Opinion The army in Karachi?

Pakistan’s PM does not appear keen to ask the army into Karachi,as some are demanding,reported Dawn on August 22: “Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is of the opinion that a military action in Karachi is not a solution to the law and order problem in the city and says that the issue can be resolved with the ‘optimal use of police and Rangers’.” The lawyer and former PPP stalwart Aitzaz Ahsan,meanwhile,appeared to suggest an army operation in Karachi,according to the Daily Times of August 23: “‘There is no harm in calling in the army to restore peace in Karachi… nobody should be afraid of an army operation,as it would be carried out under the supervision of the Sindh civil administration.’ Ahsan cited the example of the UK and India,where the army was called in whenever the civil rulers felt that only the army could help out in resolving the issue. He maintained that peace could not be restored in the provincial capital until an operation would be conducted to deweaponise it. We must consider this option seriously…” The News had earlier reported army chief Ashfaq Kayani’s statement that the army would “come up to the expectations of the people of Pakistan if need be.” He also reached Karachi on August 25 to “assess the situation,” the paper reported.

Taseer’s son abducted

The Express Tribune reported on August 26 that Shahbaz Taseer,the son of the assassinated former Punjab governor,Salman Taseer,was abducted early Friday. Reportedly,four men on motorcycles pulled him out of his car after blocking it on a road in Lahore. Shahbaz’s brother Shehryar was reported by Dawn as saying that the family had been receiving threats from the Taliban; Taseer’s family has been in considered to be in danger after he was shot by a religiously zealot in his personal security force for suggesting modifications in Pakistan’s blasphemy law.

Minority report

The Express Tribune reported on August 26: “In a bid to give non-Muslims greater representation in parliament,President Asif Ali Zardari has signed an amendment in Senate election rules to reserve four seats for minorities. The amendment in the Senate (Election) Rules,1975,came in compliance with provisions of the 18th constitutional amendment,which envisage four seats for non-Muslims,one from each province. Each provincial assembly will elect a senator in the next Senate polls,scheduled for March 2012. Although 10 seats are reserved in the National Assembly for minority members,there is no representation for minorities in the 100-member Senate.”

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