? It is an example of a hypocrite and Allah will definitely throw those in hell who are hypoctites.
What has been a movement for secular democracy seems to have been hijacked into an ethno-political battle. With Mush playing his MQM card, wither talks with the PPP? Bottom line: Mush’s days seem numbered and so do Karachi’s.
Obeserver, actually MQM’s declined started from the day when Azeem Tariq was killed by Altaf and several others were also killed because they had seen the real face of Altaf and his dictatorship
Even the current Minister Dr.Amir Liaquat was seriously threatened by MQM when Mush tried to bring him aginsT altaf. The walls of karachi were chalked by “SIRF ALtaf” or “only Altaf”, to give message that Either follow Altaf or face the heat.
After listening Farooq Sattar and others MQM officials, it’s quite clear tht MQM is in self destruction phase. As it;s said “Khhuda k laathe beawaz”- Mush’s own people are being reason of his destruction. Good going.
simah, can you please tell us what crime Aaj TV did to invite wrath of ‘peaceful’ MQM? I am sorry we have no Aaj TV here in the UK.
I agree with you all other TV channels should support its sister channel and expose them to the world the responsible perpetrators.
Ebad was a wanted man for his alleged terrorist activities during 90’s and was living in London in exile. Musharraf wanted MQM to be its partner so as keep PPP out of the government offered governorship to the MQM.
Ebad seeks army control in Karachi, demands CJ’s return to Islamabad
Updated at 1610 PST
KARACHI: Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad has asked the federal government to send army in Karachi to control the violence, which erupted on Saturday claiming at least 15 lives and left scores injured.
Ishrat-ul-Ebad has also called upon federal government that Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry should be asked to go back to Islamabad keeping in very tense situation in Karachi.
The federal government has started consideration over Ebad’s request for seeking army control in Karachi.
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/updates.asp?id=22323
What a pathetic Chief Minister of Sindh whom I watched on Geo and who seemed to be unruffled by the situation in Karachi. This man is supposed to be the Chief Executive of the provice but real power lies with Ishrat Ibad who is the Governor of the province and who is supposed to represent the federal government and is supposed to be titular head of the province.
The MQM thrives on violence. The history is replete with its violent activities in the past.
Imagine MQM’s supremo is living in London and has an ‘International Secretariat’. Who is funding him his activities here?
Adnan, you must be knowing better than anyone else as you have been an insider and you would agree that MQM Supremo is a megalomaniac and I suspect he has some sort of phychiatric disorder.
A Khan, I can understand your frustration when you are forced to show an unlimited coverage to the Fuehrer who can make their lives miserable if they do not show him on the TV. I am sure the time will come these channels will gather courage to stand up against him.