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Simmering tensions

Whether these acts of religious and ethnic violence are being perpetrated by the land mafia or ‘conspirators,’ they must be identified and held accountable before Karachi and Sindh once again become hostage to ‘organised’ violence. - APP photo

IS the writing really on the wall? Some call it the work of the ubiquitous land mafia, others point to a conspiracy to harm communal harmony in the metropolis and to destabilise the coalition government in Sindh. Irrespective of the identity of the culprits, Wednesday’s violence in Karachi’s Taiser Town, reportedly sparked by hateful graffiti on a church wall, can hardly be passed over. Mayhem ensued as a large number of armed men attacked Christian homes, fired at protesters and manhandled women as security personnel kept a safe distance.

The incident must be condemned in more ways than one. If land mafia greed is at blame, the perpetrators must be brought to book as the implications of this heinous episode extend far beyond encroachment issues. If this is the work of ‘conspirators’ then the administration must identify and hold them accountable before Karachi and Sindh once again become hostage to target killings and ‘organised’ bloodbaths. And, needless to say, if the recent spate of violence has its roots in ethnic tension between communities or political parties then negotiation, not bloodshed, is the only solution. [More tension gripped Karachi on Friday with the killing of at least two political activists.]

Dangerous flare-ups have been witnessed in other Karachi localities as well in recent weeks. At the same time, businesses more often than not owned by a particular ethnic group have been targeted by arsonists in interior Sindh. It seems that an attempt is being made to damage communal harmony, for whatever reason, by forces that are yet to be identified. Pointing the finger at ‘Talibanisation’ and letting it go at that is convenient and simplistic. What is needed is a thorough investigation that explores every angle, including the possible role of religious zealots. Nothing can be left to chance. The Taiser Town tragedy has again exposed the failure of the law-enforcement agencies and shown how the writ of the state stands eroded even in major cities. It is also a reminder of the constant anxiety that people must live with day in and day out. In this connection, consider the plight of the religious minorities. If the majority lives in fear, spare a thought for what they must be going through.

(Dawn:Saturday, 25 Apr, 2009 )