Martial law is no solution to Karachi problems

KARACHI: Political leaders and the DIG of police, while taking part in a special transmission of Geo News titled ‘Jeenay Do Karachi Ko! (Let Karachi Live)’ on Friday, said that the solution to Karachi’s problems does not lie in martial law. Democracy is the solution to Karachi’s problems. Establishment of military courts is an acknowledgement of democratic failure.
The host of the special transmission was Shahzeb Khanzada, who also hosts the famous Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, while his guests on the special transmission were MQM’s Farooq Sattar, PPP’s Nisar Khuhro, DIG of Karachi West, Tahir Naveed, ANP’s Haji Adeel and senior analyst Mazhar Abbas.
Farooq Sattar said that his party is satisfied over Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Karachi. He said that the cases of slain activists of his party, Faraz Alam and Sohail Ahmed, are before everyone.
Sattar said the country will have real democracy when we stop calling in the Army and the Rangers in aid of civil authority.
PPP’s Nisar Khuhro said the solution to Karachi’s problems lies in democracy alone.
The DIG of Karachi West said that the operation in Karachi is being carried out without any discrimination.
ANP’s Haji Adeel said that the situation in Karachi has been turbulent since the days of the martial laws. He said that three district presidents of the ANP in Karachi have been killed. Haji Adeel said that terrorism and lawlessness in Pakistan is because of the martial laws.
Senior analyst Mazhar Abbas said that the Karachi operation has not gone beyond a single point, namely, only raids are being conducted and people arrested. The host, Shahzeb Khanzada, put forward several questions to his guests regarding solution to the problems in Karachi.
Responding to Shahzaib’s first question whether there has been any improvement in the law and order situation in Karachi after the operation in the city, the DIG of West, Tahir Naved, replied in the affirmative, saying that if you look at the statistics, then there is a clear indication that the crime rate in the city has gone down.
PPP Nisar Khuhro seconded the response of the DIG.
Mazhar Abbas said that there has not been any improvement in the situation. Farooq Sattar also said that there has not been any improvement in the situation.
However, Haji Adeel responded to the question affirmatively, saying that all the parties except one are satisfied with the Karachi operation.
Shahzaib’s second question was whether MQM’s complaint that the operation in Karachi is being carried out only against the MQM is justified or not.
Responding to the question, DIG Tahir Naved said that this is an incorrect assertion. The action in Karachi is directed against the criminal elements no matter what party they belong to.
Nisar Khuhro also said that no particular party is being targeted through the operation.
Farooq Sattar replied in the affirmative.
Mazhar Abbas, while replying in the negative, said that if one considers police statistics one finds that the police have also acted against the TTP and al-Qaeda. Haji Adeel said that it is incorrect to say that the operation in Karachi is targeting only one party.
Shahzeb’s third question asked the participants if partial martial law is the solution to Karachi’s problems, and in response to the question all the participants replied in the negative.
DIG Tahir Naved said that democratic institutions should be strengthened.
Nisar Khuhro said that the solution to Karachi’s problems lies in democracy alone.
Farooq Sattar said that real democracy is the only solution to the city’s problems. However, he also said that democratic dispensation is incomplete without the institution of local governments.
Mazhar Abbas said that Karachi has been under partial martial law for the last 25 years. The presence of paramilitary Rangers means partial martial law, he said.
Haji Adeel said that terrorism and lawlessness in Pakistan is due to the martial laws.
In response to Shahzeb Khanzada’s question whether there should be a ban on forcing Karachi to shut down in the aftermath of an accident, all the participants of the programme replied in the affirmative.