Question mark on Karachi operation

Dr Asim Hussain is granted bail, Anwer Majeed's case, return of Sharjeel Memon, silence on Uzair Baloch, uncertain fate of Nisar Moorai and Manzoor Kaka, mystery of city's biggest arms haul, disappearance of over 16,000 files from Sindh Building Control Authority, are some of the high-profile episodes which led to nowhere, but shifted the focus in otherwise 'focused operation' in Karachi to politics. What actually went wrong?

In the last three years, over 16,000 people had been arrested, some 7,000 still in custody of one force or the other, but except in cases of few hundreds, we hardly have any information about others.

Karachi operation got 'political’, both in Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) cases, because in some cases they moved in haste without enough evidence, but created too much media hype through the joint investigation team (JIT) leaks, video statements and even by leaking reports of apex committees, which made the issue too political and ended either in the form of bail or acquittal for want of evidence.

It is so strange that even the release of a suspect on bail often been interpreted as acquittal because more often cases were not pursued by prosecution in particular.

From the cases of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf to model Ayyan Ali to Dr Asim Hussain, are a few examples.

Two years back, when former Corps Commander Karachi, now DG ISI Lt-Gen Naveed Mukhtar, delivered one of his famous speeches, it was portrayed as a charge-sheet against the Sindh government. Similarly, the former DG rangers, Lt-Gen Bilal Akbar, disclosed the amount of illegal money being collected from Karachi and ranger's press release mentioned Bilawal House, it generated controversy as such remarks did not translate into action.

Too much hype of cases of high-profile people ended with embarrassment for the establishment and agencies, because the manner in which these cases were proceeded more on the media than in the court, it allowed parties to portray them as political victimisation.

The tragedy is that due to such acquittals, bails and poor prosecution, this corrupt and terror cartel often gained.

Karachi Fisheries case, in which authorities almost established the link of terror financing, arms smuggling and use of trawlers to transfer arms, money and led to the arrest of suspects linked to PPP and Lyari gang, also ended without much progress. Even corruption, transfer and posting of people linked to gangs allegedly continued.

Dr Asim's case from the beginning looked like the case in haste as it came in the aftermath of former president, Asif Ali Zardari's outburst against the establishment. From Zardari to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to former chief minister Qaim Ali Shah, all were on one page that the manner in which he was arrested raised serious doubts.

Even if one goes through the files of Dr Asim's JIT and case, whether it was linked to the treatment of suspected terrorists or 496 billion rupees, it raised doubts about the merit of the cases, factual errors. Within months, he was shifted to hospital like in the matters of other high-profile cases.

If Dr Asim Hussain had been put in the category of 'Jet Black’, how come all VIPs were allowed to meet him without any permission.

Its almost two years since the FIA, rangers took thousands of files from the building of SBCA, in several trucks, apparently in connection with alleged 'china-cutting’. Later, it was learnt that the FIA had handed over those files to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Till this day, no one knows the fate of those inquires and cases.

How much hype was created about Uzair Baloch, his alleged links with the PPP leadership, hundreds of cases against him, but the man is enjoying his life in jail now.

Some of the cases related to MQM leaders were also classical examples of mishandling and mismanaged.

The case of the biggest arms haul in the history of Karachi was closed without further inquiry. Initially, police took the credit and even reward money was also announced. But, now they privately blamed some other agencies for not providing them evidence.

The manner in which the high-profile August 22 case is being handled may also lead to nowhere. The case of veteran Prof Dr Hasan Zafar Arif, Momin Khan and few others who had joined the MQM after Aug 22, also need to look beyond their political thinking.

Political handling of the MQM cases also raised some serious questions and the manner in which Dr Farooq Sattar was arrested and subsequently released before even producing him in the court, showed political consideration, often bypassing the judicial order.

Such political considerations also played role in forcing political leaders and activists to shift their loyalties.

If one simply goes by the book, almost 60 per cent leaders of the MQM and PPP had dozens of cases of serious nature against them, it would not be surprising to note that some of them are still on parole.

Bail is a legal and judicial right of every suspect, but if it slows down the legal process, it raises serious questions. Therefore, it is time for the 'Apex Committee’, either of Sindh or Centre, to have a close look and see why Karachi operation had now been gone out of focus, whether it’s a case of terrorists, terror financiers, extortion, money-laundering or corruption.

Instead of shifting responsibility from investigation to prosecution, from police to rangers, from FIA to NAB, the focus should return to terrorists, extremists, extortionists in an unbiased manner.

It is true that terrorists should not be portrayed as heroes, traitors as patriot and corrupt as clean, but, for God sake, get them convicted by a court of law. If this continues as it is going on today, not merely civilians but others also will be blamed.

People have the right to know what led to these back-to-back releases and concessions. Bring all cases to logical conclusion in the shortest possible time. There is still light at the end of the tunnel, so don't let hopes die down. Perhaps, that is why there is still the need for a 'redress and grievances' committee.

  The writer is the senior columnist and analyst of Geo, The News and Jang

Twitter: @MazharAbbasGEO