The Musharraf government’s heart bleeds for Afghanistan, for Kashmir, but not, it seems, for Karachi, whose streets are stained with the blood of innocent citizens gunned down with impunity by hired assassins every few weeks.

            The latest victims of Karachi’s never-ending cycle of violence are Syed Zafar Hussain Zaidi, director research in the Ministry of Defence, and Mr. Shaukat Mirza, head of Pakistan State Oil, both of whom were gunned down brutally on their way to work, in broad daylight, in peak-hour traffic, one  near a police thana.  Incidentally, Mirza was brought into PSO to set things right – in keeping with President Musharraf’s avowed aim of cleansing public sector outfits.  Tragically and ironically, Mr. Mirza had reportedly resigned, but  stayed on at his post at Musharraf’s request – and paid  for it with his life.

What compounds the tragedy is the audacity of the assassins, a sectarian party, who claim responsibility for the two murders, lambast the government for executing one of its assassins convicted on charges of murdering the Director of the Iranian Cultural Centre in Lahore, and threaten to carry on.  How does this reflect on the writ of  the state?  How have things come to such a sorry pass that sectarian organisations can hold the government hostage, brazenly confessing to their horrific crimes without fear of retribution?

            The blame rests fairly and squarely on the shoulders of this government that has targetted politicians but allowed extremist groups to flourish unchecked, and in instances, have patronised and used them.  Since 1995, around 38 doctors have been shot dead, some for ethnic reasons, but most in sectarian violence and not one murder case has been solved.  The death toll mounts, but the murderers remain at large.

            This nation still does not know who killed KESC chief, Shahid Hamid or Hakim Said.  The police and investigating agencies continue to remain “in the dark.”

            From time to time, the government talks to the press of police reforms, of deweaponisation, of banning sectarian organisations, of framing new laws to rein in madrassas – but what does all this amount to at the end of the day?  A lot of sound and fury signifying nothing.  It makes for compelling copy, not good governance.

How much more innocent blood will be spilt before the government wakes up to the trauma of the families who have lost their loved ones to an assassin’s bullet?

            For us Pakistanis, this is the ‘core’ issue.  And President Musharraf needs to tackle it with all the military might at his disposal. Now. Before the country is devoured by the tide of fanaticism that is chipping away at the fabric of the nation.

Rehana Hakim