Total chaos in Peshawar:
A recent cursory look at just one Urdu newspaper published from Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan’s embattled Northwestern Frontier Province (NWFP) exposes extremely disturbing figures on the alarming socio-economic decline that major cities of the Northwestern Frontier Province find themselves in. The data on crimes in Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshehra, D.I.Khan and Mardan presents a sad story of how poor governance, lack of justice, corruption and insensitivity of politicians and bureaucrats have delivered these cities in the hands of criminal gangs, many of whom disguise themselves as Taliban. Half of the total murders recorded in the abovementioned districts took place in Peshawar, the provincial capital and the largest district with close to 3 million inhabitants. Same is the case with the kidnappings and robberies as nearly 70% of all the kidnappings and robberies took place in Peshawar city. Viewed against these alarming figures, why shouldn–t Peshawarites feel insecure and scare?
This also explains the provincial capital degeneration from a throbbing, tolerant and literary city into a town haunted by the lethal combination of crime and militancy, that is compounded by a corrupt ruling elite backed up by an insensitive bureaucracy. Over the years, the city has sunk into social chaos and insecurity, precipitated by economic adversity.
Once a glorious city:
Peshawar in the 1960s, was a culturally-throbbing city with activities going on from staging classic English plays to playing and experimentation in modern music. Peshawar University was the ‘epicenter’ of much cultural and artistic experimentation and was seen as one among the most progressive, liberal and forward looking institutions. Now, fast forward to 2002-2007 when Peshawar hardly survived under the ‘Islamic rule’ of the bigoted rule of Muttahida Majlise Amal (MMA) that killed the spirit and soul of the city. Pictures of females cannot appear on billboards and absolutely not in public places. Nishtar Hall, which used to host stage plays and musical concerts, was shut down and famed singers like Gulzar Alam either in hiding, lie low in profile or left the city for fear of religious zealots.
Now a mess of extremism:
Whether the decline in Peshawar or Malakand siege by Taliban zealots, the MMA also carries a great part of the responsibility and owes an apology to the Frontier people. It was the MMA that looked the other way and kept silent as Mangal Bagh, Mufti Munir Shakir, Haji Naamdar, and Maulana Fazlullah established their fiefdoms around Peshawar and Swat. The city and its people are now scared for their lives. They do not know if they would return back alive while leaving home in the morning for their daily jobs etc. This uncertainty epitomizes the socio-political decline that the city has undergone in the past three decades, beginning with the Soviet invasion and subsequent occupation of Afghanistan. General Zia short-sighted and religiously blind policies started the decline and Zia prot├âŒg├âŒs, MMA, took it to a climax.
Four factors causing decline of Peshawar:
- Firstly, the string of abductions ´ mostly of influential and wealthy people ´ haunt almost every resident of this city that has seen a dramatic surge in criminal activities. Professional criminal gangs, which in many cases enjoy political patronage, operate all around the city, often taking cover of various Taliban groups. The latest surge actually began with the plunder and torching of NATO- cargo parked at various terminals in the periphery of the city in December 2008. Those attacks and abductions ´ close to 150 in the first four months this year ´ injected fear and uncertainty into the hearts and minds of the locals.
- Secondly, an extremely corrupt and arduous judicial system compounded by a thoroughly dishonest law enforcement apparatus has added to the plight of the hapless people, who every now and then hear of news of justice being dispensed by Mangal Bagh Afridi Islamic courts. Afridi associates simply send for people (even living in the city) against whom affectees lodge complaints and seek justice for the simple reason that the existing system doesn–t provide justice to the majority of Pakistanis. The courts are suffering from insufficient staff, resulting in high pendency which again is complicated by the endemic corruption within a system which at times doesn–t provide justice even to very senior government officials.
- Thirdly, the bunkered leadership of the coalition comprising Awami National Party and the Pakistan Peoples– Party, has done little to assuage peoples– fears, or address fundamental issues of governance. Roads in the city remain potholed, utility services inefficient, and long power outages continue to fuel peoples– frustrations. Adding to the outrage are the news and rumors of corruption within the ruling coalition ´ as valid a perception as was during MMA government. And certain phrases, attributed to people in the seat of power by word of mouth, are visible on rickshaws or other means of public transport. One of them, for instance says Don–t talk of Easy Load, it annoys Baba. This relates to the chief minister, who is rumored to be involved in all lucrative deals and appointments. His father enjoyed almost similar reputation.
- Fourthly, the absence of respect for the rule of law among politicians and the bureaucrats as well as the division of administrative powers ´ governor, chief minister, the army corps commander, intelligence outfits ´ has resulted in insensitivity even to public issues of urgent importance.
Elected leaders have failed their voters:
Most people in the province today feel disenfranchised just because the contact between the voters and their leaders is minimal. Once voted into power, most MPs launch themselves into the pursuit of lucrative political and financial business. The MMA government did the same. The result; Peshawar, the jewel of NWFP, today lives in fear, frustration with the socio-economic structures crumbling in the face of rising crime and the invisible nexus that exists between the world of politics and crime ´ all under the cover of insurgency.