ON 10th Muharram, the day of Ashura, the city of Karachi encountered a most reprehensible act of suicide bombing which killed 40 people and injured more than 100 others. This condemnable act was committed by a terrorist on the day when people were busy in mourning the fateful event of Karbala.

It is seen that whenever such ghastly incidents occur, miscreants, taking advantage of the chaos and confusion, start looting and putting public properties on fire.

The 'unknown' miscreants torched the metropolis's busiest business centre, burning more than 3,000 shops. Bolton Market and markets in the vicinity of the Lighthouse such as Lunda Bazaar, Paper Market, Plastic Market, and Katchi Gali are the country's major wholesale business centres of old clothes, paper, grain, medicines, etc. At times, the stock available here is worth billions of rupees.

According to an estimate, the loss caused to business and property amounts between Rs30 and Rs35 billion. Another great loss is the severe damage to the head office of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, a landmark heritage of Karachi which was built in 1927.

After the suicide bomb blast when disorder ensued, some miscreants started pelting private vehicles with stones and torching shops and buildings as if they had come well prepared to take advantage of the situation. They also torched two bank branches. Regrettably, there was no reprisal against mischief - mongers as during these grisly acts the police and Rangers were found standing as silent spectators. Though the death of even one innocent person in such an incident is a great loss but destroying public property is even a more condemnable act.

Since it is the responsibility of the government to secure the life and property of its citizens, I, therefore, propose that the 'shoot at sight' law should be framed to deal with miscreants involved in vandalism. In the present case, the Sindh government should also conduct an investigation and arrest those involved in disruption and fix responsibility on those officials who failed in their duty to protect the people from this ugly state of affairs. The loss caused to businesses and properties should also be assessed and those who have suffered should be compensated in earnest.

ALTAF HUSSAIN QURESHI
Hyderabad

(II)

THIS is with reference to the brutal murder of innocent people in Karachi on Monday. I want to condemn the cowardly attack and want to request politicians, the media, ulema and the masses to recognise the common enemy.

Why are we afraid of saying that the Taliban are involved? Why do we have a tendency of blaming everything on the US and others? Why are we so blinded and why don't we openly condemn the Taliban for terrorism?

It seems our ulema and politicians are afraid of the Taliban. If they take their name, they will be threatened or killed; but if the same keeps on happening to innocent people, then this fire may reach our homes as well. We all have to be united and fight against getting rid of the menace of the Taliban from our country.

ASIF PATHAN
Quetta