The newspapers are full of statements about some well-planned Western conspiracy to alter the status of Karachi. Some term it part of a grand Jewish plot. Some blame the Americans. Some lay it on the "RAW" agents. Some think it as the ultimate objective of a Karachi-based political organization.

There have been suggestions regarding the bifurcation of Sindh into two ethnic-wise provinces. There are those who want Karachi under the Federal government. And there are people who think that Karachi will turn into another Hong Kong. Some elements have Christened ( or is it Islamized ? )the future country as Jinnahpur while some are calling for the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Liaquatpur. They say that the head of the DRL will be a Memon businessman !

It is said that the Western countries are taking keen interest in the welfare of this city and that the inflow of investment in Karachi will rise dramatically. It is also theorized that the 800 mw power and desalination floating plant is part of the scheme to keep Karachi "alive" during the transition period. It is also assumed that the so-called "terrorists" roaming around Karachi are just foot-soldiers and will be gradually side-lined once the objective is achieved.

There is another phenomenon going around. A few years back any talk about a different status for Karachi was always done in whispers. Now it is done openly by respectable citizens who it seems are totally fed up with the present scenario. This means that the campaign is gearing up in whatever way possible. These are danger signals for those who are striving to keep Karachi intact. One can read the newspapers daily to gauge the frustrations and difficulties of the residents of Karachi.

Therefore, it is now the patriotic duty of all concerned to decide once and for all whether the chapter on Karachi will continue or not. The way the things are going, there is this profound fear that something is really cooking. Unfortunately, this is ostrich-season too, because there are a galore of them hanging around with their heads in the ground. They still think Karachi is an Utopia, a city of the good old days of the great Mayor, Jamshed Nusserwanjee !

Now let us for a moment assume the transformation of Karachi into a separate country. Who will like to answer the following:

• Who are the authors of the plan ?
• What will be the status of MQM (whichever faction) in the new set-up ?
• What will happen to those who have come to Karachi from other provinces and from other countries ?
• Who will manage the country ?
• What will be the role of the Americans in the new set-up (if at all they are behind this) ?
• What will be done to immediately provide water, gas, and other infra-structure to this entity since then the other provinces would shy away from supporting this "venture" ?
• What will be the status of the Accounts Receivables/ Payables of Karachi-based companies vis-a-vis other provinces ?
• Who will manage the Police and Law-enforcing agencies since the composition of these agencies is pre-dominantly of non-Karachi origin ?
• What about the bureaucratic set-up, since at present most of Karachi is run by non-Karachiites ?
• What will be the considerations for providing port facilities to the other provinces ?
• Will there be a system like the notorious Afghan Transit Trade ?
• Will the residents of other states need a passport to visit Karachi and vice-versa ?
• Will Karachi get a piece of the nuclear bomb for its own security or will it be part of a defense umbrella provided by USA and envisaged by Air Marshall (rtd) Nur Khan ?
• Will the ICC give it an automatic Test-playing status or would the cricketers have to prove their merit ?

There are many questions one can ask. There are many who can answer them. Over to you !

Sincerely:

KADER K KHERATI