As protesters run riot, LEAs conspicuous by their sluggish response

Karachi

In just over an hour on Monday evening, Karachi was given a stark reminder of days that were slowly but surely becoming a distant memory.

It seemed to be a case of an old dog showing off its old tricks. The rioting, evidently fuelled by an exiled leader’s provocative speech, was nowhere near a new production; Karachi has seen this and much worse.

We, the citizens, remain well aware of what misguided political street clout can ‘achieve’, but we could be held guilty of actually believing that a security apparatus extraordinarily active since the dawn of 2014 would be on hand to quell such damaging activities.

Seeing the rampaging protesters march unhindered through an area declared a security ‘Red Zone’ –  attacking abandoned vehicles and retreating law enforcers at will, and eventually breaking into the ARY News offices – was a jarring wake-up call for all who thought that security matters were now a properly managed affair.

If that was the case, what could explain the conspicuously sluggish response of our law enforcement agencies for at least an hour after the protesters had displayed their intent to pillage?

On the one hand, we had the Sindh Police – with whom lies the bulk of the responsibility (at least on paper) – in all its soiled glory; panicked, ill-prepared and seemingly at the protesters’ mercy.

Their actions in the face of a major challenge vindicated the stance of multiple observers who have persistently highlighted the fact that we have made no sincere efforts to improve the provincial police force.

After all, it was despite their presence, which itself was imprudently limited in number, that the rioters managed to break into and ransack the news channel’s offices. Commenting on the matter while speaking to Geo News later in the night, Sindh Inspector General of Police A D Khowaja, however, seemed satisfied with his force’s performance.

“Our personnel were on the scene throughout and did their utmost to control the mob. It was due to the officers’ efforts that another wave of protesters was successfully made to retreat from near Fawara Chowk, otherwise the damage could have been much worse,” said the IGP in an interview with Geo News anchorperson, Shahzeb Khanzada.

His views were, understandably, not shared by most witnesses with most television reporters on the scene claiming that law enforcers failed to assert control for at least an hour after the rioting commenced.

“It was every man for himself; initially, the policemen were seeking refuge along with the panicked citizens in the area. They were badly outnumbered and back-up came in much later,” said Jamal, who was near the Karachi Press Club throughout the melee.

Similarly, questions were raised over the role of the Sindh Rangers – the force that has been spearheading the security operation. With the paramilitary force headquartered less than two miles from the scene of the riots, it seemed a matter of minutes for them to disperse the demonstrators.

However, despite being even more active than the police over the past few years, the paramilitary force too was just as slow in reaching the scene, affording the rioters ample time to wreak havoc. This notion was, as expected, dismissed by Major General Bilal Akbar, the director general of the Sindh Rangers, in an interview with Geo News’ Shahzeb Khanzada. He cited the fact that the provincial authorities concerned did not immediately call in the paramilitary force to control the situation, adding that the Rangers responded as soon as the call came.

“The roads were all jammed when our soldiers were heading to the scene but they managed to reach the site as soon as possible,” said Maj Gen Akbar.

While all senior officials concerned – from law enforcers to the chief minister – were equally critical of the situation and vowed to ensure swift justice, it would be a mistake to overlook the security lapses that led to – and allowed for – yesterday’s condemnable violence.  – By Usman Mir