A New Kind of Terror

While a lot is being written on the recent Karachi violence and riots and the burning alive of 7 people in Tahir Plaza close to the city courts which housed several private lawyers’ offices, the manner in which this incident took place is very disturbing. Few newspapers have given enough details and eye-witness accounts except to state that it seemed to be planned in advance.

There are varying reports but apparently, and as reported in Dawn, on April9 scores of young men on motorcycles arrived at Tahir Plaza and started roughing up the people in a small eating place on the ground floor of the Plaza to create panic. Then they went up the building and started locking the offices on the various floors from outside. The important thing to note is that they had brought with them large number of China-made padlocks to lock the doors and grilles on the floors, which means that the attack must have been planned well in advance. They were also carrying sacks containing a large quantity of highly-inflammable powder, which was thrown into the rooms and offices through the windows after smashing their glass once all the doors/exits were sealed. A burning match tossed into the room right after was enough to ignite a full-blown fire and ensure no one could get out alive. After having thoroughly gutted the building the armed men resorted to firing in the air to create more panic and made their escape.

Seven innocent people, including a woman, were burnt beyond recognition in the ensuing fire.

Till now we have heard of mob attacks, armed youth, targetted killings, torching, arson and sabotage, but this seems to be yet a new kind of terror that Karachi’ites will be facing from now on.

May God help us.