IN what was likely one of the deadliest incidents of its kind, six people — including a grandson of the late Nawab Akbar Bugti — died in a shootout at a party in Karachi's DHA neighbourhood this weekend. While the death toll is shocking, a brawl such as this was bound to happen given the lethal cocktail of weapons and political influence that has penetrated nightlife in the city. A culture in which the right affiliations enable the unhindered use of arms has trickled down into the lives of young people (those attending Saturday's party were in the 18- to 25-year age range), some of whom routinely attend parties with armed guards in tow. Afraid of things getting out of hand, party organisers hire their own security. The resulting sight of dozens of automatic weapons being brandished outside DHA homes and plots on weekend nights is not uncommon. Add to this the personal weapons carried into parties by young men — often those protected by political and/or feudal linkages — and the effects of drugs and alcohol, and the likelihood is high that a trigger will be pulled, resulting in a quickly escalating, armed free-for-all.

Most disturbing is the state's helplessness in the face of this situation. Police arrived at least 15 minutes after the shootout ended, enough time for perpetrators to flee. This is entirely unsurprising given the show of arms they knew they would be confronted with. And even if police did get there as soon as possible, the political connections of those involved, including apparently Bugti's opponents, mean that those responsible are likely to go unpunished. The crux of the issue is the extent of Karachi's weaponisation, no longer limited to areas caught up in ethnic or political violence. Guarding the homes of politicians and feudals and accompanying them and their families around the city, arms have seeped into the fabric of everyday life in this city. In the immediate term, if effective measures are not taken this incident could spark a bloody gang war. And beyond that, if left unchecked, the casual use of weapons in Kara- chi could exact a much higher toll.