EFFORTS were being made by the authorities to restore peace after many weeks of disturbance caused by the linguistic strife in Karachi. On Aug 8, 1972 Kassim Haji Abbas Patel, Provincial Minister for Industries and Mineral Development said that those who were raising the slogan of `Sindhu Desh` and demanding Karachi as a separate province were the enemies of the country. The people who were living in Sindh Mohajirs, Punjabis, Pakhtuns, Sindhis and Balochis were all Sindhis.

He appealed to them that `all of us should live like brothers as Sindh is our hearth and home.

In a similar vein, on Aug 11, a joint meeting of MNAs and MPAs from Karachi representing various political parties reviewed the operational activities carried out in the province to maintain law and order in the region. The meeting, held at Qasr-i-Naz, was convened by Central Education and ProvincialCoordination Minister Abdul Hafeez Pirzada. He told journalists that the meeting noted with satisfaction that the people of Karachi had displayed the highest sense of responsibility as was expected from them and that there had been no provocative speeches. He felt it was a healthy sign.

And on the eve of Independence Day, the first administrator of Karachi when it used to be the federal capital, Syed Hashim Raza called upon the people in general and the youth of the country in particular to rededicate themselves for building Pakistan into a progressive and modern nation.

He was speaking at an event organised by the Pakistan-Iran Cultural Association at a local hotel. He said Pakistan was the Quaid-i-Azam`s `amanat` which should be defended with our blood. Referring to the tragic happenings in East Pakistan and its secession, Mr Raza asked them to create conditions for a united and collective fight against the enemies of the country so that the remaining part of Pakistan could be safeguarded.

Something noteworthy happened in the realm of the media, too, which was relayingall these reports of attempts made to lift the spirits of the countrymen. On Aug 9, the Karachi Union of Journalist (KUJ) decided to establish a `struggle fund`. It directed all the unit chiefs of the union to collect Rs5 per month from every member of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in addition to their monthly subscription. The KUJ also directed them to step up their campaign in their respective units for the restoration of the legitimate rights of newsmen and other workers of the press industry.

Weather conditions often play a part in setting Karachi`s socio-cultural and political moods. Tides are usually high in the summer, especially in the months of July and August. On Aug 13, unfortunately, Klaus Saler, a German national and a senior executive of a hotel in the city, drowned in Hawkes Bay. He had joined the hotel a few months ago and was living alone. Thought to be a good swimmer, he had gone to the sea with a picnic party.

After getting swept away by the strong currents, he was rescued by fellow swimmers and rushed to the nearest hospital in Mauripur, but did not survive.