By Dave Anderson:
This is interesting and potentially very destabilizing. Pakistan is more Steve's beat, but I think we need a quick placeholder. The Christian Science Monitor reports a leading Pakistani political leader and exile has been stabbed to death in London:
Much of Pakistan is on edge following the assassination of exiled political leader Imran Farooq in front of his London home on Thursday. In Karachi, Pakistan�s largest city, schools and shops closed and public transportation shut down as members of Mr. Farooq�s Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) gathered to grieve...
Last month, dozens of Pakistanis were killed and more than 100 injured in violence that erupted after MQM leader Raza Haider was gunned down while attending a funeral in Karachi.
From the US perspective, Karachi is the entreport for 50% or more of all supplies by weight that ISAF/NATO forces in Afghanistan. Chaos in the city crimps the supply line.
Update by Steve Hynd
Associated Press is reporting that Karachi is now shut down after MQM members rioted.
Gas stations, schools and markets in Karachi were closed and no public transport was running as news of the stabbing of Imran Farooq spread. The city has a history of political violence, and revenge attacks and acts of arson often follow killings.
On Friday morning, more than a dozen people broke into a plastics shop and set it on fire near the MQM headquarters, witnesses said. Elsewhere in the city, youths blocked the main road and torched two buses, said Asif Khan, an area resident. Local media reports also said some vehicles were burned and shots fired late Thursday in the city of more than 16 million.
The MQM is accused by critics and opponents of being involved in illegal activities and gangsterism in the city. Hundreds of its supporters have been killed over the last 20 years, including leaders, in gang warfare in Karachi, including dozens this year alone.
As well as a possible motive for the attack:
Mr. Hussain regularly addresses large gatherings in Karachi via telephone link. In recent weeks, he appeared to suggest that the country�s army should rise up against the civilian government, angering his party�s federal coalition partners, including the ruling Pakistan People�s Party of President Asif Ali Zardari.
MQM leader Salim Shahzad told Dunya TV that the party saw Farooq�s killing as a reaction to Mr. Hussain�s statements.
While Reuters adds:
Farooq, inactive in politics for about two years, claimed asylum in Britain 11 years ago after more than seven years on the run from Pakistani police who accused him of involvement in murder and other serious crimes. He denied the charges.
Even though he is not an influential MQM figure, the killing could trigger more ethnic and political violence in Karachi.
...The chance of Farooq's death sparking factional violence in Karachi would appear to depend on whether British police establish any link to the MQM's rivals in Pakistan.
As Dave says, definitely worth watching for future developments. Major unrest in Karachi always has a knock-on effect for the rest of Pakistan - and last month's rioting saw the police issued with "shoot to kill" instructions in an attempt to restore order. From there to martial law isn't all that big a step.
No comments:
Post a Comment