Target Killings In Karachi (reasons and remedies): A Critical Study

Abstract

Target killing is an emerging threat to the national peace and tranquility and have contributed to the national instability. The practice of these extra-judicial killings started right after the partition in the second decade of independence but have increased and reached to a level of threat to national security, peace and tranquility in the present decade. Such killings have become prominent in the past two decades and are considered rising fonn of violence in Pakistan's largest city Karachi which also happens to be the hub of economic growth of the country. As Karachi got inhabited by different ethnicities. Thus, Karachi got over saturated leading to difficulties in surviving in the city. The crime ratio raised to heinous levels and the target killings became the part of daily routine. While Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan also got victimized of targeted killings. The law enforcing agencies especially the police are mostly blamed and criticized for not overcoming the threat, not working efficiently in maintaining the peace and not eradicating this fonn of violence. Mostly target killings in Karachi are considered a product or side effect of political, ethnical and religious conflicts and rivalries. Accusations and speculations are made against political parties to be involved in target killing but no evidence is ever found to make them guilty of charge.