Foreign troops in the neighbourhood: DATELINE SUKKUR

SAID to be the third biggest PAF base in the country, the Shahbaz base in Jacobabad has become an uneasy spot for the people of the district and its adjoining areas since the deployment of foreign troops there to coordinate US-allies efforts as long as Afghanistan is under attack for avenging the supposed involvement of Osama bin Laden in the Sept 11 tragedy that befell the WTC and the Pentagon.

Frequently, the US warplanes create such an enormous noise which seems to rend the air, disturbing the people’s peace of mind. Helplessly, the people watch from atop their houses the US soldiers doing early morning exercises at the airport. Perhaps these soldiers are not aware of what is happening in the surrounding because they are cordoned off by police, rangers, and the army up to 5km of their deployment area.

No noises, therefore, of rallies and demonstrations reach the soldiers, it was found out during a visit to the area. They come to know of such happenings through newspapers only. Meanwhile, international mediamen and TV teams in Jacobabad are busy filing a story or two for their organizations. However, except for a C-130 plane seen flying in the skies over Jacobabad, nothing noticeable has happened so far.

The situation in Jacobabad has caused a negative impact on the economy of the district, with traders complaining that trade and business in the city had come to a bay. People from outside are often reluctant to visit the city because there is a demonstration or a rally taking place every day, and the police, despite a change in the situation, have not cared to behave a bit more responsibly.

During a visit recently we saw about 15 police pickets, set up to check both vehicles and people. At one place the police did not allow a van carrying journalists even to get through to Jacobabad. It was only after a wireless message from SSP Akhtar Ali Shah that those newsmen were allowed to proceed on their way.

It is learnt that the US troops would stay for a longer period. This is also supported by the various press statements coming from US officials. Therefore, the warplanes would keep the Jacobabad base quite busy in the coming days. The base is now a much guarded place where even top Pakistan civilians or personnel of the Pakistan army below the rank of brigadier are not allowed by the US troops. The base area is an all-American affair, according to sources living in its vicinity.

There has been one gain from the presence of troops at the airport: the law and order situation in the adjoining areas, particularly in the subdivisions of Kashmor, Kandhkot and Thul, has slightly improved. Perhaps dacoits and outlaws have gone into hiding, fearing their arrest. The Kashmor-Kandhkot part of the Indus Highway is known for daylight robberies of buses and trucks but it is about a month or so that no such news has been heard. Indeed a blessing in disguise!

WRIT OF LAW: And here at Sukkur, SSP Din Mohammad Baloch has been trying relentlessly to establish the writ of the law which was challenged when seven policemen were ambushed last month in, it is said, the presence of the former SSP. Now with Mr Baloch in command — he is familiar with this area and also carries with him the experience from the operation against terrorists in 1995 at Karachi — one would expect him to restore the credibility of the police force. He is also credited with reconciling the warring Kalhoro and Jatoi tribesmen of Baiji Sharif.

It is heartening that the law and order situation in Sukkur has shown some improvement in the last fortnight. Barring the mysterious kidnapping of jailer Asghar Ghori, of Sukkur Central Jail-2, who was recovered in 24 hours, there has been no report of any highway robbery, dacoity or kidnapping.

With the attention of the government now focused on international activities vis-a-vis Afghanistan and the Taliban, the devolution plan introduced recently has been, for all practical purposes, put on hold, or the least it is not working fully.

The Afghan situation has led the people here, as in other parts of the country, to organize a series of protests — sit-ins, marches, demonstrations — every now and then, at times resulting in violence and damage to property.