DATE=7/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236047
TITLE=PAK KILLINGS (L)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TWO SOLDIERS OF THE PAKISTAN ARMY HAVE BEEN ASSASSINATED
IN THE PORT CITY OF KARACHI, IN WHAT POLICE SAY IS A TERRORIST
INCIDENT. THE LATEST KILLINGS COME AS AUTHORITIES TRY TO CRACK
DOWN ON GROWING POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN'S LARGEST CITY.
ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM THE CAPITAL, ISLAMABAD.
TEXT: THE TWO OFF-DUTY SOLDIERS ARE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN
KIDNAPPED AND THEN SHOT IN THE HEAD. THEY WERE FOUND IN A
KARACHI GRAVEYARD SUNDAY, THEIR HANDS AND FEET TIED. REPORTS SAY
THERE WERE SIGNS THEY HAD BEEN TORTURED BEFORE BEING KILLED.
SUCH EXECUTION-STYLE KILLINGS HAVE BECOME COMMON IN KARACHI,
PAKISTAN'S LARGEST CITY. A FACTIONAL WAR BETWEEN RIVAL POLITICAL
GROUPS THAT HAS RAGED FOR SEVERAL YEARS HAS INTENSIFIED IN RECENT
MONTHS. BUT THE TARGETING OF ARMY PERSONNEL IS BEING SEEN AS A
TURN FOR THE WORSE.
/// OPT /// THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE COMMENT ON SUNDAY'S KILLINGS
FROM THE PAKISTAN ARMY, WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN A CLEAN-UP
OPERATION SEVERAL YEARS AGO AGAINST M-Q-M MILITANTS. /// END OPT
///
POLICE HAVE LINKED THE KILLINGS TO EFFORTS BY AUTHORITIES TO
CRACK DOWN ON THE GROWING VIOLENCE BETWEEN THE RIVAL PARTIES,
WHICH HAS KILLED MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
IN RECENT DAYS, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED BY
PARAMILITARY FORCES IN THE AREA FROM WHICH THE TWO SOLDIERS WERE
KIDNAPPED. THE FORCES HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED IN KARACHI TO CURB THE
VIOLENCE BETWEEN KARACHI'S MOST POWERFUL POLITICAL PARTY -- THE
MUTTAHIDA QAUMI MOVEMENT -- AND ITS BREAKAWAY RIVAL GROUP.
THE M-Q-M IS AN ALLY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ
SHARIF, AND IS PART OF THE RULING COALITION IN SINDH PROVINCE --
WHERE KARACHI IS LOCATED.
BUT LAST WEEK THE M-Q-M SIGNALLED IT IS LIKELY TO LEAVE THE
COALITION BECAUSE IT SAYS THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO
CONTROL THE VIOLENCE. THE M-Q-M BLAMES THE VIOLENCE ON THE
BREAKAWAY GROUP -- AND ON INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES SYMPATHETIC TO
ITS RIVAL.
BOTH POLITICAL FACTIONS DENY THEY ARE INVOLVED IN KILLING RIVAL
ACTIVISTS, BUT MOST OF THOSE KILLED TEND TO BE CONNECTED TO ONE
OF THE RIVAL GROUPS. BYSTANDERS HAVE ALSO BEEN CAUGHT IN THE
CROSSFIRE DURING SHOOTOUTS.
THE TWO GROUPS POLITICALLY CONTROL DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY,
AND BOTH SIDES SAY THEIR ACTIVISTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE OR
EVEN ENTER THE OTHER'S TERRITORY. THE M-Q-M DEMANDS THE
GOVERNMENT MUST DO AWAY WITH SUCH "NO-GO AREAS" IF IT WANTS THE
PARTY TO REMAIN WITHIN THE FRAGILE COALITION GOVERNING THE
PROVINCE.
THE GROWING POLITICAL CRISIS IS SEEN AS A SERIOUS THREAT TO MR.
SHARIF'S EFFORTS TO RESUSCITATE PAKISTAN'S ECONOMY. THE VIOLENCE
IN KARACHI -- PAKISTAN'S FINANCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL HUB -- HAS KEPT
AWAY FOREIGN INVESTORS.
DURING THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT OF BENAZIR BHUTTO, A CAMPAIGN BY
SECURITY FORCES TO ROOT OUT MILITANTS IN KARACHI MANAGED TO
RESTORE AN UNEASY PEACE TO THE CITY, BUT MS. BHUTTO'S GOVERNMENT
WAS CHARGED WITH SANCTIONING EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS BY POLICE
AND PARAMILITARY FORCES.
MANY IN KARACHI FEAR THE ESCALATING SITUATION MAY SEE A RETURN TO
THE SCALE OF VIOLENCE THAT PARALYZED THE CITY THREE-YEARS AGO.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/RAE
26-Jul-98 9:43 AM EDT (1343 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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