Calls for military action in Karachi as violence continues

KARACHI: Government is facing increased pressure from business groups to deploy the army in Karachi after at least 65 people were killed in a surge of gang and political violence over the past three days.

"There is law in Karachi but there is no order," said Khalid Tawab, vice president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. "Everything is going from bad to worse."

"The police has failed to restore peace, and now we need the army to come in and do that, and bring to an end the sufferings of the people of Karachi."

Leaders of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), as well as almost all the main business and trade associations, have made similar demands, but it is unlikely that the army will heed their call because of its reluctance to get involved in political disputes.

Asked about the military's plans for Karachi, army spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas declined to comment, but said the military would carry out the orders of the civilian government.

Fighting erupted on Wednesday in the city's old district of Lyari, long a focus of battles between rival gangs and a stronghold of President Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), before spreading to other parts of the city.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), and Awami National Party have also recently called for army intervention.

Copyright Reuters, 2011