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.