The death toll from the recent violence in Karachi has surpassed 60 (and may be as high as 75) after three days — a long, horrible three days. Yesterday alone, 27 people lost their lives and Karachi is once again in the grip of violence after gunmen opened fire at Shershah scrap yard and managed to escape.

Following the attack, Prime Minister Gilani called Sindh’s Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah. MQM leader Farooq Sattar called the prime minister. Earlier, following the outbreak of violence after the PS-94 by-elections on October 17, 2010, Governor of Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan rushed to Islamabad for a meeting. It’s not everyday that incidents of violence in Karachi are a cause for phone calls and emergency meetings, which at the most receive only condemnations by the political higher-ups. This obviously is no longer the straightforward Mohajir-Pathan conflict. Lyari, the Peoples’ Amn Committee and the PPP are also part of the equation, which makes it all the more volatile.

The fragile PPP-MQM coalition seems to be falling apart. The MQM has been sounding off at the government for the attacks. Its member Babar Ghauri has held the government responsible, whereas MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain said that there is no government at all in Sindh. On the MQM website, the party has issued a statement that is both clear and combative in its finger-pointing:

“MQM has strongly condemned the unrestrained violence in Karachi by the terrorists of ANP and Peoples Amn Committee installed by the government of Pakistan Peoples Party.”

On the other hand, Interior Minister Rehman Malik stated that in a metropolis like Karachi, it is difficult to maintain law and order — especially with several gangs operating, all of which are pitted against one another. PPP MPA Nabeel Gabol, expressing his personal view and not the party’s stance, said that the local administration was not capable of controlling the situation and under such circumstances the constitution allows the army to assist the local administration. “We need a massive operation in Karachi. We need to de-weaponise Karachi and that can only happen with the help of the army,” he said, speaking to a local news channel.

Various circles, both political and public, are abuzz with talk of the law-and-order situation, army deployment and operations against criminal gangs in the wake of the violence that began with the PS-94 by-elections (the by-elections were necessary because the seat fell vacant after the assassination of MQM legislator Raza Haider in August 2010). There has been extensive debate on the deployment of the army in Karachi as the police and Rangers have proven inept of controlling the now deadly and instable situation. Citizens claim that instead of protecting them, law enforcers asked them to run away and save themselves while they proceeded to park their vehicles near police stations for their own safety. The problem with the police force, according to ex-DG FIA, Wajahat Latif, is that it has become politicised and has become the personal servant of certain individuals. “The psyche of the police has changed. They look for alignments.”

So then, where is the army and why hasn’t it been called in?

While the ANP’s Shahi Syed supports the deployment of the army in Karachi, the PPP maintains that the police and Rangers are perfectly capable of handling the situation and that there is no need for the army (see the poll below). In order for the army to be deployed and take charge of the law-and-order situation, the provincial government would have to give an undertaking to the federal government that it has failed to control the situation and the federal government would then act upon it. But such an undertaking would have adverse effects on the PPP’s image and reflect badly on its ability to handle its position.

Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza’s decision to lift the ban on “double sawari” (pillion riding) has been called into question by many people. On October 16, Mirza lifted the ban on two-person motorcycle riding, which had been imposed to curtail target killings. Why then, many people are asking, did he choose to do so on the eve of the PS-94 by-elections when there was bound to be violence? Sure, the ban was re-imposed before the Shershah incident took place. But this came after the death count had already reached 40.

The MQM has held Jabbar Langra’s gang, operating out of Lyari, responsible for the Shershah attack (which is being viewed as a reaction to the recent operation in Lyari). “What we need is less rhetoric and more action. Take action against gangs, land-grabbers, drug smugglers,” said MQM’s Tahir Mashhadi on a talk show. Mashhadi also accused Zulfiqar Mirza of patronising criminal gangs in Lyari, after which Sharmila Farooqui “categorically” stated that neither the PPP nor Zulfiqar Mirza have patronised any criminal gangs in Lyari, or elsewhere. “When we go for a crackdown, we will go for a crackdown on all the gangs in Karachi. It has already started; that is what the police and rangers are doing,” she said. The home minister has been conducting raids in different parts of the city in an attempt to crack down on criminal gangs, and plans to continue doing so. Speaking to a news channel, Mirza spoke of his intent to impose a curfew if required for further crackdowns, mentioning the Nazimabad, Azizabad and Malir areas specifically.

History is testimony to the fact that operations and crackdowns — be they army or civilian — against “criminal elements” have not been across the board and have in fact targeted certain groups with certain political affiliations. Is the same going to be repeated again?

Besides, there is considerable doubt regarding the political will for an across-the-board crackdown on criminal gangs, as it is widely believed that operatives from these gangs have found a place for themselves within the various political parties.

Karachi awaits for its fate to be decided by the various political stakeholders. The situation could get uglier than it already is if political issues are not resolved soon because in the absence of table talks, media statements will continue to add fuel to fire and a count of dead bodies will continue to rise on the streets.

Is it time to get serious with the lawlessness in Karachi? Should the government be fighting violence with violence?

Have your say below:

Should the army be called in to Karachi to implement an across-the-board crackdown on criminal gangs?

• Yes (56%, 251 Votes)
• No (43%, 193 Votes)
• Undecided (1%, 12 Votes)

Total Voters: 447