Politicians, activists brainstorm on how to end Karachi violence

PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: 

Within walking distance of the Supreme Court’s registry branch – where the judges had been hearing the Karachi suo motu implementation case – politicians and activists were all in agreement that the only solution for lasting peace in Karachi was to follow the apex court’s orders.

They were speaking on the first day of the Karachi Peace Conference, organised by various lawyers’ representative bodies at the Arts Council on Saturday.

Aurat Foundation’s Aneesa Haroon noted that the absence of war does not mean peace. “Peace means social justice and protection of social rights of the people.”

She urged the political parties and other stakeholders to follow the example of the legal fraternity and unite at a single platform to end the violence in the city. 

She opined that political parties should denounce their militant wings, which was seconded by the National People’s Party’s information secretary, Zia Abbas.

In this meet some clear voice heard that the possibility of some ( mafia, criminals, drugist as like D& D-group ) foreign hands behind the growing violence, however, could  be ruled out. 

Mehfood Yar Khan of the Awami Muslim League said that de-weaponsing the city of ‘all sorts of arms’ could be the first step towards peace.

Labour leader Noor Muhammad called for a movement to restore peace and tranquility in the city, saying that merely organising conferences would be yield no results.

Lowering level of tolerance was identified as one of the main reasons for the increasing restlessness by Pakistan People’s Party MPA Saleem Khursheed Khokhar, who was representing a minority group.

On the contrary, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz’s leader Khalid Junejo put the blame on influx of the outsiders in the city. He suggested that the government monitor those arriving to the city, saying “majority of such people were involved in criminal activities.”

Siddique Rathore of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (P) put the blame of the deteriorating law and order situation on low rate of conviction. He claimed that a large number of the convicts, whose mercy pleas had been turned down at the last forum, had not been executed. Such execution, he opined, would establish deterrence against crimes and discourage the criminal tendencies.

Awami National Party’s Bashir Jan demanded implementation of the orders passed by the Supreme Court in the Karachi violence suo motu case in letter and spirit. He questioned why the apex court’s orders, particularly delimitation of the electoral constituencies, had not been complied within fifteen months as instructed. “Karachi should be made an arms-free state,” he said. “A free and fair election is a must for peace in the city.”

The ANP leader said that his party would welcome anyone who could restore peace in the city and sought strict and indiscriminate action against all those elements involved in crimes, drugs and land grabbing.

Muhammad Aslam Ghouri of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (F) questioned why the city’s political stakeholders, who were in the power for the last five years, had not taken measures on their own to establish peace in city.

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