May 12, 2007, a day we can not
forget when riots erupted across Karachi, capital of Sindh, one of the most
populous cities in the world and the economic hub of Pakistan. Over 70 %
national revenue comes from this part of the country. During that riots city
roads were blocked, in the broad day light here there and every where cars
burned and hundreds of people were injured, killed and arrested. Most of them
were political workers of ANP, PPP, PTI, MQM and some others. The reports of the
incident also included a death count that rose to as high as forty-three people.
Actually tension took place when MQM, the coalition partner of Musharraf’s
government announced a rally on the same day as the opposition parties announced
a rally prior to welcome Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in Karachi.
Mr. Chaudhry was coming to address the city bar association on the 50th
anniversary of establishment of the Sindh High Court Bar Association.
After the incident of 12th May, Traditional politics was started once again.
Every one move forward to put the energetic blames on their political rivals and
stated reaction on the blames if any. MQM was strongly blamed by PPP, ANP and
PTI, while MQM also replied all of them including Jamat-e-Islamai. Every one was
confused who was exactly responsible and who to blame. Even PTI leader Imran
Khan also put the case against MQM leader Altaf Hussain (Altaf Bhai) in Scotland
Yard, but nothing was done because witnesses were in Pakistan and both
Musharraf’s and Zardari’s Governments don’t allow Scotland Yard to investigate
here regarding that issue. If Scotland Yard was allowed to come here even then I
think it would had useless because if it doesn’t able to provide the exact
findings of the investigations of Benazir Bhutto’s and Liaquat Ali Khan’s
murders, then how they would had able to assemble evidences of that over
congested riots.
Any way no one knew exactly what the row was about at that time. Every one was
blaming Gen. Musharraf and his cronies for all casualties and economic losses.
But the question is that when Musharraf kiss the ground, why guard of honor was
given to him and why sitting government of PPP allows him to left the country.
And more interestingly, PPP was badly exposed because if it was really in favor
of Mr. Chaudhry then why they use to shy to reinstate him and the entire
judiciary after being in office.
Actually the 12th May riots in Karachi were because of the tension between
Musharraf and the entire judiciary. Tough opposition parties support judiciary
at that time but in reality, no one in Pakistan can tolerate the independent
judiciary. That was what we seen in the 18th amendment.
In short, I would like to request the masses of Pakistan to please break the
silence and make some effort for your own because nothing was done against the
convicted people of that incident almost in five years. It’s not enough only to
wait for next elections, because we need to reform the system as well as the
faces. We need to respect the law and constitution. Masses and the classes,
every one should be equal before the law. And for that we need to break the
silence and step ahead towards prosperous and developed Pakistan. So just break
the silence, break the silence and break the silence……….