MQM is a mainstream party in Karachi but has a history of criminal elements being its members and workers. These elements have been involved in ransom, target killing, extortion etc. But MQM is not the only party in the city with an armed gang. Supreme Court of Pakistan has maintained in its observation that every political party in the city has its own armed gangs in the city and peace would remains an elusive dream until these gangs are dealt with according to law.
In the backdrop of today's raid, it would be prudent to ask few questions about the effectiveness of Pakistan's existing laws to keep political criminals in check. Prime Minister is going to Karachi today to initiate some mega projects there but it's obvious that now he will be sitting with Chief Minister Sindh and MQM leadership most the time to somehow politically subdue the political impact of Rangers' raid and there is a fear that despite the recovery of such lethal weapon. But would PM be able to keep himself isolate and let the Rangers and police prepare the case who apprehended in this raid in court of law? Would MQM initiate an in house inquiry about the criminal elements within its midst or would go for more agitation based politics? and most critically important, would court of law be able to give a verdict independently with deteriorating law and order in the city?
Regardless of these questions, today's incident has made it clear that Pakistan is not faced with religiously motivated terrorism alone. Elements within the secular minded sub-nationalist parties are also at war with the state. Recovery of NATO's military grade weapons are once again raising the strong suspicions about MQM's Babur Ghuri (former minister of ports and shipping) and his role in smuggling of missing NATO containers. These suspicions are growing stronger with such revealation unless MQM came up with a clear justification of presence of such weapons at its headquarters!
