Daily Times

Sir: I was in Karachi recently and had planned a visit to the Sindh Secretariat to meet someone. After performing Namaz-e-Zohar in Karachi Press Club (KPC), I started my journey. As I covered half of the distance, a motorcyclist intercepted me and asked about the name of the place where we were standing. Taking him as a stranger to the area, I replied to him. He then went on, asking me about my home address, my job, and my plans about staying in Karachi. He warned me of dire consequences if I were found anywhere except the destination I had told him I was going to. He even showed me a gun and said that his accomplices were standing at different points to attack me if I diverted from my route. The whole situation frightened me, but I could not do anything in spite of heavy traffic on the road. To my surprise, the man asked me how much money I had, my mobile phone and its price; he even took my mobile in his hand and returned it while telling me in a threatening tone to go straight to my destination and then return home. I was surprised and scared because he snatched neither my mobile nor my money; he just threatened and frightened me!

We hear about communal riots in Karachi every day, but this incident frightened me a great deal. I was surprised to find not a single policeman in the area despite the sensitive law and order situation in the city. Such incidents are increasing each day, making it difficult for a common person to step out of his house to earn a living for his family. Surely, everyone is surviving under a threat or fear. A complete state of fear and anarchy has overtaken Karachi. The concerned authorities must take stock of the issue and take serious steps to pacify the city and restore people’s trust in the law and law enforcement agencies.

HAFIZ MUHAMMAD NOMAN

Via e-mail