When ‘terror financing’ goes under the CM’s nose

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who is the captain of Karachi targeted action, has never been accused of committing corruption, directly or indirectly, but is he aware of the fact that under his nose one of the biggest funding goes to outlawed and separatist groups?
The question is how and what should be done. Do we have the capacity to unearth the nexus between terror and politics?The chief minister, a diehard jiyala from Khairpur, is either unaware of the facts placed before him about the Fishermen Cooperative Society, or he is completely helpless.
Since there is no minister to control over 5,000 registered cooperative societies, the captain shoulders the double responsibility as a minister and as the head of Karachi targeted action.How can the chief minister close his eyes after the arrest of some of the key players of the Society and others who managed to flee abroad? Why he has not taken any action or ordered any probe?
The chairman of FCS, Nisar Morai who still holds the charge, is out of country, fearing arrest, while the Vice Chairman Sultan Qamar Siddiqui is in custody. The Secretary Cooperative Society is also abroad. One of the directors of FCS was also arrested allegedly on the pointation of the arrested officials.
Interestingly, the acting charge of the Society is with the registrar, who also holds the charge of Director Anti-Corruption, who is in custody in an alleged corruption case.But, now it has become a national security issue after investigation into some high-profile cases of terrorism revealed that the key suspects escaped abroad through the official boats.
If the reports of smuggling of drugs, import of highly sophisticated weapons, helping escape of terrorists of national and international terror network are true (as revealed by some suspects in custody), it may turn out to be Pakistan’s biggest terror financing network.
A senior official of the Society disclosed that the alleged terrorists used official society card, which was a must to get clearance from other countries in case you enter their territory.Some of the key players being interrogated also disclosed that an outlawed group also got its men registered as voters, who elected seven out of 15 directors in the Fishermen Cooperative Society, while over three to five lakh deserving fishermen were not registered.
According to one senior official, if honest people control the fish harbor and this Cooperative Society, Pakistan can get trillions of rupees, as the fish they export fetches around $367 million a year though it can fetch $4,000 billion if terror financing and corruption are blocked.
“Our fish is of finest quality but people who have been holding key positions are allegedly involved in massive corruption from top to bottom,” he said on the condition of anonymity.What is an eye-opener for the chief minister is the fact that this honest man was a PPP worker but he is the man most disappointed with the leadership.
The captain must know what is going on in over 1,000 registered cooperative societies and the level of irregularities in these societies started from registration.The dilemma for him as a PPP veteran is that he has even failed to protect the welfare of over five to six lakh fishermen and their families, majority of whom have been the PPP voters for decades.
The money which could have been spent on these poor fishermen either goes to terror groups or to the pockets of bureaucrats, officials and those politicians who matter.Investigation into the Fishermen Cooperative Society and Fish Harbor, now partially controlled by terror groups, shows terrorists are not only getting billions of rupees, but also use this sea route to escape.
The probe revealed that “terror financing” from runs in billions and the smuggling of illegal Iranian oil also takes place from here. There is a serious question mark over the composition of the Society. Reports suggest that some of the directors elected by fishermen were backed by one of the outlawed groups based in Karachi.
This message in many ways was communicated to the ruling PPP and the Sindh government that, (1) Karachi needs to be cleaned up from terror financing in order to stop terrorism.
(2) Government has been told time and again to take action, but, if they don’t do it, someone will.
(3) Government should take the political ownership of this operation, which if succeeded will help all political parties.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who himself wants the Sindh government to be clear of corrupt people, gave the green light to the Corps Commander Karachi and said there could be no compromise on such matters.
Bilawal needs to realize that if he wants to lead and revive the PPP, it is important that his party’s government in Sindh must perform and remove the “tag of corruption.” Even in the fishermen case, the party could have changed the lives of their voters and families, if nothing else.
The dilemma of Karachi is that no one takes the ownership of this mega city where once sailors from the world over were seen in city markets, but now they are confined to “port.”
In the last three decades, thanks to the foundation laid by General Ziaul Haq to destroy the society by promoting drug and gun culture and corrupt political elite, a major chunk of the city’s economy is now shared by all leading “terror networks.”
What needs to be done in Karachi in such a scenario under the National Action Plan, NAP? There should be a separate National Action Plan for Karachi, which provides Pakistan major economic boost, but not through an “eye-wash” kind of measures.
If the NAP takes the ownership it must give Karachi the special status, one mayor or city nazim, best transport like good circular railway and large size buses instead of multiple transport, local police system, special security force for Karachi and make Karachi a true port city.
Even if 50 per cent to 60 per cent issues are addressed on war footing, Karachi’s political and identity issue would be resolved to a large extent. But, if it is not done, no operation can give permanent peace to Karachi. As a result, Pakistan will suffer and the war against terrorism in Pakistan will become more and more difficult.Karachi can’t become a “Smart City” through an agreement, but it can become through a commitment.
The writer is the senior columnist and analyst of GEO, The News and Jang.