Violence engulfs Karachi; after Raza Haider’s assassination
Karachi burns in wave of violence
The killing of Raza Haider was the most high-profile in a series of slayings of party activists over the last month. He was a senior member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
Clashes that killed at least 40 people overnight left the streets of Karachi deserted today as Pakistan’s largest city was on alert for more violence, more than 100 people were also wounded in the rioting that followed the death of Raza Haider.
The violence once again raised fears of instability in Karachi, a city of 18 million and Pakistan’s commercial hub, and about the flight of Taliban militants to the city after army offensives against their bases in Pakistan’s northwest. Some analysts said the violence could ultimately affect the economy. Karachi is home to the country’s main port, the central bank and the stock exchange, which has so far seen thin trade and will close an hour early because of the violence.
The stock market was open on Tuesday but trade was dull and attendance
Pakistani paramilitary soldiers on patrol in the deserted Karachi streets
thin due to security concerns. The main index was flat by 1:00 pm (0800 GMT), but dealers said the violence could dampen investor sentiment.
‘This could be the last nail in the coffin and could be disastrous for the stock market because as it is, volume has been below average and this may lead to foreign investors exiting the market,’ said Sajid Bhanji, a director at brokerage Arif Habib Ltd, of Haider’s killing and the ensuring violence.
Karachi has a long history of ethnic, religious and sectarian violence. It was a main target of Al Qaeda-linked militants after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, when Pakistan joined the U.S.-led campaign against militancy, and foreigners were attacked in the city several times.
Including last night’s death toll, officials say at least 193 people have been killed in targeted attacks since the start of the year, although analysts and political parties say the number is likely much higher.
The main reason for the bloodshed is tension between the Urdu-speaking and Pashtun communities: both feel their economic interests are threatened in Pakistan’s commercial hub.
Added to this volatile mixture is the fact that criminal gangs affiliate themselves with the political parties so they can carry on their illegal activities. All this has created the friction which has led to the political killings of more than 300 people this year alone in Karachi.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik was quoted by militants as saying Islamist militants were likely suspects, saying Haider was on an extremist hit list.
Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik speaking after the August 2 killing, appealed for the public “not to speculate as to who is behind this murder until we investigated this.” He added that he thought the killing was “a new formula to destabilize Pakistan and in particular Karachi, which is the hub of our economic activities. This is an attempt to cripple it.”
The minister thanked MQM chief Altaf Hussain and ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan for counselling patience to their followers due to which, he said, the situation had been brought under control and there had been ‘no killing or burning’ after 4am on Tuesday. “Now targeted actions are continuing in Karachi,” Mr Malik said and assured the house that the government would pull all its actions together to flush out Taliban ‘zaliman’ (oppressors).
Karachi has been enduring violence days and nights for the last couple years on a regular basis. During this period the death toll has reached in hundreds. It is home to about 18 million people and serves as business hub of the country. The government says that there is evidence that those causing trouble in the city have links to the Taliban. Political killings have recently been escalated. Members of the ruling alliance of three parties been shot dead.
A couple of weeks ago, the mafia made their presence felt once again in Karachi when they killed a political figure Raza Haider, senior leader of the city’s dominant political party, along with two guards. After this sad incident , government claimed to bring the cold-blooded culprits to law. This incident triggered the chaos and violence deteriorating the law and order situation throughout the city. Outbreak of violence following the deadly attack resulted death of several innocent people.
Federal Interior Minister stated that this assassination could be the work of Taliban-linked militants. But MQM, representing the city’s majority Urdu-speaking community, blamed the attack on a rival political force, the Awami National Party which is a representative of Karachi ‘s ethnic Pashtun population. It has been seen that these two major political forces have routinely blamed each other for deadly attacks on their activists. It won’t be totally wrong to say that these outbreaks of violence in the city has exposed the helplessness and inability of the government to perform its basic duty which is to protect its citizens.
Imran Farooq’s murder linked to rows within MQM party- by Farhad Jarral 27 September 2010 http://criticalppp.com/archives/24436
Imran Farooq’s Murder: Altaf may not return to lead the ‘revolution’ By Shiraz Paracha 19 September 2010 http://criticalppp.com/archives/23094
MQM leader Imran Farooq assassinated in London 16 September 2010 http://criticalppp.com/archives/22940
BBC Hard Talk : MQM Muhammad Anwar Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq36z52CwDk
BBC Hard Talk : Part 2 MQM Muhammad Anwar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXF0gCNEidU
Altaf accuses foreign powers of plotting to eliminate him
By Azfar-ul-Ashfaque Monday, 27 Sep, 2010 http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/altaf-accuses-foreign-powers-of-plotting-to-eliminate-him-790
Mr Hussain said the murder of Dr Imran Farooq was a link in the chain and news analysis and columns published in the international press gave a clear indication about which party and personality were being targeted. He referred to the BBC programme “Hard Talk” in which the host asked coordination committee member Mohammad Anwar why the MQM leader (Mr Hussain) had not been removed.
“This has implications for the situation… what was the purpose of this question?”
Saleem Shahzad expelled from MQM Rabita Committee Saturday, February 14, 2009 [The News and Jang] http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:daTZSTmCaXgJ:www.thenews.com.pk/print3.asp%3Fid%3D20309+aleem+Shahzad+expelled+from+MQM+Rabita+Committee&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has expelled Saleem Shahzad from its Rabita Committee on account of his personal and secret activities and contacts. Besides, MQM activists have been asked not to contact another Rabita Committee member, Muhammad Anwar, on any issue.
According to a press release issued by the MQM on Friday, anyone found contacting Saleem Shahzad would be expelled from the party. Similarly, the MQM activists have been directed instead of contacting Muhammad Anwar they may contact the Rabita Committee in Karachi or the party’s international secretariat. The party took the decision on the basis of Anwar’s suspicious activities and his disinterest in the affairs of the party, the statement said.
Meanwhile, MQM’s senior member and in-charge of its Labour Division Anees Ahmed Khan, advocate, has voluntarily resigned from the basic membership of the MQM, the statement said.
Another MQM statement said on the grounds of serious violation of organisational discipline and involvement in activities outside the organisation, the Rabita Committee had suspended the following activists of the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation (APMSO) for an indefinite period: Ejaz Qureshi and Mohsin Shahab (University of Karachi unit); and Mohsin Ahsanul Haq (NED unit). When contacted, MQM spokesman Faisal Sabazwari offered no comments, saying: “Whatever the MQM has to say in this regard, it has stated in the press release.”
Saleem Shahzad expelled from MQM By Our Staff Reporter
February 14, 2009 http://www.dawn.com/2009/02/14/nat3.htm
KARACHI, Feb 13: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement expelled on Friday its senior leader Syed Saleem Shahzad from the party for his alleged ‘mysterious’ activities. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the party’s coordination committee. A statement issued from the MQM’s London secretariat said any party member found in contact with Mr Shahzad would lose his membership.
A former MNA and London-based MQM leader, Anis Ahmed Advocate, resigned from the party and stated that in future he would have nothing to do with the views and actions of the MQM, the statement said. Meanwhile, the MQM directed its workers not to contact Mohammad Anwar, another senior London-based member of the coordination committee.
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