The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has accepted Altaf Hussain’s apology over his derogatory remarks against PTI’s women workers in general, and party’s senior leader Ms Shireen Mazari in particular. Such uncalled for comments by MQM chief are condemnable and contrary to all norms of decency and female respect. Imran Khan’s response was justified and equally hard hitting as no party leader can tolerate such obnoxious aspersions against his workers, especially the women activists.
Imran Khan may be naïve if he expects the UK government will act on his party’s letter to UK High Commission in Islamabad seeking action against Altaf Hussain, a UK citizen, for “using British territory to incite people to violence in Pakistan”. Does Imran Khan not understand the dynamics of ‘grand plan’ that maybe harbored by Washington / London viz-a-viz the future status of Karachi? Is Scotland Yard’s inefficiency in pursuing cases against Altaf Hussain by design or is this elite police force really as incompetent as Pakistani police?
The growing MQM- PTI rivalry is understandable in the context of strong political opposition posed by PTI to MQM’s domination in Karachi; Altaf Hussain’s power base. Imran Khan’s successful rallies in Karachi made the difference by removing the element of fear from terrorized Karachites, a factor which formed the basis of MQM’s politics all these years.
Altaf Hussain’s decision many years ago to transform his party from ‘mohajir to muttahida’ was generally welcomed and it was expected that a party which represented the educated middle class in Karachi and urban Sindh and one with a strong anti feudal program would make its mark in other provinces. Sadly that has not happened for which only the party’s top most leadership is to blame.
That there is no dearth of promising young talent within the MQM was evident from the brilliant display of good governance skills by young MQM leaders like Mustafa Kamal, who as Karachi’s mayor during Musharraf’s era, planned and implemented mega infrastructure development projects in the port city.
But then Pakistanis also wonder whether MQM’s present Sindh Governor Ishrat ul Abad who has remained on this post for over 12 years is indispensable and that there was no other suitable alternative for this job. Ishrat ul Abad may have had a sobering effect in MQM’s relations with PPP in Sindh’s urban politics, but as Governor he certainly failed to prevent Karachi from sliding to the dangerous level that we witness today.
Many in the MQM may be pondering seriously over reasons why their party has not been able to establish its true democratic credentials. Has the party’s image suffered adversely due to its leader’s undemocratic approach towards national issues? Instead of transforming into a nationwide political party, why is MQM still confined to a few cities in Sindh?
Where the MQM’s image has suffered most is in their top leadership’s political behavior that is not only unstable but follows a pattern that is now easily predictable with repeated U-turns. Since 2008 we have lost count of the number of times the MQM left or threatened to leave coalition government with PPP in Islamabad and Sindh only to rejoin in no time. Altaf Hussain’s frequent announcements of stepping down as party chief no longer carry any weight as it is well understood that he would retract his decision the same day.
We witness a unique love-hate relationship between Altaf Hussain and the military establishment; a relationship that dates from the Zia era, leading to the crackdown on MQM during Benazir Bhutto/ Nawaz Sharif governments in nineties followed by MQM’s golden years of warming up to the military in Musharraf’s rule.
The MQM chief’s uneasy relationship with the establishment is visible once again. Strangely enough, a while back, the MQM chief announced support for Army/ ISI, placing his workers at their disposal in defense of Pakistan and recently even called for imposition of martial law. He suddenly came down harshly on army Generals and the security agencies but soon apologized for his outbursts, perhaps unable to sustain the fallout of such statements.
The evidence presented by security agencies from time to time as well as during Supreme Court’s hearing on Karachi’s law and order situation in 2012/13 clearly highlights the role of major political parties including MQM, PPP and some religious extremist parties, banned outfits and even the police in activities of criminal mafia related to target killings, extortion, kidnapping for ransom, land grabbing and sectarianism.
The prime minister has already announced few days back to refer cases of Karachi’s target killers to military courts. After the JIT’s report which highlighted the ‘bhatta’ mafia’s role in setting fire to the Baldia factory that roasted alive over 250 innocent men, women and children, the Sindh High Court court reportedly instructed trial court to complete trial in one year. It would serve the cause of speedy justice if on federal intervention the Sindh government transferred this case on top priority to a military court instead.
The chaotic situation in Karachi is unacceptable to the nation and cannot be allowed to continue in present state. The Ranger operation in Karachi since September 2013 has yet to deliver desired results. Both the MQM’s Governor and PPP’s Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah have failed to restore peace in Karachi as a destabilized Karachi suits both parties’ interests. While the Sindh assembly’s proceedings reflect ill discipline and disorder, the overall governance in province remains highly unsatisfactory.
Unless the national action plan is implemented with political will and full vigor in Karachi, the politically backed criminal mafias will continue to rule and keep setting factories and people on fire.
It is time for the federal government to take the required bold actions to dismantle the terror network and infrastructure of different political parties/ banned groups by force if these elements fail to do the same voluntarily. Similarly their armed wings need to be disbanded and their militants disarmed.
Prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Gen Raheel Sharif should seriously consider a surgical, cleanup operation by the army in Karachi duly supported by Rangers, police as well as federal/provincial security/intelligence agencies. The imposition of Governor’s rule with a neutral Governor and caretaker administration in Sindh also merits consideration.