ACCORDING to statistics, out of 7,665 lives lost in terror attacks and targeted killings last year, 2,029 or 26.5pc belonged to Karachi.

This data prompted me to search for more details, which are nerve-racking. Thus, 2,715 people lost their lives in Karachi in 2013; 2,124 in 2012; and 1,723 in 2011.

The Sindh chief minister says Karachi is the industrial, commercial and financial hub of the country and contributes more than (a) 25-30pc to Pakistan’s gross domestic product; (b) contributes more than 65pc of revenue collection, about 30pc of manufacturing, and more than 90pc of financial trade; (c) generates about 95pc of seaborne trade by providing access through Port Qasim and Karachi Port and (d) is home to over 20 people (10-12pc of Pakistan’s population).

If killing of 141 children and teachers at the Army Public School, Peshawar, can bring the prime minister, the army chief and all politicians and the nation on one page, prompting immediate counter-measures followed by lifting of moratorium on the death penalty, why cannot the killing of close to 9,000 innocent citizens in four years wake them up?

Shahab Sharif

Karachi

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2015

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