Editorial in the Daily News, Karachi

June 27, 1998

THE REAL PROBLEM IN SINDH

The present failure in Sindh is not so much of the elected representatives as that of the permanent civil service, in particular of the security agencies and the district adminstration. But the paradox is that while the security agencies have the powers but no responsibility, the elected representatives have the responsibility but little or no powers.

In such a situation, suspension or dissolution of the Provincial Assembly and imposition of Governors Rule, as is being suggested in certain quarters, would serve no useful purpose. On the contrary, since the Governors rule would in practical terms means investing the police and security agencies with still more powers, it could even exacerbate the existing situation.

The province has seen the worst form of authoritarian rule during the last 20 years with almost total denial of any rights to the citizens and arbitrary powers to the security agencies, even bypassing the courts. Which only made the agencies more irresponsible adn the people totally frustrated and hopeless.

The security agencies have enjoyed unlimited powers of arrest, detention, search etc. etc., without regard to the basic rights of the citizens. But all with poor or no results. Much of what the Sindh government is faced with today is the result of the mishandling of the situation by the security agencies in the past.

The need of the hour is, therefore, to further empower the elected representatives of the people and to make the security apparatus efficient, honest and truly accountable to the elected leadershiph.