Opinion Civil strife

Daily Times reported on January 11: “PPP and MQM… agreed on a future course of action against ‘common enemies’ in Karachi,in a bid to defuse tensions between the two parties…’Our friends agreed with us that the nature of the ongoing violence is not religious,political or ethnic,’ Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said after a meeting between PPP and MQM … He said some gangs wanted to destabilise Karachi because it was the hub of Pakistan’s economic activities. ‘It is our resolve to uncover the enemies by … mutual coordination… Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the ‘drug mafia,land grabbers,illegal immigrants,gangsters and criminals’ were involved in the violence. He said these were ‘not isolated incidents … they are an extension of terrorism in Waziristan,Swat and other parts of Pakistan.” Dawn added: “By the time the meeting ended,at least 10 people had been gunned down in the city,taking the death toll in four days of violence to more than 35.”

Rapid-fire response

Richard Holbrooke,US Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan reached Islamabad to face a volley of questions on Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor’s “war threat” against Pakistan and America’s new policy to separately examine travellers of Pakistani origin at American airports.

Daily Times quoted Holbrooke: “What [Indian Army chief General Kapoor said does not reflect the Indian national policy…He acknowledged Pakistan’s security concerns were legitimate.” The other reply was reported by The News: “I am sorry for this. I am sorry this is causing concerns,but these (enhanced security screenings) are not discriminatory against Pakistanis. Pakistan is not being singled out. Even I am subjected to screening when I travel in my personal capacity.”