Mansoor Khan, 43, told the that snipers were positioned on the rocky hills surrounding the western suburbs where he lives.

“They would shoot at anyone who tried to step out of their home. We had sick and elderly people in the family who couldn’t get any treatment. We were stuck and desperate for help.”

Other residents of the area say that they were too terrified to go out of their houses because of intense gunfire.

Maheen Noor, nine, describes with remarkable alacrity the “tak tak tak” of small arms fire.

“I wasn’t too scared,” she said, “because I have heard it before, like when there was fighting in the area two years ago.

“But this time, it went on for several days. We couldn’t sleep at night. My sister was really freaking out. She stayed close to my father throughout the nights.”

In many households, food stocks ran low, said neighborhood activist Afaq Hussain Rizvi.

“I lived on tea and water during those days,” he said. “Bullets were flying over our heads. The police were there, but they didn’t do anything to stop the gunfire.”

Mr Rizvi says that most people do not have much faith in the security forces.

“Once they leave, the fighting could start all over again. The people in this area have no option but to arm themselves for their self-defence.”

University graduate Syeda Shaista Shahzad said that her neighbour’s teenage son was killed by a bullet while peeking out the window to see what was going on.

“The attackers didn’t seem to care who they were shooting at,” she said. “They had automatic machine guns, even grenades and rocket-launchers were used.”

While the west side of Karachi has borne the brunt of the violence, other parts have not been immune.

Seema Hasan, 35, says that while she lives in a “relatively safe neighbourhood”, her work is in an area where shootings and violence do sometimes take place.

“My parents constantly worry about my safety when I go out,” she said. “It affects my personal and professional life.

“In many countries, people check the weather or transport news before going out. Here, it’s the security updates that people look out for.”

Pakistani volunteers take a wounded man to hospital in Karachi early July 14, 2011. Violence erupted in the southern city, when a statement by Pakistan People's Party provincial minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza was aired on local television news, allegedly criticising Pakistani political party Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) self-exiled chief Altaf Hussain. – AFP Photo

KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza’s diatribe and the immediate and violent reaction by MQM sympathisers left 15 innocent people dead in the city.

At a juncture when the city struggled to return to normality after the bloodshed that left over 100 people dead and many more wounded, Dr Mirza’s remarks were inciting and provocative. And he found an active audience for his show, thanks to the TV channels that had nothing better to offer at 10:55pm that night. At the same time, coverage of Dr Mirza’s speech and the street protests also demonstrated how the vernacular media was sharply divided, consciously or otherwise, along ethnic lines.

While the Urdu press remained focused on the outburst against Altaf Hussain and the ethnic slurs against the Urdu-speaking population of the province, the Sindhi press “expressed the sentiments of the natives” and denounced the demand for a new province. Worse still were the sound bytes by the “common man” or MQM supporters that showed a no holds barred barrage of insults that further added to the violence.

“The press reports keeping in mind its audience. While the English press is more restrained and usually tries to find a balanced approach, the Urdu and regional papers and television channels have a more awami flavour. They will highlight what they feel will get their audience to respond,” says journalist Razzak Abro.

Giving the example of the furore caused by Shahbaz Sharif’s comments regarding Karachi being turned into a province, he said that this wasn’t taken too kindly by the Sindhis. “Obviously, to Sindhis the idea of separating Karachi and turning it into a new province touches a raw nerve. Already emotions are running high and at this point, hate speech or any inflammatory comment will be taken in a different light by the audience,” he elaborated.

“In the bid for outshining each other when it comes to ‘breaking news’, the channels at times try to get SOT (sound on tape) that will elicit a reaction. The way things went haywire after Dr Mirza’s speech is a case in point. First off, his speech should not have been aired and then the particular section where he went in an overdrive against the Urdu-speaking community could have well been avoided. It’s the responsibility of the press to have self censorship,” said an anchor at a Sindhi TV channel.

While the night was a mess, the following morning saw the papers devoting columns to Dr Mirza’s rant. The story in Kawish, a leading Sindh daily, quoted him as saying: “Those who dream of breaking down Sindh must remember that this can only happen over our dead bodies.” In a similar vein, Awami Awaz quoted Dr Mirza: “A new province in Sindh only over our dead bodies”.

“The reports in most leading English dailies did not take into account these lines uttered by him and even if they did, the readership base which happens to be the educated and in a better socio-economic status overlooked at this particular “over my dead body” comment as a rhetorical rant. But for the lower middle class and those with nationalist leanings, these lines mean a whole lot more,” says Azhar Khan, a regular watcher of Sindhi TV channels. “Yes the channels do tend to sensationlise and newspapers may misquote, but the fact is that as a leader, Dr Mirza or for that matter anyone else should be careful about what they say. His apology today won’t bring back the 15 people killed since that night,” he opined.

“Its like seeds of discord are being planted. We have seen this sort of thing in the 90s when the Urdu press went into an overdrive against the Sindhi and Pakhtun population and the ethnic violence has gradually worsened over the years. The Bushra Zaidi case is an example. That’s when this wave of ethnic violence started. From that point on, the press also took side. Most notorious was a leading Urdu paper that printed small news items in its inside pages, which were faked news report about the mohajir community being harassed in Sindh. Again, this was retorted by the Sindhi press. Although their circulation was limited to the Sindhi-speaking masses, the paper carried items about the ‘outsiders’. This has polarised the environment and it’s not just limited to ethnicity. Same goes for sectarian violence too,” Mr Khan said.

As the war of words escalated Dr Mirza and other politicians, citizens responded differently. While the distaste towards his remarks was visible, also noticeable was the reaction to the ‘new province’. “For us, a divided Sindh is not acceptable at all,” said Bilal, a 20-year-old student of political science at the University of Karachi. He said that while Dr Mirza had hurt the sentiments of the Urdu-speaking people, the Sindhi-speaking people had been repeatedly hurt by the “demand of a new province within Sindh”.

“We have welcomed the Pakhtuns and the Mohajirs into our city but now they want to control what is ours,” he said.

In a column ‘Nadan Dost, Dana Dushman’ that appeared on July 16, 2011 in Daily Kawish, Agha Rafique broke down the politics of the city. At the end of the write-up he summed up the reaction to Dr Mirza’s speech by writing about the ‘celebratory’ text messages he received that praised Dr Mirza for taking a bold stance. In Awami Awaz, a column by Rana Nathan Shah dismissed the moves of the MQM and at the same time downplayed the Mirza episode by saying that MQM created a ruckus over Dr Mirza’s meeting with Afaq Ahmed. “It was more than the meeting that led to the bloodshed in the city,” commented a reader.

“Freedom of speech is everyone’s right. But the press should report sensibly rather than highlighting these statements. People need to realise that the country is immune to Karachi’s ethnic fights and when something like ‘over my dead body’ is getting their attention, it’s not very right. It was his personal opinion that is now affecting everyone. We have seen marriages and peaceful coexistence between the Pakhtuns, Mohajirs and Sindhis as well as other ethnicities. But yes if you keep drumming down something, eventually it will affect people, especially the impressionable youth,” said journalist Lubna Jerar Naqvi.

At a time when understanding and active listening is needed along with massive amounts of restraint, these rants of personal biases are just adding to the volatile mix that furthers the political and ethnic divide in the city and the province.

Talking to Radio Pakistan, President of ANP Sindh Shahi Syed, asked the law enforcement agencies to expose the people, who were backing criminals. – File Photo

ISLAMABAD: President of ANP Sindh Shahi Syed on Sunday said after deployment of Rangers and giving them powers, the incidents of targeted killings have reduced in Karachi.

Syed called for legislation to de-weaponise Karachi and said none of the political parties were backing criminal elements. He asked all the stakeholders to consider a killer as a killer irrespective of his community, language or political affiliation.

Talking to Radio Pakistan the ANP leader asked the law enforcement agencies to expose the people, who were backing criminals. Three major political parties–Pakistan Peoples Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Awami National Party–had given it in writing to the law enforcement agencies to take stern action against the criminal groups, he added.

Replying to a question, Shahi Syed said that political parties should keep an eye on criminal elements to avoid the misuse of their party flags.

They are supposed to be good orators but something which our politicians cannot avoid is Bloopers!!!!!

It’s only after they have said something in front of the media the politicians realize that how blundering it was. Often they end up saying something vague which can be easily sizzled by the media.

To their rescue comes the ‘official statement’ from their party blaming the media for misquoting their noble thoughts!  Or may be sometimes for getting the party hands clean out of the matter, they shun taking responsibility for any such ‘misquotations’.

More often than not politicians intentionally issue stunning statements to stir controversy that ends up on compromises with the promise of not indulging in war on words anymore but the drama goes on. This tactic is also used to divert public attention from on going burning issue.

Mentioned are few of such ‘golden’ quotations from the elected leaders which are memorable for the people not because they were strong or power but also because they really sounded hilarious coming from their mouth. Living in an entertainment starved country like Pakistan — media gives maximum projection to their crazy statements and leaves nation hassled in serious or sometimes lighter vein until a new statement pops up.

In the light of Pakistan’s political history below I have tried to pen down few ‘notable’ quotes that have incited controversy in political arena and made Pakistanis stunned.

1. National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) is a medal and I regret over not to be listed in NRO.
Governor Punjab, Salman Taseer

2. Everyone whether he is a Baloch, Sindhi, Seraiki, Pashtun or Punjabi should be given an equal right to do corruption

Minister of State for Defence Production, Abdul Qayyum Jatoi

3. The other issues are all domestic and could be discussed later on … I can co-exist with a pig but not with a Punjabi.

Nawab Kher Bakhsh Marri, Baloch Nationalist Leader

4. Accords not holy Quran or Hadith

President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari

5. I am not among those who offer sacrifice but I am among those who take sacrifices.

Chief of PML (F), Pir Pagara

6. Gen Musharraf planned a bloodbath of innocent Muslims at the behest of others only to prolong his rule, but we in the PML-N opposed his policies and rejected dictation from abroad and if the Taliban are also fighting for the same cause then they should not carry out acts of terror in Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif

7. Let’s persuade people to consume less sugar and then we will see where these hoarders sell their sugar.

Information Minister, Qamar Zaman Kaira

8. Dr Babar Awan is ‘Abu Jahl’ of lawyers’ fraternity

Punjab Law Minister, Rana Sanaullah

9. Governor Punjab’s status no better than ‘toilet paper’

Punjab Law Minister, Rana Sanaullah

10. I’m a badmash and know well how to deal with this lot.

Sindh Home Minister, Zulfiqar Mirza

11. You must understand the environment in Pakistan. This has become a moneymaking concern. A lot of people say if you want to go abroad and get a visa for Canada or citizenship and be a millionaire, get yourself raped.

Former President General Pervez Musharraf

12. Our Hero Is Raja Dahir Not Muhammad Bin Qasim

ANP representative, Senator Haji Adeel

13. Degree is a degree whether original or fake

Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab, Muhammad Aslam Raisani

14. I don’t say that there is no corruption in my ministry, but the question is    where it is not.

Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Federal Minister Railways

15. These (Burying women alive) are centuries-old traditions, and I will        continue to defend them.

Federal Minister for Postal Services, Israr Ullah Zehri

16. We were ready to break Pakistan and were much more determined to chant slogan of ‘Pakistan Na Khapay’ – No need of Pakistan.

Sindh Home Minister, Zulfiqar Mirza

17. The division of the subcontinent was the biggest blunder in the history of mankind. It was not the division of land; it was the division of blood.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement Leader, Altaf Hussain

18. I apologies to the departed soul of Sikh ruler (Ranjit Singh) for frequently quoting his name in meetings for wrong reasons. I was wrong. Ranjit (Singh) was a great administrator of Punjab.

Leader of Opposition, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan

19. Iftekhar Chaudhry is the scum of the earth – a third-rate man – a corrupt man.

Former President General Pervez Musharraf

20. Even more gorgeous than I had expected, now I know why the whole of   America is crazy about you. If he’s (cameraman) insisting, I might hug you.

President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari

21. Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah is a ‘manjan seller’

Central Secretary for Information of Pakistan Peoples Party, Fauzia Wahab

22. Even if contract is given to America it will also be unable to bring peace

Sindh Home Minister, Zulfiqar Mirza

23. His (Altaf Hussain’s) arrest seems only weeks away, and investigations being conducted by Scotland Yard and police are in their final stages.

Chairman, Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf , Imran Khan

24. Look, you will soon see Shaukat Aziz ditching Gen Musharraf and joining the political leadership of the opposition parties.

Chief, PML N, Nawaz Sharif

25. I am not afraid of jail’s mosquitoes

President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari

26. Munawar Gill committed adultery with consent, can’t take action.

Punjab Law Minister, Rana Sanaullah

27. Kamran Khan, the famous Geo TV anchorperson, presented 560 news    stories solely on President Asif Zardari, mainly to target him. Ansar Abbasi is also working on the same agenda, i.e. to weaken democracy in Pakistan. Both the senior journalists are ‘Indian agents’.

Senior Minister of Punjab Assembly, Raja Riaz

28. I launched my Facebook page eight months ago; today I have more than 315,000 fans.
Former President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf

29. All out efforts are being made to overcome the energy crisis and the load-shedding would end by December 2009.
Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf

30. Nawaz League is the enemy of Pakhtuns and still following the policies of Ranjeet Singh
ANP Provincial President Afrasiab Khattak

31. No Muslim is involved in suicidal attacks in Pakistan, and rather Blackwater (Xe) – a US private contractor – and Indian agents are involved in these incidents.

Ameer, Jamaat e Islamic, Syed Munawar Hasan

32. The MQM will openly support the patriotic generals if they take any martial law-type action against corrupt politicians and feudal lords.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain

33. Tehrik-e-Insaf will back military rule in the country for the sake of stability.

Chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, Imran Khan

34. My own brother approached me and said lala (brother), ‘Can I also join your party?’  I told him to run away … you are a known gambler.

Dr. Sher Afgan Niazi, Member of All Pakistan Muslim Leagues

35. I have sent Gilani to the PPP and I will call him back to the PML, when he becomes tired.

Chief of PML F, Pir Pagara

36. The PML-N has appointed Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah as a “loudspeaker”

Governor Punjab, Salman Taseer

37. How a person, who used to sell tickets at Bambino cinema in Karachi, reached the Surrey Palace and became richer than Queen Elizabeth before his ascendancy to the presidency? It is a million-dollar question that only the PPP top leader has to answer.

Spokesman Pakistan Muslim League N, Siddiqul Farooq

38. If Musharraf is thinking he can stage a comeback it’s only because how things are now, his era looks relatively better

Chairman Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf, Imran Khan

39. Yesterday, when I asked Khwaja Imran Nazir for a lift, he was listening to Munni Badnam, an Indian song, in his car.

MPA Punjab Assembly, Hassan Murtaza

40. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will take out a ‘long march’ if the decision (of bringing in NAB chairman) is not retracted.

Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif

41. I have been able to take the nod of one bride (ANP) and now I am going to take the nod of another (MQM)

Sindh Home Minister Zulfikar Mirza

42. If it is possible for Punjab’s leaders, they can unite their province with Indian Punjab

Senator, Representative of Awami National Party (ANP)

The politically motivated blood bath in Pakistan’s biggest city Karachi has turned this commercial hub into a city of death. Armed gangs on motorcycles and cars roam the streets targeting innocent people whose only fault is their ethnicity or membership of a particular community. More gruesome is the brutality with which people are tortured, tied up, executed and thrown in the streets. Much of this happens in dark alleys and quiet streets though drive-by shootings in crowded places are also common. Two areas of the city dominated by rival parties and notorious for gang warfare and criminal hang-outs have emerged as the bases from where the killers are launched to kill specific targets. Criminals with scores to settle have joined in the mayhem and are adding to the street body count. All this happens as political parties wrangle with each other and a government-judiciary struggle sets off pathetic debates about the political future with the past being dredged up to create scandals. The dead of Karachi are being ignored.

Violence is not new to Karachi. It has a twenty year old history of ethnic, sectarian and political violence. At one time when doctors of a particular sect were being targeted many of them left the country for good. Most corporate headquarters moved out of the city and relocated elsewhere. Like all big cities it has criminal gangs and mafias with connections to law enforcers, politicians and officialdom. These gangs control prostitution, gambling and drugs-they also provide guns for hire and arrange funds through extortion, bank robberies and kidnappings for ransom. Just before the present surge of violence there was a spate of bank holdups, kidnapping and armed robberies. This time the Taliban and their local extremist partners are an added presence with destabilization and economic destruction as their main thrust. At various times one or other ethnic community or political grouping has dominated the Karachi scene and whenever Karachi has been in the grip of violence the rest of the province of Sindh has been almost without governance and law enforcement—it is no different this time as total anarchy prevails in an environment where the flood hit people are most vulnerable to predators.

The present provincial government is representative of the coalition that rules the country. The general opinion is that this provincial government has failed. There is also a view that in-fighting among the political parties is responsible for the violence. The surprise is that neither the economic decline, nor the devastating floods nor the insurgency in the west nor the extremist threat within the country, nor the destruction by floods and nor the threat to Baluchistan has led to the sort of drastic measures that are needed to stem the tide that has all but engulfed Pakistan. The spectacle that the world sees is horrifying and there is astonishment at the trivialities in which the internal debate within Pakistan is engaged. If this were a film the director would call ‘CUT’ and get down to sorting out all the problems before moving further. The tragedy is that this is not a film-it is real life and real people are dying Statements that ‘take notice’ of killings help neither the dead nor the living and only add to the rage that is building and it is this rage that many are waiting to exploit through a bloody revolution-something that should never happen in a nuclear armed state. When people cower in fear, when children and women are not safe, when streets are killing zones, when terror stalks the land, when hunger and poverty are the lot of the majority—what should you expect? Do we need a rocket scientist to give us the answer?

ANP President Sindh Shahi Syed. -File Photo

KARACHI: The Awami National Party has announced that it will boycott the PS-94 by-polls, that are scheduled to be held in Karachi on October 17.

ANP President Sindh Shahi Syed made the announcement after holding a meeting at Mardan House on Saturday.

Shahi Syed said that the ANP had decide to boycott the election in protest of the government’s non-cooperation in improving the security situation for the poll.

The ANP president said that the party has decided instead not to participate in the election and will instead observe a black day tomorrow.