Karachi attacks

Targeted attacks have returned to Karachi. On Thursday, the vice-principal of Jinnah Medical and Dental College Debra Lobo was shot in the face by militants who claimed to be linked to the Islamic State. The American citizen has survived the attack – but only just. On the same day, the SHO of the Preedy police station, Ejaz Khwaja, was shot dead by two gunmen. The SHO was travelling to the police station in civilian clothes and was unarmed when he was shot. The disturbing thing is that Khwaja was the third Preedy SHO to be shot dead in the last two years. The government responded by announcing a Rs3 million award for any information leading to the arrest of anyone involved. An investigation committee comprising senior police officials was also formed, but the response reeks of a non-systematic approach to the killings. Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah asked the investigating team to identify any ‘lapse in security’.
Such incidents leave us wondering how the government can get away with such non-serious responses to such incidents. The fact that this was the third SHO to be killed in the same precinct surely means that the police should have compiled some information on who is targeting them. And if it is impossible for them to operate, surely, they can call on the Rangers or the intelligence agencies. Surely, police officers cannot be left at the mercy of target killers? And doesn’t a claim that one of the attacks was by an IS affiliated group require a little more attention? The morale of any officer posted to the said precinct is bound to be low. The drastic action required cannot be achieved by setting up an investigation team, which media reports are already claiming has not been able to get off the ground yet. Police have only ruled out a connection with previous police murders in the same precinct, which would be the last thing to do in such a case. On Friday, police reported that they had arrested a target killer and had killed a member of a banned organisation. Similar small victories are part of maintaining the tense law and order situation in Karachi. However, until there is a coordinated approach from law enforcers, there appears to be no solution on offer.