Battling Karachi's sectarian attackers

Prominent people have become the latest target

By Susannah Price in Karachi

Police in Pakistan's largest city Karachi are under intense pressure to end an upsurge in sectarian murders of doctors and other professionals in the city.

Extremists from the majority Sunni community have been blamed for the killing of four Shia doctors since April as well as the high profile murder of the head of Pakistan State Oil, Shaukat Mirza.

If you kill a doctor that creates more restlessness in the society

Dr Hassan

Fanatics from both sides have carried out many deadly attacks in Karachi over the years - but the new tactic is to target prominent personalities in the community.

Whenever Dr Hassan (his name has been changed to protect his identity) drives to work, his car radio on full blast - he puts his life at risk.

Doctors - along with lawyers and government officials - are being singled out by religious extremists. Most recent victims were Shias.

Dr Hassan believes the murder of doctors is meant to terrorise the community.

Police patrolling has been stepped up in Karachi

"Doctors are easily accessible people because their movement is known to everybody and people know what time they are going to their clinics and what place they are available for public services," he says.

"The other thing is the doctors are highly educated people and if you kill a doctor that creates more restlessness in the society," he adds.

Exodus

In some cases the gunmen have simply walked in and shot doctors in their clinics.

Some now have their own bodyguards. And according to Dr Sher Shah of Pakistan's Medical Association, many are leaving the country.

Sectarian killings are targeted killings [and] need lot of intelligence help

Jameel Yusuf, CPLC

More than 2,000 doctors have applied in the past six months to leave because of the security situation and the economic crisis, he says.

There are plenty of police out on the streets of Karachi, many guarding possible flashpoints such as mosques, but this kind of patrolling is virtually useless against these latest killings.

The extremists target their victims and plan their attacks carefully.

Tracking criminals

The Citizen's Police Liaison Committee, a civilian outfit, is using sophisticated technology to help track those responsible.

It has comprehensive data on stolen cars, crime patterns, weapons recovery and criminals. Volunteers here also provide a sympathetic ear for frightened witnesses.

The government is trying to control religious schools

Jameel Yusuf, who heads the committee, says they provide valuable backup for the police but cannot solve the problem alone.

"Sectarian killings are targeted killings [and] need a lot of intelligence help," Mr Yusuf says.

"The community can get witnesses or try to create more awareness of such issues... but apprehending [the criminals] must be the work of intelligence agencies."

Extremists banned

The current violence between the Shia and Sunni extremists began in the 1980s when General Zia tried to impose a rigid form of Islam.

In the past, many of the victims were activists murdered in tit-for-tat killings.

Our syllabus has nothing to do with sectarianism

Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai

Pakistan's military leader, General Pervez Musharraf, has strongly condemned the sectarian violence, which has resulted in more than 50 deaths in Karachi since he took power.

The government has banned a Shia and a Sunni extremist group.

The police here have set up a new department to tackle the violence and are carrying out raids for illegal weapons.

The government is also trying to control the madrassahs, or religious schools, some of which are used as recruiting centres for the religious extremists.

It believes the schools' curricula should be modernised.

Religious schools

But Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai, a teacher at one of the madrassahs, says they are not to blame for religious intolerance.

"Our syllabus has nothing to do with sectarianism - it is open for everyone to see, you can go through the syllabus and there is not a single topic or book that is sectarian.

"The government is closing its eyes to the real causes of extremism and terrorism," Mufti Shamzai says.

The authorities and police are now putting forward ideas for tackling sectarian violence - but the new measures have had little effect.

The extremists may be few in number but they have succeeded in creating a climate of fear and intimidation.

The government now needs the determination and the resources to put its plans into practice.