Urdu: The Language of the New Criminal

Three weeks ago, close members of my family became another set of victims to Karachi's criminal activity, yet again. Four thieves (or
dacoits) invaded their house causing unspeakable mental & bodily harm to the inhabitants and made off with pathetic loot: an ancient
VCR, a mobile phone, and a few bangles. Yaawwwwnnn .... Ho hum ... everyone has been affected by this in the past 10 years. It's an
old story no one wants to hear.

What was intriguing was the question everyone in Karachi asked me about the incident: Were they Urdu-speaking? Before asking after
the health of the victims, the status of the house, the condition of the half-beaten-to-death chowkidar, they said: "Tauba, tauba ... but,
were they Urdu-speaking?"

When I first heard of the robbery, I hadn't even bothered to ask initially. Home invasions, gunpoint robberies, reckless violence have become so commonplace
here that Karachi-ites appear to be familiar with the perpetrators and the manner in which they are protected. I am not that into Karachi
politics, but it appears that a specific ethnic political party is blamed for protecting almost all the dacoits that invade people's homes.
Years ago, Sindhi vaderas were the targets of most people's derision as instigators of crime. Today, it is muhajirs. Urdu has become the
language of the New Criminal. It is sad: a language with a history of such beautiful literature and poetry has now become the language
to which people are raped, tortured, and murdered.

Nawaz Sharif has fruitlessly placed Sindh under Governor's Rule -- whatever that really means. Desperately Karachi citizens turn to its
valiant volunteer organizations for help. Edhi's ambulances continue to evacuate the casualties. Jameel Yousuf's Citizens-Police Liason
Committee appears to be making headway in implementing a reorganization of the Karachi police. However, the standard Karachi
resident--by now a die-hard cynic--has to ask: "Will it make a difference?" If the dacoits are Urdu-speaking and the most influential
political force is as well, how can there be an end to this nightmare?

Business leaders hail the new IMF agreement as real progress. Yes, their factories just might be saved. Meanwhile, the common person
watches sales tax increase to 15 percent, elevations in the prices for basic needs, electricity, water, etc. well beyond the percentage
increase due to devaluation & inflation. Mr. Sharif and family now have just enough money in the country's exchequer to visit Niagara
Falls and Disneyworld after chatting with Mr. Clinton. A PIA Airbus full of eighty people of his entourage will touch down in Orlando &
Buffalo later this week.

By the way, the thieves were Urdu-speaking.