GRAFFITI is a major problem for cities across the world, and Karachi is no exception. Not only are the walls of the metropolis defaced through ‘wall-chalking’, public and private property in other cities and towns of Sindh too have been similarly vandalised. Of course, specimens of graffiti date back to ancient times in different parts of the world, while some cities have designated spaces where graffiti artists display their work. However, the vast majority of wall-chalking in Karachi is an eyesore. For example, nearly all political and religious parties use public and private space to advertise upcoming rallies, praise their leaders or chastise opponents. Karachi’s walls are also used to sell products and services, from questionable weight-loss schemes to witch doctors advertising their mastery over the black arts. On a more sober note, sectarian and militant groups also spread poison in society by plastering the city’s walls with hate-filled messages and sinister warnings. In this regard, it is to be hoped that a bill, passed by the Sindh Assembly on Monday, to prevent the defacement of public and private property, and stipulating fines and prison time for offenders, will prove effective.

The administration in Sindh has banned wall-chalking in the past, albeit temporarily, through the imposition of Section 144 of the CrPC. But as walls in Sindh’s cities testify, these efforts have failed to prevent the spread of ugly graffiti, posters, notices etc. Perhaps a major reason for this is that political parties are amongst the worst offenders when it comes to defacing property; this was pointed out in the House on Monday. The PPP, MQM and other parties in the provincial legislature that unanimously voted for the bill must lead by example by stopping their supporters from defacing property. Primarily, it is the civic administration’s duty to enforce this law and keep public and private property clean. But citizens must also take the initiative and keep their neighbourhoods free from this menace by removing graffiti in their localities.