DATE=7/26/98 
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT 
NUMBER=2-236047
TITLE=PAK KILLINGS (L)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD 
CONTENT= 
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  TWO SOLDIERS OF THE PAKISTAN ARMY HAVE BEEN ASSASSINATED 
IN THE PORT CITY OF KARACHI, IN WHAT POLICE SAY IS A TERRORIST 
INCIDENT.  THE LATEST KILLINGS COME AS AUTHORITIES TRY TO CRACK 
DOWN ON GROWING POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN'S LARGEST CITY.  
ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM THE CAPITAL, ISLAMABAD.

TEXT:  THE TWO OFF-DUTY SOLDIERS ARE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN 
KIDNAPPED AND THEN SHOT IN THE HEAD.  THEY WERE FOUND IN A 
KARACHI GRAVEYARD SUNDAY, THEIR HANDS AND FEET TIED.  REPORTS SAY
THERE WERE SIGNS THEY HAD BEEN TORTURED BEFORE BEING KILLED.

SUCH EXECUTION-STYLE KILLINGS HAVE BECOME COMMON IN KARACHI, 
PAKISTAN'S LARGEST CITY.  A FACTIONAL WAR BETWEEN RIVAL POLITICAL
GROUPS THAT HAS RAGED FOR SEVERAL YEARS HAS INTENSIFIED IN RECENT
MONTHS.  BUT THE TARGETING OF ARMY PERSONNEL IS BEING SEEN AS A 
TURN FOR THE WORSE.

/// OPT /// THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE COMMENT ON SUNDAY'S KILLINGS 
FROM THE PAKISTAN ARMY, WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN A CLEAN-UP 
OPERATION SEVERAL YEARS AGO AGAINST M-Q-M MILITANTS.  /// END OPT
///

POLICE HAVE LINKED THE KILLINGS TO EFFORTS BY AUTHORITIES TO 
CRACK DOWN ON THE GROWING VIOLENCE BETWEEN THE RIVAL PARTIES, 
WHICH HAS KILLED MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

IN RECENT DAYS, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED BY 
PARAMILITARY FORCES IN THE AREA FROM WHICH THE TWO SOLDIERS WERE 
KIDNAPPED.  THE FORCES HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED IN KARACHI TO CURB THE 
VIOLENCE BETWEEN KARACHI'S MOST POWERFUL POLITICAL PARTY -- THE 
MUTTAHIDA QAUMI MOVEMENT -- AND ITS BREAKAWAY RIVAL GROUP.

THE M-Q-M IS AN ALLY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ 
SHARIF, AND IS PART OF THE RULING COALITION IN SINDH PROVINCE -- 
WHERE KARACHI IS LOCATED. 

BUT LAST WEEK THE M-Q-M SIGNALLED IT IS LIKELY TO LEAVE THE 
COALITION BECAUSE IT SAYS THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO 
CONTROL THE VIOLENCE.  THE M-Q-M BLAMES THE VIOLENCE ON THE 
BREAKAWAY GROUP -- AND ON INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES SYMPATHETIC TO 
ITS RIVAL.

BOTH POLITICAL FACTIONS DENY THEY ARE INVOLVED IN KILLING RIVAL 
ACTIVISTS, BUT MOST OF THOSE KILLED TEND TO BE CONNECTED TO ONE 
OF THE RIVAL GROUPS.  BYSTANDERS HAVE ALSO BEEN CAUGHT IN THE 
CROSSFIRE DURING SHOOTOUTS.

THE TWO GROUPS POLITICALLY CONTROL DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY, 
AND BOTH SIDES SAY THEIR ACTIVISTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE OR 
EVEN ENTER THE OTHER'S TERRITORY.  THE M-Q-M DEMANDS THE 
GOVERNMENT MUST DO AWAY WITH SUCH "NO-GO AREAS" IF IT WANTS THE 
PARTY TO REMAIN WITHIN THE FRAGILE COALITION GOVERNING THE 
PROVINCE.

THE GROWING POLITICAL CRISIS IS SEEN AS A SERIOUS THREAT TO MR. 
SHARIF'S EFFORTS TO RESUSCITATE PAKISTAN'S ECONOMY.  THE VIOLENCE
IN KARACHI -- PAKISTAN'S FINANCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL HUB -- HAS KEPT
AWAY FOREIGN INVESTORS.

DURING THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT OF BENAZIR BHUTTO, A CAMPAIGN BY 
SECURITY FORCES TO ROOT OUT MILITANTS IN KARACHI MANAGED TO 
RESTORE AN UNEASY PEACE TO THE CITY, BUT MS. BHUTTO'S GOVERNMENT 
WAS CHARGED WITH SANCTIONING EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS BY POLICE 
AND PARAMILITARY FORCES.

MANY IN KARACHI FEAR THE ESCALATING SITUATION MAY SEE A RETURN TO
THE SCALE OF VIOLENCE THAT PARALYZED THE CITY THREE-YEARS AGO.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/RAE

26-Jul-98 9:43 AM EDT (1343 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.