Protesting without guns
At least 11 lives were lost on Tuesday, when armed assailants opened fire at a rally protesting the proposed creation of a Mohajir province,according to reports.
The joint rally was being conducted by members and leaders of the nationalist party Awami Tehreek and the banned Peoples Amn Committee (PAC), with support from Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Protesting against the recent increase in graffiti and posters demanding a separate province for Mohajirs, the rally was attacked as it neared the old city centre, reports said.
Identity of the assailants remained unclear and there is no clear indication on the hand behind the messages on the walls of Karachi.
Recent calls for division of provinces or creation of new provinces have gained momentum, but have also led to disruption of peace in various parts of the country.
If the demands for new provinces are genuine, why are such discussions leading to violence?
How can talks be held on the division of provinces on the basis of ethnic divides?
Must we always resort to violence in our attempts to suppress opposing voices?
Can the debate over creation of new provinces on the basis of ethnic divides be resolved by non-violent means?
