Karachi: Zulfiqar Mirza's statement triggers another round of violence

[S.M.R]

I am receiving dead bodies in Quetta, a gift from MQM. Most of them are not affiliated to any political party and connected with business of hotels, restaurants.

You receiving dead bodies in Quetta????? from Karachi????? You are mistaken man, the situation in Quetta is more disturbed than Karachi, somebody is misguiding you those people might have been killed in quetta.

 

[Evil Flare]

Why do we Karachities pay taxes ... ??? in return we get lawlessness ... over 100 dead

 

[53fd]

How did this current war-like scenario start in the first place? Normally, it is a result of a high profile leader or person getting assassinated through target killings, what specifically happened in this case? How did everything get so berserk?

 

[TechMan]

As much as ANP likes to paint a picture of victimization in Karachi It simply is not true - ANP is hell bent on making karachi another Peshawar by making several no go areas.I have no idea why these people are so backward in general.

History is repeating my friend. Remember the good old days of 80s and 90s?

 

[53fd]

Another interesting fact is that even though ANP 'grieves' over victimization by the 'Mohajirs'/Urdu speakers, MQM is not a 'Mohajir'/Urdu speakers party anymore. It is a party full of all ethnic groups inside Pakistan, including Pakhtuns as well of course. The same cannot be said about the ANP. The ANP is not fighting against MQM, but majority of the Karachiites from all ethnic backgrounds. The majority of the Karachiites are staunch supporters of MQM.

 

[S.M.R]

MQM has cancelled its Protest Rally.

 

[majesticpankaj]

Karachi violence, over 90 dead: Live updates

KARACHI: More than 90 people have been killed during the last four days in an ongoing wave of violence that has hit Karachi and paralysed life in the port city.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is observing a day of mourning today (Friday).

The Sindh government has given shoot-at-sight orders to law enforcers.

1:00pm

MQM has cancelled the protest rally which was to be taken out from Karachi Press Club to the Chief Minister House.

12:20pm

Express 24/7 correspondent, Shaheryar Mirza reports fighting has spread to different parts of the city, including Kharadar, Banaras, Kati Pahari, SITE, Baldia Town and Korangi.

Miscreants are reportedly firing from the rooftops and windows of houses in different areas.

“What good is a day of mourning? We haven’t had any food, water or petrol in the last three days,” a resident of Qasba Colony said in response to the MQM call for a day of mourning.

There are no reports of Rangers or Police conducting raids. Police is yet to enter some neighbourhoods.

Twitter buzz:

Razarumi Shame on the political parties, their death squads and gangs in #Karachi which are killing poor innocent citizens of this wretched country

ammaryasir Situation in Karachi is all time worse in recent times but running tickers like: Khi main khoon ki holi etc is only sensationalizing news.

kashaziz Why Dr. Ishrat ul Ibad left Karachi for Dubai as soon as he resigned as Governor Sindh?

bilalshaw Dont you think that the citizens of Karachi must remove the flags of different political parties from the roof..

farrukhahmed no rain, no business, no traffic, no light! Karachi

BinaShah Oh, Karachi, my love.

jahanarawattoo Karachi has become Titanic, but whoever doing this, its really not worth it over so many dead bodies

12:00pm

Three people have been killed near Hassan Square and Sabzi Mandi.


The Embassy of the United States in Pakistan has expressed concern over the escalating violence in Karachi

A statement released by US ambassador, Cameron Munter, called on all parties to refrain from further violence and work towards a peaceful resolution.

Twitter buzz:

tasnimfatima We are sick of being shut down every now and then !

khan_maaz Only if the political parties understand the cost of a strike… Karachi

Pin drop silence in a commercial area Karachi

mirza9 Death toll is increasing by the half hour, impossible to keep up. going to stop updating the death toll. crossed 85 now Karachi

Aadill If there is no writ of the government, and it is the case, Army should be called up to restore the order in Karachi.

11:35am

The Karachi transporters union, traders association and several petrol pump owners have announced a strike to protest the ongoing violence.

More than 90 percent of the petrol pumps in the city have shut down, Express 24/7 reports.

Major markets are also shut down in the city.

Transporters are complaining the government is not providing them enough security.

Twitter buzz:

Saba_Imtiaz Abdul Sattar Edhi appeals for calm as the city goes up in flames. Again. Dozens of their ambulances have been fired on.

AndieDeArment sad for Karachi today but always amazed by the resilience of the city & its people

RiazToori Prez Asif Ali #Zardari further directed all concerned 2 deal sternly with criminal elements regardless of political affiliations in Karachi

baylinveil Ethnic violence in Karachi, offices closed, long weekend. This feels like, well, all of my childhood except I’m not excited about it anymore

Hafsa_Khawaja To say our hearts bleed for Karachi, would be an understatement. Whats the solution to its situation other than massive deweaponization?

NadeemfParacha Karachi quiet. But more birds in the sky than usual. Chalo, something good coming from a strike that’s not a strike is a strike.

shyyawn Any updates on the Karachi situation. Do we go to offices normally or should we wait and see? What’s the scene out there?

Saba_Imtiaz Very little traffic on the roads. Cabbie says he was stopped by some men on Shahrah-e-Faisal and told not go further.

11:20am

Heavy contingents of police have been deployed in Baldia Town, Ghousia Mohalla and Muslim Mujahid Colony.

All shops and markets in Hyderabad and interior Sindh have been shut down.

Security forces are set to launch a crackdown against miscreants but no arrests have been made so far.

11:16am

Eleven people have been killed overnight.

One person was killed in North Karachi and a body was found from Soldier market.

Two people were killed in Orangi Town, one person was shot dead in Joriya Bazaar, two in Kharadar, two in Qasba Colony, one near Kati Pahari and two people, including a 6-year old boy, were killed in New Karachi and Baldia Town.

Karachi violence, over 90 dead: Live updates – The Express Tribune

 

[Last Hope]

The violence might smooth down after the Army enters.

But once they leave, its gonna turn out to be worse. Source - Same analysis.

(PS. I had sent that Karachitte guy an PM telling him to shut all the propaganda. 99% of his post about me were false)

 

[Ajaxpaul]

is karachi under emergency rule?? over 90 dead? that's a big number.

 

[S.M.R]

is karachi under emergency rule?? over 90 dead? that's a big number.

No emergency yet. The PPP is letting that happen as MQM got separated from Govt.

 

[53fd]

I feel the MQM accusation of the ANP recruiting Taliban is a bit off the mark & unfair/unjustified. The problems in Karachi are political & ethnic in nature, not religious. ANP is a secular Pashtun party, they have rejected Taliban time & time again, & they thoroughly despise them. However, they do recruit a lot of illegal Afghan refugees & Pakhtuns from FATA who bring a lot of arms inside Karachi, & then adopt Pakhtunwali right here in Karachi, where Pakistani law (not Pakhtunwali) is to be followed. That is when the problems arise: too many guns & ammunition, not the Taliban.

To understand the crux of the problem, you have to understand the history of Karachi & Sindh. When the Mohajirs initially came into Pakistan, Jinnah made Urdu the national language of Pakistan, the language of the Mohajirs, even though they comprised of only 8% of the total population of Pakistan. That was an extremely unpopular decision. Then most of the Mohajirs went to Sindh (& more specifically Hyderabad & Karachi) as opposed to spreading themselves over the country. They brought a lot of development to Karachi & Hyderabad, but because there was such a huge influx into these cities, the Sindhis felt threatened by them, & there was a bit of a power struggle as the Mohajirs started outnumbering the Sindhis. The Mohajirs were thought of 'Indian' anyways, not really Pakistani. There was a lot of discrimination against the Mohajirs, & they had to face a lot of hardships. The MQM was formed as a result of all this. To protect themselves against violence of the Sindhis & other ethnicities, they armed themselves up. Which led to a lot of bloodshed obviously, & MQM became renowned for its thuggery & rigid political activism in Karachi. However, this has changed since the past 10-15 years, & the MQM changed its name from Mohajir Qaumi Movement to Muttahida Qaumi Movement. It became more inclusive to everyone. Then the MQM started developing the city, which increased its popularity tenfold amongst every ethnicity in Karachi, even the Sindhis. Many Sindhis in Karachi today support the MQM, for developing the city, for taking a hard stance against extremism. In fact, despite the MQM's shady past, most Karachiites support the MQM today, as it has reformed its image & become inclusive, & 'gained vision'. But obviously, the grievances in the other rival political parties against the MQM still remained.

The problem arises when there was a similar influx of Pakhtuns in Karachi since the WOT, & now the MQM feels a bit threatened by the ANP as a lot of Pakthuns are being recruited. Karachi before 2001 had a clear Mohajir majority, but now, there are 9 million Mohajirs & 7 million Pakhtuns in Karachi today. Which results in the power struggle between the MQM & the ANP, just as there was a power struggle between the Sindhis & the Mohajirs before. The MQM initially armed itself to protect itself from the Sindhis, but this was interpreted as thuggery & militancy by non-Mohajir ethnic groups in Karachi in the 80s. Now, the ANP recruits a lot of Pakhtuns from FATA & illegal Afghan refugees, & also increases its stock of arms, as a means of challenging the MQM in Karachi, & also using these arms to 'defend themselves from MQM militancy & thuggery'.

Hence, the whole problem with Karachi is related to arms & ammunition, not much else. Once there are no guns, there won't be many problems. Believe it or not, most Pakhtuns & Mohajirs get along perfectly fine in Karachi, it is the poor people that get brainwashed by ethnic hatred from their respective parties.

 

[Ajaxpaul]

No emergency yet. The PPP is letting that happen as MQM got separated from Govt.

PPP is gonna suffer big when MQM comes to power next time. What is the karachi governor doing? He has the right to call the federal forces if necessary.

I feel sorry for the people of karachi, especially the kids.

 

[Ajaxpaul]

I feel the MQM accusation of the ANP recruiting Taliban is a bit off the mark & unfair/unjustified. The problems in Karachi are political & ethnic in nature, not religious. ANP is a secular Pashtun party, & have rejected Taliban & thoroughly despise them. However, they do recruit a lot of illegal Afghan refugees & Pakhtuns from FATA who bring a lot of arms inside Karachi, & then adopt Pakhtunwali right here in Karachi, where Pakistani law (not Pakhtunwali) is to be followed. That is when the problems arise: too many guns & ammunition, not the Taliban.

To understand the crux of the problem, you have to understand the history of Karachi & Sindh. When the Mohajirs initially came into Pakistan, Jinnah made Urdu the national language of Pakistan, the language of the Mohajirs, even though they comprised of only 8% of the total population of Pakistan. That was an extremely unpopular decision. Then most of the Mohajirs went to Sindh (& more specifically Hyderabad & Karachi) as opposed to spreading themselves over the country. They brought a lot of development to Karachi & Hyderabad, but because there was such a huge influx into these cities, the Sindhis felt threatened by them, & there was a bit of a power struggle. The Mohajirs were thought of 'Indian' anyways, not really Pakistani. There was a lot of discrimination against the Mohajirs, & they had to face a lot of hardships. The MQM was formed as a result of all this. To protect themselves against violence of the Sindhis & other ethnicities, they armed themselves up. Which led to a lot of bloodshed obviously, & MQM became renowned for its thuggery & rigid political activism in Karachi. However, this has changed since the past 10-15 years, & the MQM changed its name from Mohajir Qaumi Movement to Muttahida Qaumi Movement. It became more inclusive to everyone.

The problem arises when there was a similar influx of Pakhtuns in Karachi since the WOT, & now the MQM feels a bit threatened by the ANP as a lot of Pakthuns are being recruited. Karachi before 2001 had a clear Mohajir majority, but now, there are 9 million Mohajirs & 7 million Pakhtuns in Karachi. Which results in the power struggle between the MQM & the ANP, just as there was a power struggle between the Sindhis & the Mohajirs before. The MQM initially armed itself to protect itself from the Sindhis, but this was interpreted as thuggery & militancy by non-Mohajir ethnic groups in Karachi in the 80s. Now, the ANP recruits a lot of Pakhtuns from FATA & illegal Afghan refugees, & also increases its stock of arms, as a means of challenging the MQM in Karachi, & also using these arms to 'defend themselves from MQM militancy & thuggery'.

Hence, the whole problem with Karachi is related to arms & ammunition, not much else. Once there are no guns, there won't be many problems. Believe it or not, most Pakhtuns & Mohajirs get along perfectly fine in Karachi, it is the poor people that get brainwashed by ethnic hatred from their respective parties.

Thanks for the brief history !!

 

[53fd]

The funny thing is, Pakistan has never seen killings (genocides) on such a large scale since a long time. I don't remember the last time 90 people were killed in Pakistan as a result of political rioting or ethnic clashes between groups. This incident & the sheer number of people killed has shocked Pakistan all over, but there is always hope if the PPP is ready to take the right steps.

 

[Ajaxpaul]

The funny thing is, Pakistan has never seen killings (genocides) on such a large scale since a long time. I don't remember the last time 90 people were killed in Pakistan as a result of political rioting or ethnic clashes between groups. This incident & the sheer number of people killed has shocked Pakistan all over, but there is always hope if the PPP is ready to take the right steps.

So this is a case of everyone saying this is my Karachi.