Given Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) recent policy of agitation, and disruption of parliamentary sessions, it was inevitable that the party would eventually step up the level of nuisance it generates. Despite this expected turn of event, MQM lawmakers’ decision to submit their resignation to the National Assembly Speaker is still a deplorable, and from the perspective of the party, an unwise one too.
The resignations put the government in an awkward position – as they were designed to do. If the government accepts them, it is faced with a lengthy and tedious by-election procedure, which is bound to stunt Karachi for a considerable period of time. The campaigning would be an unnecessary disruption of life in the metropolis, and a sizeable distraction from counter-terrorism operations in the city. On the other hand, if the government decides to not accept the resignations, as it probably will, it would come under increasing pressure to justify this departure from constitutional convention, and would require them to find a amicable solution with the MQM as quickly as possible.
While this certainly hands MQM the bargaining chip it had been desperately searching for, it is hard to see how this would help them in alleviating their concerns. If the undue targeting of MQM workers at the hands of the Rangers and other law enforcement agencies is the party’s issue, it would be better served when its members are in parliament, rather than without. Being part of the legislature would allow them to supervise the actions of the law enforcement agencies, sit in parliamentary briefings, raise issues of specific violations and propose measures to reduce the alleged violations. Within the parliament, the MQM can play a constructive role; cooperate with the authorities to direct them towards criminal elements that exist within party – a fact that even the most sincere denials by senior party leadership cannot dispel.
It is true that the MQM is in their crosshairs, but it is also true that Pakistani law enforcement agencies are blunt and lax with civil rights. However, for the MQM to use this issue to throw up another political crisis is irresponsible and quite simple unnecessary.