actions against the MQM and the reaction has been muted at best, largely apologetic and mostly an attempt to play innocent.In the process, leaders made serious mistakes, in apparent panic.
Altaf Bhai almost admitted that criminals were roaming around his 90 home and in a way advised them, and others, to stay away and not to bring more trouble for the party.Second tier leaders repeatedly emphasized that there had been no resistance. And cooperation was extended. In fact, there was no choice.
Why the MQM is weak now is obvious. The Apex Committees (read the army) have taken all matters of law and order, police postings and transfers and war against the Karachi mafias over from the Sindh PPP government.
Moreover, after showing some teeth as opposition in the last few weeks, the MQM had taken its umpteenth U-turn and decided to rejoin the PPP cabinet. Imran Khan was back bowling bouncers against Altaf Bhai.
Chaudhry Nisar has made it clear that evidence in Dr Imran Farooq murder case has been completed and may be handed over to the Scotland Yard anytime. The MQM’s long-surviving killer Saulat Mirza is now approaching the gallows and Altaf Bhai has to distance himself from his hanging.
Altaf Bhai himself has admitted that he has lost some, if not all, control over his party and in recent weeks his Rabita Committee has been disbanded and revived many times. He has also admitted that the MQM governor was not his man.
But all this leaves the Apex Committees and the Establishment in a challenging, almost a difficult situation. They now have to move against the others fast and with equal force and intensity.
Spokespersons for the law enforcement keep on saying that the Karachi operation is going on, but raids in Sohrab Goth or Orangi Town or Kati Pahari and many other pockets of crimes run by different gangs and groups do not match the size and intensity of the raid on the MQM base.
For the Establishment, the Nawaz government, the Rangers and the Army, the next target has to be a big party with more or at least equal weight as the MQM.In this context, the return of Lyari gangster Ozair Baloch from Dubai may hold the key.
While the men taken into custody in the 90 raid are debriefed, interrogated and more names and details have been extracted from them, operational plans for the next move will also continue simultaneously.
It is thus quite possible that the next targets are the known ‘no-go’ areas, the stretches of land, roads and neighbourhoods that have been grabbed, unofficially and illegally, inside the cities by big politicians and leaders of sects, groups and mafias. It would be better if they quit these illegal positions.
And if actionable intelligence about caches of arms and weapons, bags and suitcases of dollars, gatherings of criminals and killers anywhere in the city is available at any point, there may be no hesitation in going for them.
Karachi will thus remain in the firing line for some time to come and it is possible that big and small criminals may start running for cover, leaving the country or just going underground.The psychological impact of the 90 raid will thus bring some peace for Karachiites, in the short run at least.
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