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POLITICAL ANTICS OF MQM’S
July 08, 2011
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Initially fired with emotions gone amok (as a rule!) and charged with ‘idealistic enthusiasm”, MQM had no option but to retract its previous stance of ‘splitting from coalition’; but that satire is a satire already. When the hot blowing embers of this ‘idealistic enthusiasm” finally cooled, MQM had a time to catch its unnecessarily-frenzied breath in order to rethink and go all over its habitual political pandemonium, it has become stained of. Heavily paid assembly members of MQM had a better nerve of careful evaluation of considering losing such perks like losing the ‘hard earned’ jobs and salaries of their relatives, and deep apprehensions of possible changes in census and district constituencies of Karachi.
MQM also took advantage of postponement of elections on two constituencies of MQM on 26th June, and announced their boycott of AJK elections. Dr. Farooq Sattar has publicly accused PPPP of trying to pressurize MQM into surrendering of these two allocated seats, and upon PPPP’s refusal postponed the elections. MQM, protested against this postponement by staging a walkout from Sindh Assembly and also holding a protest rally in front of Karachi press club. Federal interior minister Rehman Malik publicly denied any role of PPPP in postponement of AJK elections, which were rather postponed by Election commission of AJK under security considerations. Besides the much volatile departure of Governor Sindh, Ishrat-al-Abad for London was meant to shield the MQM bigwig from a volley of questions and speculations in wake of his announcements of resignation from his office.
Meanwhile among all this bally-ho, PPPP made no customary efforts to pacify its ‘erstwhile ally and coalition partner’, nor did an equally uninterested PML-N strive for any contacts despite a ‘softened policy for all possible parlays’ by MQM. Even President Asif Ali Zardari, being present in London for quite some time, showed no interest in meeting or even mildly contacting MQM head, Altaf Hussain. Meanwhile PML-N has publicly announced that it would be interested to contact MQM only if MQM conceded concrete guarantees (which is highly unlikely) to assure that it would not retract its steps to government.
The 25-year history of MQM is replete with examples of enjoying all the fruits and sweets of power and rule, with almost all political/ ruling entities; while with the nearing of general elections, it is suddenly arises from its slumber to pains and concerns over the sad plight of Mohajjar community and Karachi. Immediately announcing of its termination with governmental coalition is the most common and effective trick it deems important. It is pertinent to note that the party had already lost its trust and faith of Urdu speaking communities of urban Sindh during 1997 elections, while its success of 2002 and 2008 elections are attributed to absolute rigging and machinations of those elections. It enjoyed three-year fruits and benefits of power and government with PPPP after 2008 elections, and while the elections are nearing fast and the political air rife with rumors of possible mid-term elections, MQM decided that time had come to call it quits, over its opportunistic stance.
However the sheer anger of Karachi citizens over such rife problems as electricity outages crisis and law and disorder of Karachi, anger against MQM is on rise. Discerning the attitude of Karachites, MQM deemed it but appropriate to gain sympathies and emerge as championing the cause of Karachi by trying to/succeeding to gain political mileage by breaking away. It seems unlikely that it would ever be able to rejoin it coalition folds over an evident distrust and disinterest of PPPP and PML-N. The scenario would disorient PPPP’s standing in assemblies, but no credible danger is posed to National or Provincial assemblies. Except that there is slight danger of tough times for PPPP in form of MQM sponsored riots, strikes and shutter downs etc.
Considering the fact that MQM had always acted in its political interests, rather than National interests, no efforts have been made by PPPP to extend a hand of cooperation with MQM, at any levels whatsoever. This is one reason that MQM ministers were not invited to a recent cabinet session. Despite the fact that PPPP leadership has ordered strict directives to refrain from any anti-MQM statements, it is but evident that PPPP has finally succeeded in cutting of the power and influence of MQM. PULSE has been informed by sources that PPPP ranks had also been informed that MQM should be considered as redundant, with no chances of return, while MQM has been known to be seriously considering the repercussions of its blatant move of quitting the coalition. Many lucrative posts including politically based transfers in police departments by MQM, and lucrative perks and salaries of such leading MQM leaders like Babar Ghouri and others
MQM, despite announcing its quitting of alliance with PPPP, did not try to try its street power, while PML-N is known to have welcomed this quitting of MQM, and has even known to have gone that far as declaring in its high-level meeting that MQM would always be welcomed into any political alliance; but definitely not showing much eagerness and enthusiasm, either. PML-M is in no way going to allow MQM to irritate it as MQM pricked PPPP. Meanwhile even PPPP is hesitating into an open confrontation with MQM as well over certain expediencies, one of which was allowing safe passage of NATO supplies through MQM-infested Karachi.
Political sources also declare that the current PPPP ’victory’ in AJK elections over 19 seats was no big deal for PPPP, but rather a defeat for PML-N, who lost these elections over its friendly opposition role during which it ‘lost track’ of its Kashmir agenda. PPPP was forced to postpone AJK elections over its fear of losing to MQM.
The government, meanwhile has not taken this step of MQM as seriously, considering MQM’s previous fickleness, while similar thoughts are shared by masses as well.
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