Re: MQM calls for people arrested by rangers to be released
So, how come MQM was happy with the Rangers' operation only a couple of weeks ago and suddenly do not like the idea?
I am not sure about the composition of Karachi police. If the percentage of police men from the locals is lower, it should be increased but most important is depoliticisation of the security apparatus which is powerful enough totals action against subversive elements. This thread is an example how political players of Karachi interfere in the security of the city.
We should know that in general how much discrimination, nepotism and basis are there in Pakistan on basis of ethnicity and provincialism. As far as Karachi is concerned, situation is such that even on this forum, there are many who think that Pakhtun must be voting ANP, Punjabis must be voting PMLN, Sindhi must be voting PPP and Muhajirs must be voting MQM.
Even though this division on ethnic ground may not be universally true in Karachi, as MQM is attracting votes from all communities, still there is some truth in it and that is the reason places where there are mostly Balochs and Sindhi speaking Sindhis they normally vote PPP and ANP took provincial seat in last election from area that is predominately Pakhtuns
So, in situation that exists where biases and discrimination are norm of life, it is obvious that MQM would be sceptical when Rangers, Army or Police action is taken in areas where people are mostly Muhajirs, as most in Rangers, Army and Police are from Punjab or KPK, who when acting in Muhajir dominated areas may not act without biases … and that is what happened in early 90s Karachi operation too when Police persecuted, tortured, killed many innocent Mujajirs and even victimised then for extorting money.
This situation would be same even in Lahore if Lahore was divided on ethnic lines between Pakhtuns and Punjabis having conflicts with each other full of mistrust and biases, and police force consisting of predominately Pakhtuns are used to do operation in Punjabi dominated area. In such situation likely chance of victimisation, persecution and biases would happen on innocent Punjabis. Even if it would not happen, perception would develop.
Recently, when KPK government used police force from Peshawar to suppress processions for separate province in Swat, same happened, and Swatis blamed police of biases and atrocities as police was from outside.
I think, if Karachi police was consisting of mostly local residents and people in Karachi had trust on them of being not bias, then no one could have questioned police action in any part of Karachi, neither MQM could have shown any reservations on such action. But since situation is as I mentioned above, where most in Karachi police are Pakhtuns or Punjabis, many in Muhajir dominated areas automatically start worrying with perception that any police action would be persecution of innocents full of biases, and in reality that happens too. Seeing such situation, it is understandable for MQM to develop mistrust about police force (or rangers or army) when there is talk of them taking action in Muhajir dominated areas.
Actually, when MQM shows satisfaction when talk is only about action means they are not against such actions, but when facing action, their mistrust comes out … but then, when such forces (police, rangers, or army) get into action in MQM strongholds, one cannot rule out excesses by such forces due to their ethnic or provincial biases, causing them to indiscriminately victimising innocents, and thus we start seeing protests or show of mistrust by MQM on such police forces (or rangers or army).
Solution: Police force should consist of (non-political) people who are permanent resident of the area and belong to community they are policing. If this would happen, then police would deal with criminals more enthusiastically and harshly, as it is they and their wider families who would get affected if they do not deal with criminals enthusiastically and harshly. On the other hand, if they are used by government to act against criminals, there could be no reason to mistrust them or build perception that they would be bias and would victimise innocents (as those innocents would be from people they themselves belong).