Karachi operation fair, impartial

The Karachi operation has been greatly successful in stemming scores of target killings that had become a routine of the mega city, casting their deathly shadows on everyday lives of the ordinary people.
Those prominent in their fields were also not safe as several doctors, lawyers, religious scholars and prominent businessmen lost their lives at the hands of ruthless target killers. The situation, however, has dramatically improved in the last two months or so when several of these barbarians were held by the Rangers in raids. Similarly, due to the ongoing operation, a large number of terrorists belonging to proscribed organisations have been eliminated. Equally, gangs of kidnappers roaming in the city and targeting the populace at will have also been liquidated. The same was the case with a large number of extortionists, robbers and criminals who have been put behind the bars.
On the whole, the environment of fear has given way to a milieu where people have started roaming the city without being afraid while businesses remain open till late at night.
Finally, the way of terrorism is giving way to a normal life. All this is due to an impartial, balanced and unbiased operation that is taking care of not only the infamous target killers of Karachi but also the religious extremists, planting bombs, gang members, extortionists, bank robbers and all shades of the criminals moving freely in the city. The change is astounding, visible and for everyone to see. However, vociferous statements have been made by several politicians against the operation, especially by the MQM chief who had earlier been advocating an operation by the army in the city. This turnaround, to say the least, is unwarranted and needless.
The propaganda claiming that the operation is being carried out against certain segments of the society or is directed against any particular populace is totally a farce. The Karachi operation was started against the criminal elements and not against the people of certain ethnicity, background, creed or religious beliefs.
The fact is that the armed forces of Pakistan represent all strata of the society and oppose provincial inclinations.
The Karachi operation is against criminal gangs and armed groups that had turned the commercial and financial hub of the country into a battlefield with no regard for common man’s life. It was not started to target any party whether with strong religious views or with moderate and bourgeoisie leanings or undemocratic and controversial party heads running affairs of the party through remote control. The Rangers have been facing many hurdles, not the least, poor capacity and politicisation of the provincial police and lack of political will at the administrative level. But despite major odds, they have been able to deliver significantly. Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah, has firmly stated that the Karachi operation was launched on the demand of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and all the political parties were behind it. He had made it clear that the militant wings in political parties that had destabilised the city could not be tolerated. The same views have been echoed by Federal Minister of Safron, Lt Gen (R) Abdul Qadir Baloch, who has said the Karachi operation was launched on the demands of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.