The issue of strike against extortion in Karachi is multifaceted - and it is increasingly becoming complex particularly on account of a clear divide among the trade bodies.
Karachi, like several other big cities of past and present, has had a history of gang wars, and other types of crimes such as kidnappings and protection money. So yes, it makes sense to strive for the elimination of the same.
However, it should be kept in mind that there needs to be a perceived, if not real, enemy. The object should be to avoid the war-on-terror fallacy, a phrase that doesn objectively identify the culprit with clearly defined boundaries.
The effort, therefore, should be against extortionists, not extortion. And its no hidden secret who the real culprits are in Karachi. Unfortunately, however, the failure is on the part of the parties in the Sindh government - MQM, PPP and ANP. Yet, as this newspaper earlier noted, "it is difficult to recall any significant attempt on the part of the government to stamp out the menace".
At the same time, however, it is pertinent to note that two wrongs don make a right. Reportedly, several shops, including medical stores and restaurants were forcibly shut down yesterday. In other words, the trade associations, or the parties that have supported their protest, are themselves involved in extortion through a strike against extortion. Talk about insanity.
Moreover, while the 10-point charter of demands put forward by the KCCI covers a lot of important elements, the focus should be on getting some heads rolling if the government fails to make progress on anti-extortion front.
But, at the same time, one must not lose sight of the fact that this is an age-old problem in Karachi, and the government, even if turns puritan overnight, cannot be expected to change the course in a short span of 7-10 days.
The ways of making democracy work entail continuous and persistent efforts - not overnight outbursts of violence and strikes.
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