Daily Times Editorial Sept 6, 2013

Failure is not an option After days of confabs including a federal cabinet meeting in Karachi, Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has expressed his views on the situation in the city, while federal interior minister Chaudhry Nisar has explained the decisions of the cabinet in a press conference. The PM has ruled out the MQM’s demand by saying it is premature to hand Karachi over to the army. However, he is desirous that an army-type force be set up to handle the complex law and order problems of Karachi. That may be some distance in the future, but all indications are that the police in the city may be strengthened by training by the army, particularly where it has to face the hardened terrorists who have also made a home for themselves in the metropolis. The decision of the cabinet to launch a Rangers-led and police-supported operation in Karachi is intended to bring to a halt targeted killings and other criminal activity to restore some modicum of peace to the troubled city. According to Chaudhry Nisar, hundreds of criminals have been identified and we await with bated breath the start of arrests of all such elements. The minister says the operation will be led by the DG Sindh Rangers and will go after all criminal elements without discrimination or caring about their political affiliations. The minister underlined the consultations with the political parties and all other stakeholders in the light of intelligence reports and briefings before the decision to give the go ahead to the operation was taken. The organisational structure envisaged for the operation comprises four committees. The first committee, charged with supervising the operation, will be headed by the DG Sindh Rangers and will have the top police, law enforcement agencies and intelligence officers as its members. One major innovation is giving the Rangers investigation and prosecution powers, something the DG had complained before the Supreme Court the other day was not available to the Rangers and as a result, many of those arrested were released by the courts for lack of evidence or proper prosecution. The second committee will be headed by the chief minister Sindh and will be charged with monitoring the operation on a weekly basis. It will have as its members the DG Sindh Rangers, IG Police, officers of the federal and provincial intelligence services, the National Aliens Registration Authority and NADRA. The third committee will be composed of notables from civil society, including the media. It will look into complaints of political parties regarding actions against their workers. The fourth committee will be headed by federal minister Zahid Hamid and have amongst its members the Sindh prosecutor general and the Attorney General, as well as Barrister Senator Farogh-e-Naseem of the MQM. This committee of legal experts will examine and review criminal laws to frame recommendations for improving investigation and prosecution. All this flurry of activity is to the good after months of prevarication by the government. Of course the proof of the pudding lies in the eating. It would be premature to pronounce on the results that may be expected from the new regime created to deal with law and order in Karachi. Without meaning to quibble, the thought does cross one’s mind whether all these committees will be able to work in close coordination and harmony with each other, a sine qua non for any successful operation. The silver lining is the civil society committee that promises safeguards against abuse. Now one wishes the structure does not creak along but springs into action as soon as possible, as the monster of targeted killings continues to swallow up more lives every day in the city. This is not to deny the wisdom in the PM’s caution that the situation in Karachi is too critical and complex to be handled in haste. Nevertheless, the urgency of action cannot be denied either. It is heartening to note that the Corps Commanders conference the other day also extended its support to the planned operation in Karachi, since the civilian and military sides need to be on the same page. Whether however, despite their protestations of support and agreement, all the political parties in Karachi are on that same page remains to be tested when the operation actually gets under way. When and if their workers come in the path of the operation, the parties’ response will indicate the seriousness of their intent. For the sake of Karachi and the country, one hopes everyone will play their role responsibly to return Karachi to what it once was: the city of lights. Failure in this case is not an option.