By November 1998, ethnic and sectarian violence in Karachi had killed more than 1,000 people. Most of the violence had occurred between three rival factions of the Mohajir Quami Movement, which represents Urdu-speaking migrants from India. In some of the worst violence, in January Sunni extremists killed 28 Shiites praying in a Lahore cemetery. In 1997, parliament passed an anti-terrorism law giving police broad powers to conduct searches, make arrests, and use lethal force. The law created special courts that must conclude trials within seven days under limited safeguards and must provide limited rights of appeal.
Critics fear the law is encouraging police brutality.
Authorities have arrested hundreds of people under the law but few have been charged or tried. The law also authorized the government to ban groups and associations. Freedom of expression is restricted by laws and constitutional provisions that cover broad subjects including the army and Islam. Authorities occasionally detain, file false charges against, threaten, and assault journalists. Police occasionally attack newspaper offices and interfere with newspaper distribution.