Mafiosi make a killing in Karachi

Members of a group known as `Qabza’ mafia masquerade as MQM activists and kill people for grabbing property. The victims are usually weak house-owners. Killings by this mafia are also credited to the MQM’s factional rivalry, the daily says.

However, the drug mafia is the strongest in Karachi, the Nawa-i-Waqt adds. This mafia uses coastal areas of the city for smuggling drugs and arms. Peace there would be the greatestthreat to its activities, therefore the mafia keeps the MQM supplied with weapons.

Nawa-i-Waqt writes Karachi has at least 250,000 educated unemployed youth. In addition, there are tens of thousands of workers rendered idle following closure of mills and factories in Karachi. Several of these workers have moved to other parts of the country while many unemployed youth have found alternative employment in mafia outfits.

The federal government, reportedly toying with the idea of bringing Sindh under governor’s rule two weeks ago, instead set up a high-power committee to ensure peace in Karachi. The committee is headed by the governor and includes the chief minister but keeps out the Mutteheda Quami Movement, a major coalition partner in the provincial government. The party has strongly resented the move.

The urdu daily Jang in a commentary indicates that the establishment of the committee has not put an end to the possibility of governor’s rule.

Muslim League members from Sindh in the central leadershipfavour governor’s rule for a period of six months during which the governor will rule with the help of technocrats and Muslim League leaders. During this period, a policy to weaken the MQM’s position in karachi would be adopted, it says.