Injustice, impropriety
and terrorism have penetrated deep into our society today. A common man
possibly feels the correlation between the injustice, impropriety and terrorism
however a wise man can feel. So, today through my experience, I am penning to
divulge the strong link of mafia with terrorism which is undeniably turning
into a threat to our national security. As, I had been subjected to several
forced encounters that enlightened me about different kinds of powerful Mafia
groups and their influences which are deeply rooted in our society
strengthening their core as days pass.
These Mafia which I
refer to are well structured and inexorable criminal organizations, operate
fearlessly. They can snatch anything from anyone and grant anything to anyone.
They not only consider themselves above all institutes of the country but also
think that they are above the state’s laws. And, there has to be no doubt in
saying that these mafia groups are also responsible for creating major societal
fiasco and have contributed majorly in destroying the governance through covert
unfair means.
These emerged
syndicates are infiltrated in all walks of life specifically at various levels
of our administration. Woefully the laws formulated against them have no effect
on them and they have self-immunity against the crimes they are committing
valiantly. It seems that their self-created immunity is abetting them and these
mafia groups are driving the country towards the path of gradual destruction.
Their line of actions
is both covert and overt and they draw their power from the powerful circles
and pillars of power of our country against a price.
We have witnessed the
world’s worst organized crime groups like Sicilian mafia, Solntsevskaya Bratva,
Yamaguchi Gumi, Sinaloa Cartel etc. which have been operating around the world
making illegal trade of billions of dollars by drug trafficking, gambling, arms
trafficking, extortion, frauds, money laundering and murders. Who do you think
is facilitating them throughout their operations; of course some in the
governments and the powerful individuals of the society?
The mafia mindset can
be classified into different classes whereas each class emerges because of
injustice, poverty and greed for money. The Mafia bosses lure the poor young
men to become their tools and associates not for a hefty but very small amount.
Usually the associates of Mafia bosses emerge from humble and underprivileged
backgrounds that can be lured easily. And the heads of such syndicates in
Pakistan were used to be called as “Dada” or “Palwan Jee”. In older days, these
Mafia used to spread terror in the society through their bulky and powerful
physique carrying as simple weapons as a knife, but with the passage of time,
these Mafia groups updated their mode of terror and also changed the tools and
methods they use to spread terror in the society.
The culture of
Kalashnikov and drugs became the new hotshot for mafias and now it is easy for
anyone to pick up a gun and ask for money or to grab land. Similarly instead of
“Small Dada “these modernized Mafia groups use terrorists’ strength to
terrorize their potential victims and their mode of operation is lethal and
effective.
In Karachi and in
other major cities of the country, these Mafias are firming their feet as such
cities are already an unfortunate hub of mixture of criminal gangs, political
and religiously motivated militants. Such groups thrive on terrorizing
innocents in achieving their targets, receiving as bhatta,and illegally
encroaching and grabbing the land and property is a normal affair of the day. What
is worse is the inaction of the authorities in providing protection to the
citizens who dare to raise their voice against the injustice being done by
these mafia groups. Orangi Pilot Project director Parveen Rahman in March 2013
was brutally murdered because she dared raising her voice against the Mafias in
Karachi. Parveen is one of many, who are silenced for raising voice against
such criminals. How many Parveens have to put their lives on the line. Because
of the fear, even no witness comes forward to testify before the court and
hence no justice for the victim and no punishment for the criminals. The
state finally should wake up from slumber and start witness protection
programme like in the other civilized countries.
In general, all mafia
groups operate across the country follow one basic formula; these mafia groups
are a nexus consisting of corrupt politicians and government officials,
militants and criminals, property dealers and powerful businessmen, and
national and international interest groups. The question arises however that
how since 1970 these mafias have grown even stronger than the institutions that
are supposed to curb them and their illicit activities.
The drug and land
mafia for example, are now stronger than ever and somehow their activities and
organized crime patterns are interlinked. All over the country land Mafias use
drug trafficking to generate funds that are then used for owning illegal arms
and rising armies of criminals to create terror in prime areas in prominent
cities. In almost every major city of the country, well-connected land mafias
are actively involved in illegal drug trafficking and abuse, robberies, holding
and using of illegal weapons, kidnapping innocents for ransom, murders and
several other crimes. Thus Land mafias also have connections with small to
large scale bhatta mafias in many cities. Similarly cities like Lahore and
Islamabad are no longer safe from these terror mongers and their influence on
the institutions. The crime patterns are similar; uninhabited plots/buildings/lands
in high profile areas are illegally acquired by generating forged documents
with the help of local police and administration and even manage court through
the court processes. Mafias earn their loyalties by either large scale bribery or
scare tactics.
The common behaviors
seen in all these mafias, which is rather alarming is the possession of fake
ID’s and documents of all sorts, dragging the real owners of the land and
property to pursue a doomed case in courts for years. CDA previously had
acknowledged that in Islamabad alone 54,442 kanals of state property was also
encroached upon by the criminals within local versions of land mafia. Despite
Supreme Court ordering CDA to retake 20,000 acres of government owned land in
the past, the civic authorities however seemed reluctant to take actions
against the criminal elements, because of the influential elite backing of the
mafias.
A thriving business is
that of the housing societies launched by encroachment a considerable portion
of land against the wishes of the inhabitants. Existing inhabitants of the land
began to know about the plans and intentions, when a certain company begins to
purchase the land and when in retaliation the inhabitants refuse to sell their
plots, the land mafia comes in; threating and harassing the inhabitants so that
they are left with no choice but to leave. Consequently they charge the housing
society companies for their service. Thus by illegally encroachment of the land
from rightful owners and then selling it to the housing societies, these land
grabbers earn much over Rs200 million for delivering 500,000 sqyd chunk of land
in prime areas.
The most rapidly
growing mafia at an alarming rate is the drug mafia and what is even more
alarming is the power it is gaining with passing of each day. Isn’t it alarming
that out of 8.9 million drug addict Pakistanis, around 700 people lose their
life every day because of use and abuse of drugs? These figures reveal that the
drug addiction and wide spread drug mafia networks are even more lethal social
ill than the prevailing terrorism in the country. The death toll through drug
is much more than deaths through terrorism. Drug cartels started marking their
ground in Pakistan, owing to the regional instability in 1980s. The entry of
Soviet troops in Afghanistan aggravated the already alerted drug scenario in
the country owing to the ban by the Ayatollah Khomeini regime of Iran; that had
led a shift of Iranian drug barons to Helmand Valley of Afghanistan. Thus
Afghanistan, which is responsible for at least 75% of heroin production in
world, is the biggest indirect supplier of the drugs in Pakistan, making almost
3 million Pakistanis aging between 15-65 regular heroin addicts.
Cannabis is another
famous drug trafficked through drug mafias in the country from around the
world, making more than 5 million people its addicts. The most commonly used
heroin agent was noted to be smuggled to Pakistan by organized and
well-connected drug traffickers/ Mafia, misusing Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade
Agreement. 40 to 42 percent of heroin is being trafficked to the rest of the
world, finding its way through Pakistan. Thus Afghanistan, on hand is supplying
Pakistan death in the form of funded terrorism, and on the other hand, the next
worst ill is terrorism funded through drug proceeds being smuggled to Pakistan,
with the help of onourabl India.
What are the reasons
behind these figures, which indicate an increase in drug addiction at a
surprisingly alarming pace? The reason is of course in front of us, but one
that is not dealt with firmly in the past. Most of the drug Cartels /Mafia
firming their grip to choke half of the country in the smoke of drugs are
completely backed, supported and even funded by wealthy and powerful fractions
in the country. Another influential factor is the reach of the mafia syndicates
in making and strengthening international connections.
It is the need of the
hour to contain these elements because billions of dollars’ trade in drugs
results in direct or indirect funding of terrorist groups which spread fear and
unrest in our country.
Moreover some
political parties in cities like Karachi use their armed wings to fight over
the city resources. For that very reason the target killings escalated in
Karachi and ironically the land mafia with its influence is grabbing the land
from poor owners.
There is no doubt in
saying that corruption mafia and property mafia are in collusion. The huge
chunk of corruption being done by individuals at government level is invested
in properties which is further empowering land mafia groups for encroaching
property from innocents thus misusing their institutional power. Similarly some
politicians are funded by these powerful hidden hands in exchange of full
protection to their illegal activities .This direct involvement of mafia groups
in political arena is making Pakistan suffer economically and politically.
There is a very
multifaceted link between terrorism, corruption and organized crime. The
criminal activities induce a lax environment for terrorists and help them to
become financially strong by these uncrowned mafias. The famous money
laundering case of Altaf Khanani, a man who was one of the largest currency
dealer in Pakistan, himself admitted in front of the US court that he was
directly involved in laundering billions of dollars per year for organized
crime and terrorist outfits like Taliban. This group is known to have relations
with terrorist outfits and land mafia and Hawala mafia of Pakistan.
The time proves that
unless and until we eliminate these terrorists/drug dealers/Land Mafia/Money
launderers, we cannot make sure that our beloved country could be peaceful and
prosperous up to its potential. What it needs is perhaps a more serious and
practical dealing with iron hand to cleanup these mafias. These mafias brazenly
and openly display their wealth and power without any accountability rather
instead of setting a precedent for others it becomes a glorious display for
those who raise these mafias. They hide their crimes behind so called charities
and other media hype creating social events.
So, it is perhaps
becoming more difficult to fight against the evil elements that are devastating
our new generations. The government should declare full-fledged war against
these elements at all social and official levels by first identifying the
responsible agents of evil, and then by pinning them down one by one; hunting
down the source of their power because it is the second worst threat to the
national security which shall be put to end.
The article has been published in ‘The News international’ on 20
July 2017
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