Lawbreakers

The situation in Karachi is hopeless. Our political players? Self-serving and ghastly. Our media: uncanny, right-wing and appalling. Our religious values continuously falling prey to confused beliefs. Our security apparatus? A big fat joke. And our rules of justice? Questionable at best.

So much for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. A piece of land we needed to call our own, which we then proceeded to divide up for each political party. However, we continued to be governed by the fear of insecurity which impelled us to nationhood. So, instead of focusing our energies and efforts to preserve what was rightfully ours, we decided to go after others’ territory. We meddled in Afghanistan, Nepal, China, Iran and India, among others, to ward off all potential evil-doers. Alas, what goes around comes around. Our own space began to shrink. It wasn’t just our political divisions pulling us apart but now even our assets, the Taliban, wanted their share of land. Our survival instinct transformed and took on a new shape. Lawlessness became the law, and justice was all about getting even.

And that’s how we turned into a perversion of the Quaid’s idea, where illegal actions bred with unlawful responses. When non-state actors took over much of the space in Swat a few years ago, our government allowed it to happen. When civilians were killed in broad daylight, the state responded with its own version of fear factor. An operation was launched soon after, which left many soldiers dead, some were shredded into little pieces and sent over to the army as a token of the terrorists’ ‘love’. In order to boost the morale of our soldiers, the perpetrators of these crimes were dealt with in a way they understood. Some were allegedly thrown-off helicopters, while others were brutally killed. Human rights groups described these as “extra-judicial” killings; an allegation which the state actors dismiss. Their retort: desperate circumstances call for desperate measures.

Notwithstanding the real lacunas in the criminal justice system and a weak prosecution, police officials in Punjab have taken matters into their own hands. It is believed that the political leadership has given law enforcers a free hand to break the law in order to maintain it. Many torture cells have allegedly been established by the city police in Punjab, while known felons usually fall prey to mysterious ‘encounters’. However, ask a government official and he will tell you with pride how this tactic has helped counter dacoits and kidnappers. Criminals that have not been brought to book in courts hence have been “reformed” by them.

While the Punjab police take criminals to task in that province, Rangers have been granted extraordinary powers to maintain law and order in Sindh. The provincial government has extended special powers to the Rangers for the next three months to eliminate no-go areas and crack down on target killers. They have been allowed to shoot down not only terrorists, but also those they may feel ‘intend’ to breed terrorism. How naïve have I been my entire life; believing that only God can judge intentions. Clearly, now our Rangers can too. To be fair, it seems that the Sindh government has little choice. More than a hundred people dead in the city, bodies found tortured and bullet-riddled in sacks – it’s about time to do something, right? Even if it isn’t the right thing to do. Will the Rangers’ newfound power give rise to more cases like Sarfaraz Shah or help nab criminals such as Ajmal Pahari, remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has taken suo moto notice of the Karachi killings. The bench comprising five senior judges of the Supreme Court has sent notices to the president and the prime minister. The inspector General of Sindh has also been summoned and the hearing is to resume in Karachi from Monday. However, other than urging the IG and DG Rangers to do more; and taking note of what the government could have done to abate the violence in Karachi, what more is expected from the Supreme Court? What if it is discovered that the political parties along with the government, allowed innocent people to die in order to buy time to negotiate their own terms and gain political leverage? With the MQM leader Farooq Sattar and the ANP leader Afrasiab Khattak willing to become party to the case and assist the honourable court, perhaps someone can ask them why they continue to stick with the running government and allow innocent people to be killed on the streets of Karachi.

Pakistan is not the only country faced with a challenging law and order situation. The recent riots in London are a fine example of how things can go awry. The British government is not perfect but their handling of the crisis deserves a mention. The rioters were treated as criminals. Not friends. They weren’t invited to 10 Downing Street for a possible deal or negotiations. The police did not wait for super powers to arrest the looters. There was no need to look out for political affiliations. The judicial system supported the police and many were up all night for many nights to promulgate legislation. The crisis did cease but it required the requisite effort.

In Pakistan the cost of improving any situation requires either one to cease: the public’s patience or the government’s feigned ignorance. Many suffering in Kati Pahari, Qasba Colony and Lyari will never find their way to more peaceful quarters – safe areas are reserved for the elite only. More resilient sons of the soil will watch their fathers being shot dead in the country’s capital but still seek justice living in the same country. Unlike some who will make telephone calls to a rapt audience sitting approximately 4000 miles away. Or those who have a role in legislating Pakistan and a stake in Karachi but choose to stay away – physically in Dubai, emotionally in Alaska. It is depressing to know that most of us know the truth about Pakistan but we will allow others to lie us through. And the saddest part is that there is absolutely nothing I can write in this space to change your mind. Or, for that matter, your life.