Civil Armed Forces Rescuing Microcosmic Karachi

It has never been so difficult to figure out the significance and the negative impact of bringing public life to a standstill in the country’s commercial city. Obviously, if Karachi sinks, it would take rest of the country with it.
Most probably, that’s what serves the enemy. Amid various ongoing national crises, the enemy benefits the most by engaging criminal elements and other professionals best suited for proxy war against the country.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s problem number one is its fake democracy which is usually based on unfair means. The unfair pressure tactics which work very well in favour of the potential candidate to get elected or re-elected over and over regardless of his lacking integrity or his poor past role.

Unfortunately, the influential political mafia is habitual of always getting actively engaged for grabbing power at whatever cost. Like it or not, the vulnerable naive public goes along quietly just to avoid any probable reprisals.
Not only, the fear factor but the rigging and over stuffing the ballot boxes are causes of valid concern, hence, there are many question marks about the legality of polls.

Furthermore, from time to time, fingers are pointed and the eye browS raised about the efficacy of electoral process in Pakistan.
If electing the dishonest or incompetent electable is a democracy, then it’s highly unfair with the politically aware masses who want to exercise their right to choose brilliantly based on nothing but merit. But, the current system opens gates of national and provincial assemblies for all sorts of people including the human vultures that now are in as representatives of the voiceless majority.

As seen, the status quo of malpractice continues to grow unchecked, thus, burdens the national exchequer, and because keeping incompetent ruling elite and the sleepy opposition is way too expensive and a big financial burden on the tax payers’ pockets.
Painfully, these politicians turn out to be nothing more than worthless national asset, hence a major liability.
A fake politician only safeguards his own/personal interests, hence, is unable to go beyond a lip service leading to nothing more than a poor delivery.


With all that said above, it becomes quite clear how the situation becomes quite ripe for the anti social activity. Actually, the motivated bad groups are actively involved in doing maximum damage to commercial hub of the country.
The way Karachi presents its shameful picture, and the momentum of destruction continues to strengthen the deadly scenario, Pakistan's vulnerability becomes thought provoking.
Looking at Karachi issue for a close analysis, we need to be assured first if the targeted operation is really working favourably. And, in case the civil armed operation doesn’t backfire, of course, that really means positive news.
Nevertheless, it’s too early to expect the desired goal as targeted, because the intended correction is time consuming, of course.

No doubt, it has been a severe headache handling a number of proxy forces. And the Taliban factor, Liyari Gangs, target killers, extortionists, transport mafia, land mafia, water mafia, aliens, selfish elite of politicians have already gone out of control.
MQM’s recent request for targeted army operation is unacceptable for a number of reasons.
All we need is a de-politicised police force and the Rangers. Surely, they can deliver if properly equipped and given more powers to fight out the armed to teeth thugs and terrorists.

In fact, recently, the Rangers and the Police have been equipped with better quality of State apparatus plus communication devices and an improved investigation system. So, they should be able to get good results soon.
We are hearing that the provincial government has prepared a strategy under which Sindh Police is being strengthened by virtue of its total strength, effective training, raising their mobility, its equipments, provision of latest arms and ammunition, incentives, legal protection and creating new wings of special force to combat the criminal at any time on permanent basis. Hopefully, with this type of commitment, there will be good results.

The ongoing targeted operation against the ‘target killers,’ ‘terrorists,’ ‘extortionists and the kidnappers’ seems to be really followed by an effective strategy to ensure a viable peace and tranquility in Karachi.
Importantly, the return from his visit abroad, Sindh Governor Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad is back to his office. That is likely to help defuse the sky rocketing temperature.
However, the self exiled MQM chief Altaf Hussain, a British citizen has his own addiction at will to remote control Karachi from London. Whatever the case maybe, the MQM should show its love for Pakistan by supporting the current ‘Karachi Operation,’ because otherwise, it would be impossible for the operation in the city to continue.
Furthermore, there is high chance for the city to experience worsening circumstances without all parties on board actually.
The other important reality is Karachi is inhabited by around “twenty million” people who belong to different sects and ethnicities, so an autonomous local government is a genuine need of the hour. Otherwise, deprivation of the fundamental rights of Karachiites to govern themselves will keep causing the painful frustration and the siege mentality.
Summing up, it’s worth mentioning that only a careful “diagnosis of the real enemy” is a must to minimize the collateral damage.
I must add here that an efficient and totally fair “surgical cleansing” of Karachi will bring a viable peace.
Certainly, upon return of normalcy, the city will be back to where it was before the deterioration began originally decades ago.

The Looming Threat of Regional War

Fortunately, in the stormy Mid-East, the extended era of autocratic rulers is collapsing on fast track basis; nevertheless, the related surgeries are extremely painful and unbearable. Maybe, the possible international armed conflict over Syria situation relieves some, while it scares the local population for the possible collateral damage in case there is no negotiated settlement before it’s too late.

After two and half years of his alleged brutality towards the rebels and the killing by chemical attack to shut any opposition voices, Assad is actually fast-inching towards his own collapse. The death toll is alarmingly on the rise. The government troops have not been able to defuse the severe blows from the rebels. The various sources claim that 1,429 died from the attack just on Aug. 21 in a Damascus suburb for which both sides are blaming each other and there is evidence of chemical attacks as well.



Obviously, the embattled Syrian regime faces a strong rebellious force, but Assad's government is in denial mode; it keeps blaming the rebels for the sad episode of chemical attack. Indeed, the rebels have been actively engaged in pushing for the overthrow of Syrian Ruler.

With respect to deadly chemical attack, the UN inspection team awaits for lab results on tissue and soil samples it collected from the scene.

The media coverage has been causing a further divide in the Middle East based on sectarian lines. The Shiite Iran backs Assad; while the non Shiite Arab Gulf allies are supporting the rebels wanting the West to retaliate to oust the Moscow backed Assad.

Now, it seems as if the cold war-style tensions between the Western powers and Moscow are fast re-emerging.

The Syrian use of sarin gas has angered Saudi Arabia, the Arab League, the US, the Great Britain, France and some western countries.

The US being in the driver’s seat wants all allies on board despite the reluctance on the part of a few countries. President Obama appears to be reluctantly ready for a limited action, only after full-fledged backing from the law makers on Sept 9, 2013, he will gain strength. "What we are envisioning is something limited. It is something proportional. It will degrade Assad's capabilities," Obama said. "At the same time we have a broader strategy that will allow us to upgrade the capabilities of the opposition."

Many people want Mr Obama to share the collected evidence of Syrian involvement in chemical attack with local and the international community to win more support for his action.

Although, Obama won some support of the key members in the U.S. Congress for the limited U.S. strikes on Syria to punish President Assad for his “suspected use” of sarin gas against the rebels, there remains a question mark on the legality of any military adventure on his part. Assad specifically denies deploying poison gas to kill civilians.



Republican John Boehner, current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor did pledge their support to the commander in chief for military action. The voting in Senate and the House would take place next week, yet the Republican-led House is not easy; most probably, it would be a real challenge for Mr. Obama.



The militant rebels are asking the Western allies to send them more weapons and use their air power to end the prolonged war that has killed more than 100,000 and made millions homeless. Aid agencies continue to deal with the swelling humanitarian crisis in the region of two million refugees.



The United States, France, Australia, Britain and Canada believe the regime of President Bashar Assad is to blame for a chemical weapons attack against innocent Syrian civilians two weeks ago.

Obama seems to be comfortable going forward without the approval of a UN Security Council. Since Obama believes the organisation has been too paralyzed to hold Assad accountable.



"The risks for global peace and security that the present Syria crisis represents, I'm sure, are not smaller than what we have witnessed in any other crisis that we have had since the Vietnam war," said Guterres, a former Portuguese prime minister.

Russia, backed by China, has used its veto power in the U.N. Security Council three times to block resolutions condemning Assad's government and threatening it with sanctions.



More than 2 million Syrians have already crossed borders for refuge creating a humanitarian crisis.

However, the war advocates do face the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who said any punitive action against Syria could unleash more turmoil and bloodshed, and advised that such strikes would be legal only in self-defense under the U.N. Charter or if approved by the organization's Security Council. He urged caution.



Russia and China have repeatedly used their veto power in the council to block action against Assad. Russia has been steadfastly opposed to any military action without the approval of the United Nations Security Council, and has expressed doubts about the source of the attack.



"We think history should teach us that we should be waiting for the UN report to come through, and so we're not in support of what they're contemplating right now in the U.S.," said Canadian MP Mr Dewar (NDP), referring to the faulty intelligence that led to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq a decade ago.

President Obama plans to use the G20 gathering to drum up some material support for a military strike among some of the group's more reluctant leaders.



On the contrary, Robert Fox, executive director of Oxfam Canada, welcomed the renewed diplomatic efforts of the foreign ministers that headed to St. Petersburg this week.



Truth is military action will destroy the chances of a negotiated settlement of the Syrian crisis leading to further fueling the growing Shia-Sunni tensions sweeping the region.



The best way out is a joint US-Russian venture to bring Syria’s warring sides to the negotiating table to bring a viable peace in the region because the conflicts are only ended by negotiation and compromise.

The fact is, just a few people benefit from wars; those who do they end up getting treasure of wealth.

I agree with Bertrand Russell who said, “War does not determine who is right - only who is left.”