Killings and violence in Karachi decreased by 26 per cent in September 2015 as compared to August, says a report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).In September, 126 people died or were killed due to violence in the city while in August, the figure stood at 171. Last year the statistics were much worse. Around 231 people became victims of violence in September 2014. Meanwhile this year, the killings have decreased overall. Twenty-three people became victims of targeted killings in September as compared to August’s figure of 32. Last month, 24 dead bodies were found, two policemen were killed and six became victims of the Lyari gang war. Moreover, eight people were abducted and found dead, three political activists were killed while one was killed in sectarian violence. Compared to August, the number of people being killed by law enforcement agencies in encounters or in custody also decreased. In August, 56 people died while in September, the number dropped down to 29. But More alarmingly, the number of people killed at the hands of law enforcement agencies has noticeably increased when compared to last year. And this is just the recorded figures; a well discussed worrying trend with the Karachi operation has been the carte blanche afforded to the Rangers and the lack of oversight and accountability. The absence of due process has seen the number of extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detentions by the law enforcement agencies to be on the rise. The innocence or guilt of many individuals thus has no way of being verified. Despite these serious reservations, the trend of improvement in the security situation has to be welcomed and especially since these figures are coming from the HRCP — an institute with a proven record of unimpeachable integrity. They cannot be dismissed as doctored. It does not bear repeating that Karachi, one of Pakistan’s most important centres, cannot afford to persist with the dangerous and deteriorating ‘status quo’ of violence and insecurity. A manifest improvement in its security climate bodes well for the future stability of the city and will have positive implications for the country at large. However, caution still needs to be injected into the proceedings: the conflict engulfing Karachi is complex and the problems afflicting the city are of long standing. Many of the leading characters involved in the violence are still at large and continuing their actions with impunity, even if a sizeable number of actors have been apprehended. To successfully curb these forces of disorder, a sustained and dedicated effort will need to be persisted with.
pk.shafaqna.com
