As many as 1,624 people were killed across Karachi in 2014 as a consequence of ethnic politics, sectarianism, terrorism and gang wars

The map below highlights areas where more than 30 people were killed

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Source: Dawn GIS

Karachi killings: January 1 – December 26, 2014

Source: Dawn GIS

Better but not good

By Dr Noman Ahmed

The much-trumpeted Karachi operation, launched in late 2013, continued throughout 2014.

The year gone by was marginally better than its preceding counterpart that had seen the loss of 2,700 lives in crime and terror.

The Rangers and Police have conducted a series of operations and strikes against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and banned outfits. Multiple reports on recovery of illegal arms and ammunition also abound.

During the combing work done along the hideouts in Super Highway, Baldia, Lyari and other locations in the western zone of the city, many target killers and extortionists have been arrested. Despite all these efforts, there is a sizable ground that needs to be covered yet.

Law-enforcement agencies have expressed their satisfaction on the progress achieved thus far, but leaders of some political parties are of the view that their workers were being picked up unnecessarily under the garb of the operation.

Some lamented the fact that a number of ring leaders and core suspects of terrorism had already fled the city, or even left the country. An interim conclusion that has evolved is that the operation must continue.

Ordinary citizens are concerned about the continuing spate of target killings across the city. People are exterminated based on their sectarian affiliation, political background or even social work references.

The dastardly attack on Salim Alimuddin, the present director of Orangi Pilot Project, in January 2014 was a case in point. Many polio vaccinations teams were routinely attacked and female staff assassinated. People also complain about the largely uninterrupted inflow of arms and explosives.

No political consensus could be reached among the major political parties and religious organisations on the regulation and control of illegal arms. The pace of delivery of justice has also been abysmally slow in respect of cases dealing with terrorism and similar heinous crimes.

Recruitment and training of competent policemen to fill the under-staffed Karachi Police is a fundamental pre-requisite to the success of the operation.