Karachi still bleeding, why?

Monday, August 01, 2011 - Why there is an on again off again violence in Karachi. This has become an intermittent round of violent clashes causing death of several innocent poor residents of Karachi.. Each time there is a round of death and destruction, there is a show of repentance and hopes rise that this will be the last such gory event. But now it seems that probably all the peace efforts are for a show of concern for stability in Karachi on the part of the two main players of power in it. but the repeated violence and armed clashes may well continue if there is a kind of tussle of power between two main rivals. The only disturbing element this time is that for the first time rockets were used. Earlier it was merely a tit for tat violence, not on such scale. Rahman Malik claimed that Israeli weapons were used, obviously brought from the North where at Jubl es Siraj Mossad is working in tendon with RAW, and C I A to destabilize Baluchistan . However, it would have been better if Rehman Malik had produced photo evidence for his statement. We are an advanced and mature people at least our media and political analysts and the Middle Class. They can be convinced if the evidence was produced. I have been watching interviews of the affectees of the poor localities in Malir, Kharadar Kuti Pahari and other affected areas which are very disturbing . They indicate that the cause of the killings is inter-community conflict. One would consider such inter-group hatreds as against Pakistan’s national interest

Karachi is the economic hub of Pakistan . Some say it contributes 60% of revenue to the Federal Budget, some claim even higher percentage. Establishing law and order in Karachi is absolutely necessary. That is possible if the politicians igniting this conflict restrain themselves It seems there are proxies in this conflict, Iftikhar Mirza and Afaq Ahmed of Haqqiqi and unfortunately Pakhtuns. PPP is trying to bring MQM as its junior partner. As is suspected in many quarters Zulfikar Mirza is acting on getting nod to his activities from his superiors.

MQM seems confused as to what should do. It has threatened six times that it is parting ways with PPP, and this time it claimed the decision was final but having done so it became double minded soon. This hesitation was used to its advantage by the PPP. It had bullied MQM in the Sind Assembly by within minutes passing the Commissionarate and Police system laws as has never been done any where in the world in democratic system There was no reading of the bills, no discussion, no opportunity to the opposition to present its view point. It was just a rubber stamp action like a steam roller, letting MQM remain standing in the Chamber while all this drama was being played. The same supercilious attitude is witnessed in Federal Parliament to MQM’s resignations. No less a person than the Prime Minister has taken the MQM resignations non-seriously. It is just like a jock. Never there has been an example of resignations from the coalition taken so non-seriously as of MQM’s resignation by PPP. But it is because it seems that MQM does not know what it wants ?.

I am not a member of MQM , I am and would remain a Muslim Leaguer having been in the student leadership of Pakistan Movement as Secretary of Delhi Provincial Muslim Students Federation and Salar- Ala of MSNG for Quid’s security at Delhi A I M L Session in 1946.In my family one never changes loyalties and puts them on sale . So I will remain a Muslim Leaguer till last breath. But I am a Muhajir and there would still be a considerable number of Muhajirs who will not dismiss my views about the necessity of stopping of the turf war by PPP through its proxies and of peace in Karachi . One can win constituencies by votes –that is democratic, but not through high handed methods . PPP area is Lyari but to keep sway over Lyari does not mean to obtain control over entire Karachi. That Lyari has been made a district in a twinkle of eye is possible but acquiring sway over entire Karachi is not possible. Democracy requires observance of formalities in an orderly manner. This is the difference between personal rule and constitutional rule. Using proxies for making blood baths whosoever is behind them, is not in national interest. The solution to peace in Karachi is in the hands of PPP and its proxies. Best course of action is for the rulers to let Karachi be like a New York where all can contribute to ts prosperity. Karachi has urban system, urban problems, problems of industrialization and enhancing economic prosperity, Karachi has no wadera class but its majority is educated middle class. All Pakistanis have a stake in its prosperity

The economic wealth of Karachi are the Memons, Khojas, Bohris, businessmen and industrialists, “Bombay” business families and Chineotis. It can be said that if Karachi sneezes Pakistan catches cold. It is a matter of grave concern that Karachi is still in the grip of turmoil One is hearing these days that Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have reached the highest figure ever- 18 billion plus. Good but as one who is a layman and not an economic expert we would like to know that despite this extraordinary cushion of our currency why the Rupee parity with dollar is the lowest ever in the history? Highest ever reserves in foreign exchange and lowest ever foreign currency parity of Rupee are contradictions. One recalls that when Pakistan had about $ 3 billion reserves , or one sixth of present foreign currency reserves, the Rupee 5.25 to a dollar as against Rs 86 to a dollar now or sixteen times higher than with this record foreign exchange reserves. What is the mystery about this contradictory position of the value of Rupee then and now ? . Could some expert explain?

Now that in the IMF if my knowledge is uptodate currencies are not pegged to fine points of gold but only to dollar what accounts for this contradiction in the value of Rupee and its dollar equation then and now. My mind is boggling whether having more foreign exchange reserves is better or not to have them. I acknowledge that I am not an economist but value of Pak Rupee is of interest to any Pakistani, economist or not. Perhaps the learned Finance Minister might explain the reason for this contradiction in the prosperity on one side and bankruptcy of Rupee value on the other.

Incidentally, about that gala ceremony for homosexuality held by the US Embassy to which many Pakistanis attended just to be counted as America’s friends, which has been frowned upon by our legislators, I would like to say that it is a well established diplomatic convention that an embassy or ambassador never holds activities or functions which mitigate against the local or host country’s sensitivities. Homosexuality is one such practice. It is even in the Bible counted as sin, and otherwise too only seven US States have gone berserk on this issue, It is not a majority US States’ approved practice. How silly it was of any Ambassador how did not keep this well established convention in view when allowing use of this homosexuality glorification event in his embassy .He runs the risk of being made p.n.g. particularly for inviting Pakistanis to the function.