2007 Karachi riots

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On May 12, 2007, riots erupted across Karachi, capital of the province of Sindh and the most populous city in Pakistan.[1][2] During the riots city roads were blocked, cars burned and hundreds of people were injured and arrested, most of them Political workers. The most recent reports of the incident also included a death count that rose to as high as forty-three people.[1] Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the coalition partner in the provincial government, announced a rally on the same day as the arrival of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to address the city bar association on the 50th anniversary of establishment of the Sindh High Court Bar Association.[3][4]

Contents

[edit] Tension between Chaudhry and Musharraf

Chaudhry had been suspended from his post as Chief Justice by President Pervez Musharraf on March 9, 2007 for alleged misconduct. Musharraf's actions led to a degree of unrest in Pakistan — both with regards to the validity of the allegations, as well as doubt as to whether Musharraf actually had the power to suspend the Chief Justice under the circumstances.[5]

There had been previous conflict between Chaudhry and Musharraf, specifically with regard to the Pakistan Steel Mills case in which Chaudhry ruled against the sale of Pakistan's state-run steel mills at a "throw-away price".[6][7]

During his time on the bench, Chaudhry also presided over the controversial "forced disappearance" cases. These were charges brought by families that believed their relatives to be taken by intelligence agencies without due process.[8] Human rights groups say that at least 400 people are suspected to have been detained secretly by these agencies since 2001.[9]

[edit] Chaudhry Iftikhar's speaking tour across Pakistan

Leading up to the freedom of Judiciary, Chaudhry had been speaking at cities across Pakistan, with his most recent visit being to the city of Lahore. During his final speech before riots, the major focus of his rhetoric was that the government had "no right" to impose laws violating "basic human rights".

In this speech he went on to say, "Those countries and nations who don’t learn from the past and repeat those mistakes [will be] destroyed,"[9] At the meeting, banners supporting the independence of the judiciary and denouncing Musharraf hung on boundary walls surrounding the compound. Chaudhry’s vehicle was showered with rose petals as he stopped to greet supporters, and people pushed close to get a glimpse of him. The authorities made no effort to stop the caravan, although opposition parties have since claimed that political workers were arrested during the procession.[9]

The city as his plane landed at approximately midday at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. These fires later spread to the main Shahrah-e-Faisal Road connecting the airport with the Sindh High Court. Smoke arose from at least four areas of the city, as rioters burned cars, buses and trucks.[1]'[10] During the rampage, it was mostly the supporters of Chaudhry who lost their lives. 15 members of Awami National Party (ANP) were killed (Pashtuns make up second largest ethnic group in Karachi). 14 supporters of Pakistan Peoples Party were also left dead in the massacre. [11][12]

More than 800 political workers were arrested, majority of whom were members of labor and student organizations that had been planning to greet Chaudhry on his arrival.[4]

[edit] Jinnah International Airport

The Chief Justice was stationed at the Jinnah International Airport and had been unable to leave due to violence and road-blocks established around his location, as well as fears that his leaving may have precipitated further bloodshed. In accommodation, the government agreed to send a helicopter to transport him out of the airport, but Chaudhry refused, indicating that he wished to travel by ground.[4] Ultimately, Chaudhry would not compromise on this issue and returned to Islamabad, stating that he was unwilling to leave the airport without sufficient security as well as his cadré of lawyers.[13] According to Munir A. Malik, one of the chief justice's lawyers, Musharraf's offer to transport Chaudhry by helicopter was actually an attempt to "kidnap" him.[14]

On May 12, 2007, Pakistan International Airlines issued a statement indicating that all flights from Karachi had been delayed, as cabin crews could not reach the airport due to road blocks.[15]

[edit] Aaj Television Network Attacked

Much of the violence centered around Aaj TV, A Pakistani news network that covered many of the recent disputes between Chief Justice Chaudhry and President Musharraf. According to reports, a huge mob of armed men surrounded the Aaj TV building as its parking lot was set ablaze and similar infernos raged throughout the city.[11] The network was telecasting live footage of armed men brandishing guns in front of its offices and firing on rivals in an adjacent neighborhood. As the telecast continued, the armed men turned their guns on the Aaj TV building.[16]

The chief executive of Aaj TV, Asif Zuberi, said in regard to the attacks, "Our cameramen were shooting the rally procession when the armed gunmen started to fire indiscriminately at our office. No security was sent to us though the firing went on for six hours.The Aaj TV building came under fire from armed men who wanted the airing of live footage of the unrest in the city stopped.[11][16]

MQM spokesman Abdul Quddus denied his party's involvement in the attacks. He did say that some activists of his party might have taken shelter in the Aaj building after coming under fire from another building. No one was hurt during the attacks, and the network remained on the air.[16]

As inquiries on 12th may could not proceed further, which were tabled in the Sindh High Court, and was to be probed by the seven-member bench[17], the MQM was left free of any accusition. The chief executive of Aaj TV, however, accused MQM workers saying “The Aaj TV building came under fire from MQM supporters who wanted the airing of live footage of the unrest in the city stopped,”.[18]

[edit] Media ban

On May 9, 2007, the Pakistani government issued a media ban on discussion of the suspension of Chaudhry by Musharraf. Journalist organizations protested the ban, responding that the goal of the media was to cover, not contribute, to the current controversy. The government in response agreed to issue special passes for reporters and lawyers to attend the presidential reference filed against the Chief Justice.[4]

[edit] Sources of contention

.[19][14] The pro-Musharraf MQM had planned a rally coinciding with Chaudhry's arrival to demonstrate their support of Musharraf's suspension of the Chief Justice.[20]

Human Rights Watch, a non-government affiliated human rights watch dog based in New York City, recently issued a statement indicating that "This [violence] can either be due to the incompetence of the government, or its complicity."[11] Their statement went on, "The sequence of events leading up to this violence, including statements from the provincial authorities and the arrest of hundreds of opposition activists in the last few days, indicates that the government, acting through its coalition partners, has deliberately sought to foment violence in Karachi." [20]

According to documents obtained by the BBC after the event, government security measures on the day of the planned demonstrations included the instruction that "no police personnel should carry any kind of weapon during the law and order duty with the rally".

Of note, among police officials were deployed for security duties in Karachi, only 21 in the entire city were armed. BBC analysts have indicated that the way police were deployed indicates that they were meant to prevent people from gaining access to the airport or to the Sindh High Court.[12]

During a National Assembly meeting on Monday evening, opposition leader Liaqat Baloch condemned MQM for their alleged role in the Karachi affairs, and afterwards led the condolence prayers for victims of the carnage as well as for the deceased mother of the acting Speaker.[21]


[edit] Imran Khan criticism on Altaf Hussein and Britain

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was critical of the British. He was quoted as saying:

The British government has shown double standards. On the one hand, it is fighting a war against terrorism and on the other it has given citizenship to the number one terrorist of Pakistan, MQM chief Altaf Hussain. We will hire a lawyers' panel in London to file a suit against [him] because he is responsible for the killing of innocent people in Karachi.[22]

Imran Khan went to England in hope of getting hand upon Altaf, latter in June and reached Scotland Yard to file a case against him, saying Altaf was a British citizen and the Yard must prob the case. According to Khan the money laundering charge was most likely to be taken up on a priority basis as his lawyers have provided enough evidence to the Yard and expected the Yard to conduct investigations into it before the evidence gets lost or becomes outdated. Imran further claimed Altaf has 234 cases against him and many relatives of the victims have reached him secretly.[23]

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on the other hand, announced that it will collect evidence about the “bad character” of Imran Khan and will submit it in the National Assembly for getting him unseated as MNA under Articles 62 & 63 of the Constitution.

“We will also take every possible legal action if needed to unseat Mr Khan from the National Assembly,” MQM MNA Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi said to the media. A rally was also held by MQM workers, holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against Imran Khan. They also raised slogans against the chief of the PTI and demanded that he tender an apology to the millions of people for abusing their beloved leader.[24]

Imran Khan, however, remained unscathed and remained MNA till resignation, for the Election Commission put off the case againt him.[25]

Hussain denied personal involvement but said in response to allegations that he believed the attacks to be deliberately carried out in Karachi, though he did not indicate by whom. He did, however, urge his workers and party members to remain calm in the face of continuing violence.[26]

Despite fingers pointed at both sides of the dispute, the true source of bloodshed is currently unknown.[11]Also the proceedings regarding Altaf Hussein case in Great Britain are never been told, nor any details are known or public.

[edit] General strike and national holiday

On May 14, 2007, opposition parties called for a general strike in Lahore, paralyzing the city and protesting the government response to the riots. 8,000 people, including lawyers and human rights activists, chanted "Out with Musharraf!" and "Death to Altaf Hussain!"[14] In addition, protestors burned effigies of Musharraf and hundreds forced their way through a police barricade.[2]

Authorities responded by banning demonstrations and declaring a national holiday. Shops were closed and public transportation was shut down in the country’s major cities. It is the largest strike in Pakistan since Musharraf assumed his presidency in 1999, with much of the unrest stemming from news reports that government troops were in Karachi, but took no action to separate armed pro-government MQM groups and opposition forces during the gunfights.[14]

[edit] Shooting of Syed Hammad Raza

Main article: Syed Hammad Raza

During the early evening of May 13, Syed Hammad Raza, a senior official in Pakistan's Supreme Court, was shot dead at approximately 4:30 p.m. near his home in Islamabad. Mr. Raza was a close associate of Chaudhry. Chaudhry visited Shabana Raza, Syed Raza's widow, in condolence that night. According to Reuters, Mrs. Raza told Chaudhry: "You called him to Islamabad — you should have protected him, and now my children need protection as well.”[27]

According to one of Chaudhry's lawyers, Tariq Mehmood, "[Raza] was witness to many things. [For example] the chief justice said in his petition that some files were removed from his chamber on the day he was suspended.... He was under pressure." Mehmood declined further comment.[27]

An editorial in The Daily Times, a leading newspaper in Lahore, wrote “The possibility of any compromise to correct the original mistake of Musharraf removing the C.J.P. has vanished now....The ante has been upped by the government.”[14]

[edit] Uneasy peace

On the evening of May 14, 2007, Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim said at a press conference that the situation in Karachi city was under control and no serious incidents of violence had taken place that day despite fears to the contrary. During a press conference, the Chief Minister indicated that the opposition parties had not sought permission from the provincial government for holding the May 12, 2007 rallies in Karachi, but that general elections would still be held in Pakistani as scheduled in a few months. At the same press conference, Rahim also indicated that Salimullah Khan of Jamia Farooqia University had recently been arrested, although he declined to state why.[28]

The city had been calmer the day following the riots, with security forces in armored personnel carriers and pickup trucks with mounted machine guns patrolling mostly peaceful and deserted streets. Tensions were still high, however, with the government authorizing paramilitary troops to shoot anyone involved in 'serious' violence.[1]

[edit] Kidnapping of Syed Mohammad Iqbal Kazmi

Civil Rights actvist Iqbal Kazmi was kidnapped by some unknown person but was later freed on the condition that he and his family would leave Karachi. Kazmi had filed petitions in the Sindh High Court on the May 12 violence and the new Pemra ordinance in which major political and government figures were named as respondents.

The list include Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, federal Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah, MQM chief Altaf Hussain, the Sindh CM’s Adviser on Home Affairs Waseem Akhtar, Chief Secretary Shakeel Durrani, Home Secretary Ghulam M. Muhtaram Naqvi, Provincial Police Officer Niaz A. Siddiqui, CCPO Azhar A. Farooqui, the SHO City Courts police station, SHO Jamshed Quarters, and others.[29]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Associated Press (2007-05-13). "Riots in Karachi leave dozens dead". International Herald Tribune.
  2. ^ a b Stephen Graham (2007-05-13). "Opposition to Pakistani president grows". Forbes.
  3. ^ Associated Press (2007-05-12). "Three shot dead in clashes in Pakistan". The Hindu.
  4. ^ a b c d Syed Mohsin Naqvi (2007-05-12). "Deadly violence erupts in Pakistan". CNN.
  5. ^ "Suspended Pak CJ arrives in Karachi amid violence and tight security". Daily India (2007-05-12).
  6. ^ Mohammad Kamran (June 21, 2006). "Pakistan Steel Mills’ privatisation case: AG requests Supreme Court to deliver moderate verdict".
  7. ^ Shahid Husain (March, 2007). "Pakistan president suspends chief justice".
  8. ^ salman masood (2007-05-13). "Pakistani Leader Assailed for Deadly Clashes". New York Times.
  9. ^ a b c Salman Masood (2007-05-07). "Throngs Attend Speech by Pakistan’s Suspended Justice". New York Times.
  10. ^ Associated Press (2007-05-13). "Riots in Karachi leave dozens dead". International Herald Tribuen.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Gunmen open fire at Pak TV channel". CNN-IBN (2007-05-12).
  12. ^ a b Syed Shoaib Hasan (2007-05-15). "Karachi police told to go unarmed". BBC News.
  13. ^ "Dawn.com - 24 hour News Updates Online". Retrieved on May 12, 2007.
  14. ^ a b c d e Salman Masood (2007-05-14). "Pakistani Official Killed as Strike Called in Karachi". New York Times.
  15. ^ AAJ Television Network (2007-05-12). "Flights from Karachi Disrupted: PIA".
  16. ^ a b c Staff Reporter (2007-05-12). "Armed men attack Aaj TV office".
  17. ^ KARACHI: SHC urged to supervise May 12 investigation
  18. ^ Armed men attack Aaj TV office
  19. ^ Associated Press (2007-05-12). "At least 18 killed in clashes in Karachi".
  20. ^ a b Khalid Qayum & Hariz Zamir (2007-05-12). "Pakistan Clashes Kill 30 in Karachi Over Top Judge".
  21. ^ ANI Correspondent (2007-05-14). "Opposition raises ruckus in assembly over Karachi deaths". International News Network Online.
  22. ^ Associated Press (2007-05-15). "US deplores Karachi violence, urges restraint". New Kerala.
  23. ^ Imran says Altaf involved in terrorism, money laundering
  24. ^ KARACHI: MQM drive against Imran in full swing
  25. ^ Election Commission put off Imran's case of disqualification
  26. ^ ANI Correspondent (2007-05-14). "Altaf sees terrorism plot behind Karachi violence". DailyIndia.com.
  27. ^ a b Reuters (2007-05-14). "Witness for Pakistan's suspended judge shot dead". Reuters India.
  28. ^ Associated Press (2007-05-14). "Situation in Karachi under control: Arbab".
  29. ^ DAWN (2007-05-14). "Ordeal of freed May 12 petitioner".
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