[DAWN] OLD allies turning foe is not a rare phenomenon in our political culture. Politics and vendetta go together. But the spectacle of masked police commandos in civvies beating up the supporters of Zulfiqar Mirza and smashing vehicles on the Sindh High Court premises in Bloody Karachi...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
took reprisal to a new low.
Over the past several months, Zulfiqar Mirza has been at the centre of an exciting soap running on every TV channel enthralling audiences. His harangue against his old buddy was sure to get high ratings. The sight of him vandalising a cop shoppe and heavily armed guards patrolling his farm in Badin made the former Sindh home minister a big attraction in this country's theatre of the absurd.
Unsurprisingly, his allegations against Asif Ali Zardari, his former leader and friend, have generated intense controversy. Yet, what happened on the court premises was utterly shameful and the use of masked police commandos was surely unlawful. They appeared to be more like a private militia than law enforcers. The way they fled with the appearance on the scene of the Rangers raises several questions about their real identity.
Once arguably the most powerful man in the Sindh government, Mirza is now under the protection of federal agencies. He is facing more than a dozen cases under anti-terrorism laws. The chief minister has even threatened to send his case to the military court that has been formed to try hardcore terrorists.
It was surely not Mirza's rowdy behaviour at a cop shoppe in Badin that provoked such an extreme response from the provincial administration that is hardly known for its competence or love for the rule of law.
It shows clearly that it hurts more when an insider spills the beans. What started as a bitter personal feud between two estranged friends has now taken an ugly political turn. Mirza is angry with Zardari for reportedly taking away two sugar mills that the former president had bestowed on him. He is also unhappy over the betrayal by his party of Uzair Baloch and his Lyari
...one of the eighteen constituent towns of the city of Karachi. It is the smallest town by area in the city but also the most densely populated. Lyari has few schools, substandard hospitals, a poor water system, limited infrastructure, and broken roads. It is a stronghold of ruling Pakistan Peoples Party. Ubiquitous gang activity and a thriving narcotics industry make Lyari one of the most disturbed places in Karachi, which is really saying a lot....
'peace committee', a criminal gang that the former home minister had armed and patronised.