PRIVATE armies and ‘militias’ are explicitly prohibited by Article 256 of the Constitution. Ironically, the ruling elite and the police have never believed in this law.

There is hardly a street in posh Karachi areas where one cannot see private ‘militias’ and armed guards living in tents, cabins and containers, outside the homes of arrogant, mindless and pampered Pakistanis.

These illegal ‘militias’ encroach upon public spaces, occupy portions of public roads and terrorise neighbourhood. The police and the housing authorities conveniently look the other way.

On Nov 24, the Supreme Court directed the Defence Housing Authority to take across-the-board action against tents set up by security guards outside homes.

It is now for the DHA to ensure that the orders of the Supreme Court are implemented and all tents and other structures are removed.

The Sindh Police, which have policing responsibility for the DHA, should have been rounded up all such private militias. But they were not. It ought to be a matter of concern and shame that the Supreme Court had to deal with the matter.

Naeem Sadiq
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2016