THIS is apropos of a news item, ‘Extortionist lynched, aide held in Kharadar’(March 11) . I read the news to my wife and her instant reaction was ‘achha hua’ (what happened is good).
I tried to make her realise that she was endorsing violence. The mob used anything they could lay their hands on, sticks andknives, to thrash the gangster to death. But my wife was persistent in her remark.
People are sick and tired of being helpless. When law enforcement agencies and courts are dysfunctional, the people have no choice but to become the law, judge and executioners themselves. This is exactly what is happening to our beleaguered society. Karachi has become a gangsters’ fiefdom, divided into areas and sectors, looted and bloodied, left, right and centre. It seems there is no one to address the grievances of the people, while government representatives and their appointees are playing politics in their secured zones.
Politics gets uglier and criminal elements are emboldened when representatives of the government publicly align with ‘alleged gangsters’ of an area notorious for criminal activity. Perhaps neutrality on this issue would have defused a bigger confrontation and mess.
Another news was about ‘peaceful street protests’ announced by the sitting government against the Supreme Court judgment on sacking the NAB chief. Immediately, Karachi saw fully armed gangsters in action all over the city, burning buses, shutting down businesses, etc. Dirty politics has turned Karachi into a breeding ground for violence. Doesn’t this seem like patronised anarchy?
But the bigger tragedy is that there is no count of gangs in Karachi, some of whom thrive on political patronage who are armed to the teeth. A small incident with a member of a gang can engulf any locality in violence. Next, the gangs start patrolling the area, shutting down businesses. The fire then spreads to other parts of the city. All this is besides the daily crime calendar which has assumed monumental proportions.
To top it all, the citizens are crushed under the back-breaking cost of living and painful daily hurdles of life. Governance has become a sick joke. So what are the citizens to do in such a bizarre and hopeless situation? They are pushed to the wall and the beast within takes over. They become corrupt and sick. An average person is forced into violent behaviour.
People are convinced now that the police are almost dysfunctional and there is no access to justice. There is no help. If I had a gun and saw an intruder in my house at night, which is common occurrence nowadays, I confess, I will definitely shoot. All these years I believed in a ‘gun-free society’. But, alas, I am now willing to own a gun.
DANISH AZAR ZUBYKarachi
Illegal weaponsTHERE is a serious law and order situation in the country where no street is safe. There have been a number of incidents of terror in which people were killed or seriously injured.
Besides, display of heavy arms, as well as aerial firing, is common at ceremonies and on occasions such as weddings, birthdays, New Year’s Day, political rallies and protests. It all happens in the presence of the police.
Such activities not only spread fear in society but also a number of people, including innocent children, have fallen prey to stray bullets or received serious injuries. Sometimes a number of important installations, including electricity and telecommunication wires are also damaged because of indiscriminate firing. It has also been observed that people pull out guns on trivial matters to show their influence.
I suggest law enforcement agencies should set a deadline and inform the public to deposit illegal weapons at their local police station. The police should also ask the people to point out those having illegal weapons and deal with law-breakers strictly. We do have laws but these are not enforced generally.
HAFIZ SALMAN SHEIKHyderabad