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).
I think Everybody has Forgotten 12th May 2007 ….
hey ! people outside Karachi plz…. save those who are Living in this ” masnoi Amn”
Everybody talk about 12th May….but no one talk about following
-Liaquat assassinated; high level inquiry promised
October 16 1951, Rawalpindi. Liaquat Ali Khan was shot dead today by one Said Akber, only moments after he rose to address a huge public meeting at Company Bagh, Rawalpindi.
Following the radio broadcast of the news, all public and commercial activities are shut down, as the nation prepares to mourn the death of its first PM.
said.jpg (2737 bytes)
Assassin Said Akbar, killed on the spot.
Some observers are concerned about the identity of those who might really have backed Said Akber (seen dead here), who was killed by the \’angry crowd\’ just after he had fired the bullets. Anxieties also lurk about the contents of the PM\’s last speech which he could never deliver, and which has not been released to the press.
Riots in Karachi
January 4 1965. Ethnic riots erupt in Karachi as citizens protest against violation of Section 144 by President
This is a good post
[…] read Adil’s post at ATP for details on how and why this crisis came about. More here, and some backgrounder […]
For All The Karachiites ( could be reposted to Ramadan Blog)
Hommage to Karachi !
Ay Karachi, Ay Karachi, Ay Karachi
Woh Muhallay tery, wo kochay tery, wo teri Galian,
wo tera Jamshed Road, wo meray Baba ka Mazar,
tera bunder road, tera Raam Bagh,
wo tera Densho hall, wo teri Lukshmi,
tera marywheather tower, wo kemari-o-Samadar,
Ay Karachi, Ay Karachi, Ay Karachi
Wo Mastana Saddar, wo hassin Empress, Parsi colony,
wo tera jimkhana, wo tera Clifton, wo tera Ghazi,
Ay Karachi, Ay Karachi, Ay Karachi
wo teri Khushboo, wo hussin shamm, wo tera Tea-time
wo Akhiri Station, wo Malir-o- Landhi,
Ay Karachi, Ay Karachi, Ay Karachi
Tujhaiy hazaroon lakhoon Salaam.
Tujhaiy hon lakhoon Eid Mubarak
Rafay Kashmiri.