Violence in Karachi
By Naveed Khan
San Jose , CA
Last week we saw two different spectacles of violence in Pakistan, one in Swat and the other in Karachi. One may not agree with the Taliban tactics, they are well understood and we all know what they are fighting for. But could someone make me understand the genesis of violence, target killings, loot and arson in Karachi? Why are the residents of Karachi killing one another so ruthlessly? It is astonishing that while the MQM brandishes Taliban as a mortal threat to Pakistan, to paraphrase Hilary Clinton's words, its own cadre goes on the rampage.
In my view the violence perpetrated by ethnic forces of Karachi is potentially much more dangerous for Pakistan. The Swat uprising has a clear objective: the Taliban want the enforcement of an Islamic system that is core to their view of life and enshrined in their value system. Whose value, whose faith are the groups of Karachi projecting? Violence in Karachi stems purely from the scorn and spite the groups hold for each other.
While the world's eyes are glued to the Taliban's shenanigans, so much so that President Obama devoted considerable time in his press conference addressing the question, hardly anyone has paid attention to the mayhem perpetrated by well-established and civilized segment of the Karachi citizenry. Madam Clinton is urging ordinary Pakistanis to stand up and resist Taliban's violent ideological onslaught. She is rightfully urging people with common sense to take charge and fight against an ideology that is being advanced with violence and has little tolerance for dissent. Who is standing up to the ruling coalition partner MQM in Karachi and telling it to shun violence?
