The city used to be called ’ City of Lights’ and people from old generation do tell stories of this city which never slept. People could go anywhere in late hours without any fear.
The situation has really changed. Each street become ‘No-Go-Area’ with barriers.
How do you see this shift from ‘Roshniyon ka Shehr’ to ’ Band galiyon ka shehr’?
The city used to host various Musha’ira in centre of city and now first of all there are no such activity and if there is any activity like ‘Karachi Literary Festival’ its arranged in corner areas like Beach Luxury Hotel and Carlton Hotel.
Is there a way out (except for blaming political groups)?
no offence to anyone. But, political parties cannot do with its situation unless they have less or more support from local people.
there should some huge campaigns, like "say NO to racism"
no offence to anyone. But, political parties cannot do with its situation unless they have less or more support from local people.
there should some huge campaigns, like "say NO to racism"
yes 'say no to racism and any discrimination on the name of religion / sect' is one of the solution, but the question is how that could be implemented
i m not optimist here, where our society connects everything to religion. Its merely an attempt to distract one's own attention from the issue.
Don't you think secretarial killings also shaped Karachi to this state? There are areas in Karachi like Nagin Chorangi, which are considered as Slaughter-house for Shias. I do agree that its not the only thing that is responsible for current situation, but again it did played part in reshaping city's overall social structure. I remember, even Sunnis used to go in Muharram's procession, but after Ashura Blast near Boulton Market few years ago, people avoid going there.
Don't you think secretarial killings also shaped Karachi to this state? There are areas in Karachi like Nagin Chorangi, which are considered as Slaughter-house for Shias. I do agree that its not the only thing that is responsible for current situation, but again it did played part in reshaping city's overall social structure. I remember, even Sunnis used to go in Muharram's procession, but after Ashura Blast near Boulton Market few years ago, people avoid going there.
such events happen almost everywhere in pakistan, but racism in karachi creates special effects. Racism drives most of disturbance in karachi.
such events happen almost everywhere in pakistan, but racism in karachi creates special effects. Racism drives most of disturbance in karachi.
How do you see Racism in Karachi different from other parts of Pakistan? Do you mean that the city got population from all the areas of Pakistan and such population don't know to live together in harmony?
I have clues but want that things should be said specifically.
Someone told me that in Punjab / Lahore, different political parties have their offices in same street opposite to each other, but I don’t see this situation in Karachi. The city is divided not only on political grounds (although people of area may not show active support to that particular area) and sectarian compartments. There are areas where people from different sects can’t get a house / flat.
People of various sects/ethnic background do want to live in peace in Karachi. The only thing is needed to check the criminals/extremist and the silent majority has to speak/come out!
In Lahore, population is mixed. In the previous house there were at least 2 Urdu speaking families that I knew in the street, and a few streets away a Gilgiti family. Karachi used to be fine too till a few decades ago, but petty turf wars have brought the city to where it is now. Different ethnicities are living side by side for generations and still they cant bear each together? At the moment the problem mostly is between ANP and MQM with PAC chipping in. But I remember once my khalu used to live in Hyderabad (I think it was the 90’s) and according to him there was wall chalking against Punjabis (to leave the province).
The issue of Karachi will automatically resolve when people start thinking of the city as a whole and not their particular ethnicity. The ghettoisation of the city, and divisions into Pashtun, Mohajer and Sindhi areas need to end. When that happens the ethnicity based politics will end, and the city will progress.
We need to learn the concept of multiculturalism and how it has transformed the West. The situation of Pakistanis in UK can be compared with the rest of the world (like Canada and Australia). In UK, Pakistanis live in their ghettos and hence lag behind in all human development indices, where as in other countries the populations are mixed, hence every one has the chance to develop and excel. The West is targeting the best brains of the world (ethnicity doesnt matter) and progressing. The saddest part is that this multiculturalism has been part and parcel of the areas forming Pakistan for centuries, what has gone wrong in the past 50 years?
Thats the issue. We have been brought up in society, where walls used to have slogans ’ Bihari Na khappan - Don’t need Biharis in Sindh’, ‘Kafir kafir Shia Kafir’, ‘Soorat Gandi, Seerat Gandi, Deobandi Deobandi’, ‘Kala-Bagh Dam Namanzoor’, ‘Suno Suno Zulm ki kahani, Punjab ne kiya bund Pani’ These all slogans formed psyche of today’s generation. They hate each other out of insecurity.
As far as the composition of Karachi city, there are specific areas for specific communities like Sohrab Goth is Pashtoon area (though nearby Abul Asfahani Road’s flats are also occupied by mixed population i.e. Sindhi, Punjabi, etc). Lyari is Baloch/Sindhi area. Many families (specially Memon / Kutchi community have shifted from Lyari to Gulshan and Hussainabad). In past all communities have inter-marriages, but the latest political wars ( coupled with categorisation of dead bodies based on ethnicity by newspapers) is creating insecurity in all the communities.
Most of the people of Punjab and Sindh have always been Barelvi’s, Deobandis have gained strength after 79 (Afghan war) and sprouting of their madrassas under state patronage. Now I believe there are around 60 % Deobandi madrassahs, in the next couple of decades Deobandis could become the biggest sect of Pakistan.
I dont think having parties in karachi is the main issue here, just think about it why every party has access to weapons, just go anywhere in karachi see any person belonging to any cast or political group they will have access to weapons, now how this city of lights became city of weapon, its not like people are growing weapon their from the sand. If a 12-year-old boy has weapon you think he will be using it wisely. And in case of personal or political fights people do go out of control and them carrying weapons without any fear.
we need law and order thats not just for poor people, or some specific area or cast. It should be applied to all and the defenders of the law should be loyal.
These all slogans formed psyche of today’s generation. They hate each other out of insecurity.