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Rumours
about Magsi's 'death' spark protests
By: Zamir Sheikh
KARACHI
- Protest in Sindh against the influx of Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) in the province took a violent turn here on Wednesday
around four protesters of Sindh Taraqqi Passand Party (STP) were
killed allegedly by the police.
The deaths sparked a number of rumours including the death of STP
Chief Dr. Qadir Magsi, which triggered law and order in many towns
and cities of the interior of the province. Markets were shut down
in a number of towns by the agitating protesters.
Aerial firing was reported in almost all cities and town of interior
of Sindh, which had remained bastion of the nationalist parties who
hold sway in most of the areas of the interior.
Shopping centres in Thatta, Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan, Naushero
Feroz, Nawabshah, Dadu, Larkana, Khandkot, Mirpur Matehlo, Jamshoro,
Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Mithi were also closed as a protest against the
killing of protesters.
Latest violence has given a new twist to the anti IDPs influx into
the province.
The IDPs issue has become violent and the chances that agitation
will take a serious turn unless the administration takes immediate
steps to douse fire of rising emotions in areas where the
nationalists’ parties have always called shots and dictated
political terms.
Although, these parties failed to wins support of the public in
general elections but for the cause of political issues related to
Sindh, they get full support. The politics of Pakistani has the
tendency to run on dead bodies and the event outside Karachi has
provided an opportunity to such parties to devastate the peace of
city and for their interests. Anti IDPs would suddenly become a big
cause for those who were against the influx but were not vocal. But
the new violent twist may even force those sitting on the fence to
come openly and more strongly against settling of the IDPs in Sindh.
Administrations hands are already full in dealing with a number of
issues relating to law and order and the new development may further
stretch its ability to control the deteriorating situation both in
the cities and in interior.
The provincial government would closely watch the next step of the
STP to lay down its own strategy to deal with the situation.
Pakistan Peoples Party, which allowed the IDPs to survive in Sindh
on conditional basis, will also encounter difficulties in calming
down the flared up emotions.
The Nation:
June 11, 2009 |
