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).
Ibrahim
yo bro!
silent revolution all the way!!!!
live today, fight tomorrow!
Everybody in Pakistan is a hypocrite when it comes to democracy. Absolutely everybody, including Musharraf. I am a former pro-Musharraf fanatic who now clearly sees that he has lost his way.
About MQM, well it has always been a terrorist party and remains as such.
Just got this news and what can I say except that I am just stunned. I am so dismayed. This is just beyond words. I am keeping all Karachiites in my prayers and thoughts.
Regarding the discussion on revolutions:
Actually, I think it depends on what one means by revolution. If you are using revolution as a synonym to positive change then of course it is not a fitna and hopefully we can all bring about a revolution. Moreover, for a true positive change to occur it would have to have both the personal and societal level changes. AND such a change does not need to be violent.
However, if you are using the word revolution to describe upheaval/disturbance, then I’d tend to really agree with Ibrahim. I think that such “revolutions” are merely superficial… And they lead to bloodshed, violence and anarchy.
Ibrahim,
I agree we should change ourselves, however I cannot agree that revolution is akin to ‘fitna, also let us not equate ourselves with other countries, remember Pakistan was created as the second Madina. So lets all work together to bring that about peacefully, but if the need is so with blood since this is the call of the hour. I say it with a heavy heart and a great deal of trepidation.
Feimanallah
Salamalikum,
Don’t call for revolution. Revolution is a greater fitna than what’s going on. People are crying, rightly so, for 33 dead. Wait for revolution protests and you’ll see 33000 dead. And, dying for politics is no badge of honor. Wasim Arif, you named some “good” people. Let’s say they bring about revolution. Then what? The society’s ills will go away? First, change oneself and revolution will come about without having to shed blood. This is the same argument some religious people make about bringing a revolution. It can’t be successful unless the society as a whole changes from within. Was Iranian revolution a success? No, most Iranians hate the government and their lives. Was Taliban revolution successful? No, Afghans might like Taliban’s time today due to more stability, but it was a failure too because people got oppressed because they didn’t share the same ideals that Taliban had. Similarly, you can go for revolution but would it take care of hatred between ethnicities, remove corruption, bring about peace and justice? No, going with the state of Pakistanis today. Revolution is external change and the real change comes from within. Change yourself and that will affect your family, etc. and then the muaashara will be more conducive to a just rule.