Growing Massacre in Karachi

The ongoing massacre in Karachi and killings of dozens of people in a suicide attack on a mosque in Jamrud (in Khyber Agency) are, in fact, part of the same tragedy although they appear to be two separate incidents, which should be attributed to incapability of the leadership and the poorest governance. The concern expressed by the highest leadership of the country did not cast any impact on the tragic situation in Karachi. The terrorists are still dominating the city. The common people are being kidnapped and killed after they are made to disembark from the buses. The security institutions are helpless while worthy federal interior minister after cursing the terrorists has threatened that the government is giving them last chance.
Role of Islamic World
Probably a situation worst than the present one cannot be imagined in the state that the biggest military and nuclear power of the Islamic world is unable to do anything except expressing shock and grief, showing helplessness and cursing the terrorists. The statements of Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik have become proverbs. However, the talk of the president with Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain is surprising that the terrorists will even burn our houses if we are not united. If the media have not distorted the statement attributed to the president, what else except expression of helplessness it can be called.
A simple question is that as to why the government considered indiscriminate use of military power justified in Swat and other tribal areas. Why it thought it necessary to deal with the challenges posed to the writ of the government with force? Why it considered use of force against terrorists in Karachi, which is trade and economic hub of the country, as unnecessary although Karachi is like a heart for the economy and deterioration of situation in Karachi is badly affecting the entire country. The apparent reason is that the government wanted to get appeasement of international powers through indiscriminate use of force in Swat and other areas while it is not the same in case of Karachi. Therefore, falling dead bodies, deserting houses and cries of women and children have failed to persuade the government to take serious steps for establishing peace in Karachi.
Federal interior minister still says he is giving last chance to terrorists. However, the anti-peace elements will probably be certain that the last chance is not being given to them for the last time so perhaps they will be thinking it unnecessary to pay heed to such remarks. The expression of helplessness by the government and reiteration of accusations by MQM throw some light on situation in Karachi that powerful federal and provincial ministers are present behind those who are playing with the peace of the city. MQM's accusations concerning Intelligence Bureau and Federal Investigation Agency are also worth consideration. In such a situation, the demand of Pakistan Muslim League-N President Nawaz Sharif appears to be justified that intelligence reports on Karachi situation should be presented in the parliament to help people's representatives to become aware of the situation in the city. If the power of people's representation (representatives) is used to resolve problems in Karachi, it will certainly give some relief to the people of Karachi and they will be able to come out of helplessness and isolation.
Poor Law-and-Order Situation
The basic causes of poor law-and-order situation in Karachi and northern (tribal) areas, worst unrest and lawlessness need to be taken into account afresh. The joint resolution of parliament in the wake of so-called war on terror should be implemented and it should be realized that we have got nothing except threats, apprehensions, reservations, problems and crises by becoming part of the US war. The impacts of the war have now spread to entire country. The law-and-order is absent, economy destructed, plight of people ill and government's writ eroded. It is the incapability of the leadership that it is highlighting the problems but not proposing their appropriate solution. The result of worst governance is that justice is prevailing and corruption, nepotism and plunder of national resources are becoming temperament of the nation and new records are being built in this regard.
The constitution and law have become a joke while judiciary has been dishonored. These are the bad results of poor and weak governance that the groups involved in loot and plunder are taking the cities hostage by becoming united and organized in the form of organizations. Ethnic prejudices have spread and society as a whole is disintegrated. The international media has commented rightly on the situation in Karachi that people of the city who are in a state of helplessness are waiting for a savior. The traders' community in the city is seeking the Army's help. Obviously, the Army cannot take any step on its own. As for the leadership, it will perhaps take considerable time to understand that protection of life and property of the citizens is beyond political interests, and politics is not meant to mislead the people through promises, luring and deceitful slogans.
Delivering Complete Justice
The fulfillment of promises made by rulers with the masses are attributed to the establishment of peace, serious steps taken for the welfare and betterment of the people, elimination of fear and delivering complete justice. The real politics is name of giving such concepts a practical shape. Being a Muslim, we are bound not to deviate from the commandments of God, enforce on our lives orders of God for the welfare of human beings, religious benefits and salvation in the world hereinafter and bring the human beings to the worship of God by getting them rid of every type of slavery of human beings.
The struggle for the establishment of Pakistan was for such a state where the Muslims will be able to highlight truthfulness of religion by giving Islam's way of life a practical shape. It is evident that we have caused harm to ourselves by deviating from the orders of God. The dominating class, which is indulged in merry making, is living life of kings and it will perhaps not be able to realize these facts. However, the people, who are facing hardships and worries, can adopt the course of collective forgiveness. If we adjure collective sins today and make a resolve to elect a pious leadership, it is very much likely that we escape from the clutches of nature and see the era of a leadership having approach in line with national objectives by getting rid of bad governance and anguish of incapable rulers.

India-Pakistan Secretary-Level Talks

The progress made in the India-Pakistan home secretary-level talks is an indication that the endeavors made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to improve mutual relations through cricket diplomacy are bearing fruit. The Indian side was led by Home Secretary G. K. Pillai, whereas Pakistan was represented by Qamar Zaman Chaudhry. The joint declaration released at the end of the two-day home secretary-level talks may not, after all, be taken as a major success or a milestone; yet it helps in thawing the ice on their relations. This aspect cannot be ignored.

The new measures enumerated in the joint declaration may raise queries as to when these would actually be implemented. What is, however, heartening is the fact that the home secretaries have admitted that the talks were positive and progress has been made.

Step Toward Exchange of Information

The joint declaration issued at the end of the talks mentions a hotline to be set up to deal with terrorism. The purpose behind it is to exchange any information on terrorism as early as possible. It was further decided that a team of investigators from India would visit Pakistan to question the perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage, who are under trial in Pakistan. Also, a judicial commission from Pakistan would come to India to get information from some of the witnesses in Mumbai. The agreement on these points assumes significance because earlier, Pakistan was not agreeable to let a team of Indian investigators visit that country. The setting up of the proposed hotline, in fact, is a step toward exchange of information on terrorism.

It may be recalled that recently, Pakistan had conveyed some intelligence reports to India regarding possible terrorist attacks during the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. There are several terrorist organizations working from Pakistani soil, which are purported to be involved in several acts of terrorism in India. A beneficial outcome of the exchange of information on terrorism would be that it would be easier to take precautionary measures. There is yet another progress in this respect: the two sides have agreed to establish cooperation between investigation agencies of the two countries. The cooperation between India's National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) would help in solving cases relating to terrorism soon.

Cross-Border Terrorism

An important issue that relates to difficulties in getting visas also finds a mention in the joint declaration. The two countries have agreed to set up a joint working group. To ensure that the process of the dialogue and progress may continue, Indian Home Secretary G. K. Pillai would now visit Islamabad. Although innumerable issues continue to hang fire between the countries, what is heartening now is that both sides clearly and unambiguously presented what was in their mind during the talks lasting more than five hours.

The 26 November 2008 terrorist attacks, cross-border terrorism, explosions in the Samjhauta Express, and smuggling of fake currency are issues that yield numerous statements, but precious little is done to address them and no attempt is ever made to reach agreement on these issues during serious dialogues. The deliberation held on these issues during the secretary-level talks is a positive indication indeed.

Conducive Atmosphere Created

It is, however, a matter of great satisfaction that the cricket diplomacy initiated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, prior to the home secretary-level talks had a salutary impact on the talks, and both countries responded. A meeting of foreign ministers of the two countries is scheduled to be held in July.

One should hope that the conducive atmosphere created as a result of the cricket diplomacy would have its influence on the proposed talks in July also. It should be further hoped that the progress made in the secretary-level talks would continue during the foreign ministers' meeting, and also thereafter.