GEEDER-E-KARACHI!

“The Pakistani Taliban have tightened their grip over the country`s commercial hub” claimed by the internationally recognized magazine, The Wall Street Journal. According to its research, TTP still controls or dominates about a third of Karachi where at least 2-5 million people live.

Although MQM`s leader Altaf Hussain had been calling attention of all the concerned people and authorities to the penetrating Talibanization in Karachi, his warning and advice were not only denied, but also given ethnic color. However, the international media reports are endorsing his words now.

After going through the report, the most important question that strikes in minds is, how are Taliban increasing their influence despite the on-going targeted operation in Karachi? Is TTP more powerful than our law-enforcement agencies (that is not true at all) or perhaps, Taliban are not on the focus point of the law-enforcement agencies? The latter supports the MQM`s stance that the operation has been diverted to its people instead of the real terrorists. Considering the TTP`s phenomenon and the MQM`s firm stand against it, the well-known politician Sheikh Rasheed has concluded that the final battle would be in Karachi between Taliban and MQM.

It is fact that MQM, with more than 85% mandate, has been representing Uurban Sindh especially including Karachi in the Pakistani politics ever since it came into politics. This is also the reason why Karachi is called the city of MQM. Therefore, taking into account its long persistent and very clear policy about Taliban, it is easily expected that it would surely mobilize the people against TTP. However, the question is, why only MQM? Why not the other political and religious parties existing in the city? Are they not the “stake holders” of Karachi as they claim to be?  

Previously, Karachi used to be globally recognized as “City of Lights”. However, now a new term has been introduced for this, i.e., “Mini Pakistan” arguing that it is the city of all the people who belong to different ethnicities, sects and political affiliation, but not only of one specific ethnicity or party. Further, taking the cover of this self-introduced term, political and religious parties as well as ethnic and sectarian groups try to ensure their presence here. They do their best to show their strength both politically and militantly so as to prove themselves as “stakeholders” of the city. In addition, in order to inflate the size to be equal to MQM, every party or group itself gives the title of “Shair-e-Karachi” (Tiger of Karachi) to its prominent leader who is put in the ring against MQM. Through such a policy, they not only try to show their “ownership to this city, but also, in a way, give a challenge to MQM.

The interesting aspect of this is, not a single time such a title was ever given to any leader from MQM whether it is Dr. FarooqSattar or Mustafa Kamal; Governor Sindh Ishrat-ul-Ibad or Faisal Sabzwari. In other words, the term “Shair-e-Karachi” was made specific only for the people  who were against MQM. The question is, if Karachi is not of only one ethnicity or party, but of all, and that there are also some genuine “stake holders” other than MQM, then why don`t they speak up against the TTP`s phenomenon in the city? Why have they sealed their lips over this matter of life and death for Karachi-ites? In case Taliban completely occupy Karachi, will only one specific party and ethnicity get affected, not the rest?

Karachi-ites have been seeing provoking language, serious threats and the protest rallies from Sindhi nationalists in Karachi in the name of “Save Sindh” or “Karachi is of Only Sindhis`”. The question is, are the TTP`s under-influenced areas of Karachi not the part of Sindh? Will the Sindhi nationalists not take out a protest rally from interior Sindh to the Taliban`s occupied areas for challenging them against the control over the Sindhis`“Motherland”? Will they not give any threat to Taliban to block food and water supply if they do not leave Karachi? Unfortunately, like Qadir Magsi, Rasool and Ayaz Latif Palejo,Zulfiqar Mirza too has not held any press conference, with the holly Quraan on his head, to launch a battle against Taliban. It indicates that these people can show their “boldness” only against MQM, but not towards the real invaders.

 It is on record that ANP`s Ilyas Bilor on-air confessed that his party leadership awarded Shahi Syed the senate ticket on putting hook in MQM`s nose (to control it). Therefore, taking inotaccount Shahi Syed`s “bravery”, it was expected that he would come forward to handle TTP in the same as MQM. But, very surprisingly, not speaking of trying to put a hook in Taliban`s nose, he and his party have run away from their own political-cum ethnic forts of Karachi. Similarly, PTI`s leadership has been doing its best to politically snatch Karachi form MQM. In this respect, Imran Khan himself has recently announced to keep invading Karachi like Mehmood Ghaznavi. However, despite the Taliban`s expanding control, he has not yet announced to “attack” Karachi to regain the occupied areas from TTP? It looks as if he has forgotten to be Mehmood Ghaznavi completely due to the Taliban`s fear.

Not only the politicians, but also the National Assembly and Senate seem to be silent on it unlike in the past. Previously, we have seen several resolutions in the assemblies of KPK, Baluchistan and Punjab on different matters of Karachi which showed their concerns about the people of Karachi. Even, on the issue of law- & order, FATA leaders had been threatening Karachi-ites to send armed groups (Lashkar) to protect their “own” people. But, no adjourning motions, no discussions, and no resolutions on the biggest threat to Karachi-ites? Similarly, there is no one daring to send “Lashkar” (Armed force) to Karachi to teach lesson to Taliban who have practically taken over Pashtun localities??

Why are all these people so quiet? Will the people of KPK, Balochistan, Punjab and Interior Sindh not be affected if TTP takes over Karachi? Is Karachi not “Mini Pakistan” anymore? Do the people of other ethnicities not live here as well? Moreover, where are “Shair-e-Karachi” (tigers of Karachi) who had been deputed here to give tough time to MQM? Is it not the best time for all these so-called “Stake holders” and “Shair-e-Karachi” to prove their sincerity to the city and its residents? Why isn`t there any voice or protest now against Taliban except MQM? So, once again in bad time, Karachi has been left to only one specific party and community? Shame on these people!