In Pakistan, targeted killings
have been a rising form of violence and have contributed to security instability
in the country. They have become common and have gained attention especially in
Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and economic capital and also in Quetta, the
capital of the southern province of Balochistan. Police and law enforcement
agencies have sometimes come under criticism for their ineffectiveness in
locating the perpetrators and investigating their motives. For most part,
targeted killings in Karachi have been attributed to political, religious and
ethnic reasons. There are speculations about the killing but no real proof has
been found against any party
The ethnic mix has resulted in political parties being affiliated with specific
communities. For example, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was founded for the
political interests of the Muhajir people. Other social classes also formed
their parties. Today, rivalry between groups has seen the rise of social and
political chaos and a multiplication in target killings. Religious sectarian
parties and Sunni-Shia conflict have also led to violence.
In any analysis of the Karachi crisis, there are two case studies on recent
happenings in the contemporary world that need special mention. First, take the
case of Turkey where the armed forces, backed by a constitutional provision, had
a dominating role in state affairs. Although they caused interference in
politics, their role had to be accepted by successive governments due to their
lack of strength.
Moral of the story: if democratically elected governments deliver public service
through good governance, they can rule with authority without fear of
interventions, as they gain invincible power through public support.
Pakistan enjoys an attractive geostrategic position. It lies in the middle of
the world’s energy corridor, which regulates, and will continue to regulate, the
global economy. The outside powers will, therefore, continue to hatch
conspiracies that weaken this country, so that they can establish their foothold
here with least resistance. Coupled with the crimes that are self-inflicted and
in which the outsiders add fuel to the fire, this land becomes ripe for unrest
and dissension, as we saw in the case of East Pakistan.