Source(Google.com.pk)
Time Karachi Biography
Last year was one of the deadliest in the history of Karachi, with 1,891 people murdered in political and ethnic violence.
"The stock market crashed, real estate prices were at their lowest and more factories closed down this year than the last one," said Imranuddin Khan from the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
More than 7,000 people have been killed in Pakistan's financial hub in the last four years, according to CID officer Fayyaz Khan. "Not a single person has been arrested and prosecuted because of a weak criminal justice system, absence of witness protection and criminalization of politics."
"More people have been killed in political violence in Karachi than by the Taliban," said Ahmed, who runs a small pharmaceutical company in the city.
Political violence was at its peak during the first eight months of the year, with 129 people killed in January, 94 in February, 215 in March, 178 in April, 143 in May, 174 in June, 324 in July and 229 in August
Up to 70 percent of Pakistan's GDP comes from Karachi, and the city is going through "one of the worst economic crises in its history" because of the political turmoil, "with a loss of more than $100 million in business revenues per day", said Muhammad Alam, president of the Chamber of Commerce. "It's not just the killings. Extortion and kidnappings have also shaken investor confidence."
Of the 18 towns in Karachi, 16 are controlled by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement that is said to represent Mohajirs. The recent surge in violence is being seen as a result of the ruling Pakistan People's Party's attempt to gain political influence against its ally MQM.
The proxy war was at its peak during the first eight months of the year, with 129 people killed in political violence in January, 94 in February, 215 in March, 178 in April, 143 in May, 174 in June, 324 in July and 229 in August. The violence dramatically decreased after President Asif Zardari's intervention and the resignation of the anti-MQM home minister Zulfiqar Mirza.
"MQM has developed Karachi over the years and one of our mayors, Mustafa Kamal, was awarded the title of World's Best Mayor," said Khawaja Izharul Hasan, a legislator from the MQM. "We get most of our support from Karachi. Why would we want to destroy the city's peace?"
"It is unfair to blame Zulfiqar Mirza and me for the violence in Karachi," said Uzair Baloch, who is said to be a key aide of Mirza. "MQM controls 16 out of 18 towns in Karachi and is therefore responsible for law and order. We only reacted to political violence by MQM."
Alishba Bibi, whose husband was kidnapped by gangsters from the impoverished Lyari area and cut to pieces, said he was not affiliated with any political group. "He was killed only because he spoke Urdu," said the 41-year-old widow who now works 18 hours a day to support her children. Lal Khan, 64, said his son was a bus driver. "The mohajirs shot him dead and burned his body."
The city was also hit by incidents of terrorism related to Al Qaeda, the Taliban and their affiliate groups. Al Qaeda's Pakistan chief blew himself up when his apartment was raided by police. A police officer, Chaudhry Aslam, survived a suicide attack on his home. Two policemen and five terrorists were killed in a botched bombing in Karachi's upscale Clifton area.
Manzoor Wasan, the new home minister who replaced Zulfiqar Mirza, is credited with restoring normalcy in Karachi. But many citizens believe this peace is temporary. "The pause button has been hit on the remote controls of violence," said Imtiaz Ahmed, a 27-year-old Karachi resident whose father was killed in crossfire between workers of two political parties earlier this year.
The newly popular Imran Khan surprised political analysts with a large political gathering of about 100,000 people, denting the ANP-Sindh and Jamaat-e-Islami vote bank to the benefit of MQM.
"I just want to live a normal life and not get killed for no reason," said Najia, a 15-year-old student commenting on the political environment in the city in 2011.
"I would like to forget 2011 and want a peaceful 2012," Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah .
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Time Karachi Biography
Last year was one of the deadliest in the history of Karachi, with 1,891 people murdered in political and ethnic violence.
"The stock market crashed, real estate prices were at their lowest and more factories closed down this year than the last one," said Imranuddin Khan from the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
More than 7,000 people have been killed in Pakistan's financial hub in the last four years, according to CID officer Fayyaz Khan. "Not a single person has been arrested and prosecuted because of a weak criminal justice system, absence of witness protection and criminalization of politics."
"More people have been killed in political violence in Karachi than by the Taliban," said Ahmed, who runs a small pharmaceutical company in the city.
Political violence was at its peak during the first eight months of the year, with 129 people killed in January, 94 in February, 215 in March, 178 in April, 143 in May, 174 in June, 324 in July and 229 in August
Up to 70 percent of Pakistan's GDP comes from Karachi, and the city is going through "one of the worst economic crises in its history" because of the political turmoil, "with a loss of more than $100 million in business revenues per day", said Muhammad Alam, president of the Chamber of Commerce. "It's not just the killings. Extortion and kidnappings have also shaken investor confidence."
Of the 18 towns in Karachi, 16 are controlled by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement that is said to represent Mohajirs. The recent surge in violence is being seen as a result of the ruling Pakistan People's Party's attempt to gain political influence against its ally MQM.
The proxy war was at its peak during the first eight months of the year, with 129 people killed in political violence in January, 94 in February, 215 in March, 178 in April, 143 in May, 174 in June, 324 in July and 229 in August. The violence dramatically decreased after President Asif Zardari's intervention and the resignation of the anti-MQM home minister Zulfiqar Mirza.
"MQM has developed Karachi over the years and one of our mayors, Mustafa Kamal, was awarded the title of World's Best Mayor," said Khawaja Izharul Hasan, a legislator from the MQM. "We get most of our support from Karachi. Why would we want to destroy the city's peace?"
"It is unfair to blame Zulfiqar Mirza and me for the violence in Karachi," said Uzair Baloch, who is said to be a key aide of Mirza. "MQM controls 16 out of 18 towns in Karachi and is therefore responsible for law and order. We only reacted to political violence by MQM."
Alishba Bibi, whose husband was kidnapped by gangsters from the impoverished Lyari area and cut to pieces, said he was not affiliated with any political group. "He was killed only because he spoke Urdu," said the 41-year-old widow who now works 18 hours a day to support her children. Lal Khan, 64, said his son was a bus driver. "The mohajirs shot him dead and burned his body."
The city was also hit by incidents of terrorism related to Al Qaeda, the Taliban and their affiliate groups. Al Qaeda's Pakistan chief blew himself up when his apartment was raided by police. A police officer, Chaudhry Aslam, survived a suicide attack on his home. Two policemen and five terrorists were killed in a botched bombing in Karachi's upscale Clifton area.
Manzoor Wasan, the new home minister who replaced Zulfiqar Mirza, is credited with restoring normalcy in Karachi. But many citizens believe this peace is temporary. "The pause button has been hit on the remote controls of violence," said Imtiaz Ahmed, a 27-year-old Karachi resident whose father was killed in crossfire between workers of two political parties earlier this year.
The newly popular Imran Khan surprised political analysts with a large political gathering of about 100,000 people, denting the ANP-Sindh and Jamaat-e-Islami vote bank to the benefit of MQM.
"I just want to live a normal life and not get killed for no reason," said Najia, a 15-year-old student commenting on the political environment in the city in 2011.
"I would like to forget 2011 and want a peaceful 2012," Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah .
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