THE basic purpose of a state is to provide security to its subjects.

Explaining the origin of a state, the social contract theory contends that the individuals have surrendered their liberties to the state on the condition that the state, in return, will provide them the security of life.

Likewise, provision of the security to its subjects is the only function of police state – a state which is considered the worst form among all kinds of state entities.

So, provision of the security of life to its citizen is the fundamental duty of any state, failing this, state loses the raison d’etre as the foundation of its very edifice is severely crumbled.

If a state does not have a right to exist, then what justification a government may have to stay in power. The way some rogue and criminal elements are playing havoc with the lives of innocent people in Karachi is simply unparalleled in the world at present.

Targeted killings, torture, extortion and kidnapping have become the order of the day in Karachi. The way Karachiites are being killed cannot be witnessed in any other city.

It is an open secret now that all the so-called political stakeholders in the city have been either equal participator or silent spectator over these ruthless killings.

All the previous slogans of across-the-board operation have gone by the board. Instead of operation, they have just rapped the bandages over the wounds of this ‘poor patient’ with an aim of hiding rather than healing it.

At this point of time, the task of keeping peace and stopping these killings is beyond the control of police and paramilitary forces.

As the Karachi police have become both, politicised and demoralised, therefore, they alone cannot establish the complete writ of the state.

So, it has become mandatory that the state should act now using its full security apparatus, including the army.

MOHSIN RAZA MALIK Lahore