...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
, specifically the resumption of 'assassinations'. Victims have been bumped off not only due to their religious and political affiliations, but also, seemingly, because of their profession. On Tuesday, two people were killed when assailants stormed a cellphone franchise in North Nazimabad. Two other cellphone businesses in nearby areas were targeted in similar fashion in the recent past. It appears the attackers were not interested in looting the premises but in spreading terror. The police claim the Taliban were involved in past attacks on cellphone franchises, but it is not clear why the faceless myrmidons would target this particular business.
Extortion has been suggested as one possible motive. Meanwhile,
...back at the bake sale, Umberto's Mom's cannoli were a big hit...
a doctor was bumped off also on Tuesday as he drove to his clinic. The possibility of sectarian motives has been suggested by the police. Another doctor, associated with a holy manbargah, was shot in front of his house a few days ago, while lawyers from the Shia community have also been killed. In the early hours of Tuesday, the wife, daughter and driver of a Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
MPA were also murdered in a drive-by shooting in the city while a number of political workers have been bumped off.
Although sectarian animosity is a clear factor, there seems to be no common thread linking the killings, other than the intent to spread terror. Though some politicians have suggested that citizens take steps for 'self-protection', the law-enforcement apparatus cannot be let off the hook so easily. Since it is the police, Rangers and administration that bear primary responsibility for keeping the peace, it is they who must explain why such acts of violence conti-nue unabated. 'Targeted' search operations have begun, but why must such measures have to wait until after the body count begins to mount? Last year it took the Supreme Court's intervention for the authorities to take action to stop the assassinations, which claimed hundreds of lives. What will it take this time to motivate the government into doing so -- before Bloody Karachi's violence spins out of control once again?