Living in a World of Fears, Rumours

An evening of rumours and fear
Thursday, December 17, 2009
By Naimat Haider

Karachi

As the judges in the Supreme Court of Pakistan took their time to announce the verdict on petitions against the National Reconstruction Ordinance (NRO), and by extension, the future of major political and bureaucratic players, rumours and apprehensions spread like fire throughout the evening.

After 4.30 pm, word on the street was that “this is it for President Zardari and his regime.” Shops and markets started closing in Karachi as well as in many parts of interior Sindh, including Hyderabad. “Everyone thought that PPP government was gone. I was at my office at Malir-15 when armed people arrived in the area and ordered the people to close the shops,” said a resident of Malir, Arshad Saleh Baloch. He added that heavy aerial firing was heard in his area and slogans of Jiye Bhutto were raised.

While markets in suburban areas like Malir and Mauripur were forced to close down, allegedly by PPP workers, people in surrounding areas of Saddar closed their shops to reach home at the earliest possible time.

A vendor told The News that his colleagues left the markets early to avoid possible incidents of violence that might break out in case the PPP government was overthrown.

An unusual rush in traffic was witness as well. “I was at the Urdu Bazaar when I received a text message on my phone that the government was being overthrown. Then I noticed everyone was rushing towards local buses. I couldn’t wait for a bus, so I had to go home on a rickshaw,” said a resident of Gulshan Iqbal, Khalil Peer Jan.

Moreover shops were closed and aerial firing was heard in Sachhal Goth, Gulbahar, and New Karachi areas of the city. However Lyari, considered a stronghold of the PPP, was relatively calm though people gathered at tea cafes and waited in front of the television sets for the decision of Supreme Court.

People were also worried about their property, as they said that whenever violence breaks in the city mostly the private property is burnt and destroyed.


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Tension over NRO decision grips city

KARACHI: Many areas of Karachi and other areas of Sindh witnessed citizens panicking due to possible reactions, which might occur after the Supreme Court’s decision against the National Reconciliation Ordinance and due to rumours about President Asif Ali Zardari’s detention. Traders started closing their shops and business, while traffic jams in several areas of the city were also observed. Similar reports were received from Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Larkana and other provincial cities. Law enforcers, including police and Rangers personnel, were put on high alert across the province and were seen patrolling the streets.

In Karachi, majority of the areas, especially the ones dominated by the Pakistan People’s Party, including Manghopir, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Sachal Goth, Baldia Town, Mach Goth, Yousuf Goth, Bara Board, Malir, Patel Para, Jahangir Road, Golimar, Saddar, Clifton, Gulshan-e-Hadeed and Steel Town, where unidentified people resorted to aerial firing, causing massive traffic jams and suspension of routine and commercial life. However, after the Supreme Court’s announcement, the tension was relieved and no reports regarding major incidents were received until the filing of this report. staff report


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MQM activist gunned down: An activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was gunned down and another was wounded in an incident of target killing on Wednesday evening, in front of a mosque at Rafa-e-Aam Society, Malir within the limits of the Al-Falah police station.

The victims sustained bullet wounds and were taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where one died, after being shot by two men on a motorcycle.

“The deceased was Mansoor Sheikh, 32, an activist of the MQM while the wounded person Mohammad Amir was a party supporter,” said police officials. Although the motive is yet to be ascertained the officers termed it an incident of target killing. Following the incident, tension and fear gripped the area and incidents of aerial firing were also reported, suspending the routine and commercial life in the vicinity. However, no case was registered till the filing of this report.

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Biggest bank robbery of Pakistan: Poor footage impeding bank heist investigation

* Shahid Mehmood’s CNIC was used by the mastermind to get hired by the security company

By Faraz Khan

KARACHI: The cameras installed at most banks are of inferior technology and do not provide much help to police in their investigations regarding the country’s biggest bank heist on Sunday, said Capital City Police Officer Waseem Ahmed while talking to Daily Times on Wednesday.

Ahmed said he has written a letter to the secretary of Pakistan Bankers’ Association, requesting him to upgrade the banks’ security systems, especially installing high-tech CCTV cameras to identify robbers easily.

He also said work on the Police Command and Control System would be finalised as soon as possible to benefit the commercial and financial hubs of the city including the II Chundrigar Road.

“It is possible that the four associates aiding the mastermind of the robbery, also worked as security guards in other companies. We are investigating all security companies regarding their employees who have been absent since the robbery occurred,” said an officer involved in the investigation.

“The prime suspect of the robbery had used Shahid Mehmood’s CNIC to get employed by the security company,” added the officer.

The investigators have detained two security guards, Zamir and Emran, who were bound while the robbery took place; Emran’s friend, a dismissed ASI Aqeel Abbas; the bank watchman Riaz; and Shahid Mehmood, a resident of Qayyumabad, who runs a canteen there and as per his recorded statement, his CNIC had been missing since February, which was used by the mastermind behind the robbery.

His claim was verified at the Defence police station by the investigators. “Initial investigation suggests he is not linked with the prime suspect of the bank robbery,” the officer explained.

Meanwhile, police teams dispatched to different cities have returned empty-handed after raids in Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar and other neighbouring areas.

The CCPO said all town police officers have been directed to verify private security companies located in their respective jurisdictions and take strict action against any company or its guard found guilty, as it was quite likely that Taliban and other militants could work for these companies as security guards.