Letter: Killing unarmed children

Pakistan is still in a shock after watching the killing of a young unarmed boy by paramilitary forces in heart of Karachi. Six unarmed Chechens lost their lives in a similar situation only months ago.

After a court order, the government has already removed the DG rangers and the inspector general of the police from their positions. Now, due to media efforts, the public is able to see such heinous crimes. In reality, this type of incident has become part of the daily routine in Karachi, where five hundred people have lost their lives in different target killings this year.

Most were unarmed civilians who lost their lives in miserable circumstances. These target killers were working under the protection of different political groups to establish a monopoly in the city. Due to massive pressure media cannot report on these types of heinous crimes.

Those who tried who lost their lives, such as Wali Khan Baber, who lost his life in front of his house in the stronghold of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Altaf, and Saleem Sehazad, who lost his life in tragic circumstances.

The battle for control of different key parts of Karachi has intensified between the MQM Altaf and the Awami National Party (ANP) and took sixty lives in just two weeks. Recently, a war is going on between the MQM Altaf, the ANP and the people’s peace committee to control strategic areas of the city by all three parties.

Recent Wikileaks secret documents revealed that these groups have more arms and manpower than the city police in Karachi.

The true reality is that several parts of city are still considered no-entry zones for rival parties but due to political benefits the government is looking at everything with blind eyes and ordinary people are paying a high price.

 

Khawaja Umer Farooq
Jeddah