Summary Altaf Hussain has offered an olive branch to the army; please let's talk.
Dunya News Report (Shahzad Badar)
As the pressure on MQM intensifies the party has started to react to the mounting pressure – Altaf Hussain has offered an olive branch to the army – please let’s talk. Altaf went out of the way to mend fences with the establishment depicting that he fears that the party and his men are under serious pressure.
The pressure is intensifying but the “minus one formula” which the establishment is pursuing and which the MQM Kamal (K) is tasked to work on might not work as quickly as hoped even if the defections of top party men continue.
The vote bank and Altaf’s control on his voters seems firm and not loosening as expected. The gathering on MQM 32nd Foundation Day and the public opinion indicates that the MQM (K) will have a difficult task grabbing the political turf from the MQM (A). Altaf still sways the crowd and has proved that he can walk, talk and is not dying.
Mustafa Kamal and his dissident group is right when they claim that the MQM has deviated from its goals to eliminate the obsolete feudal system, provide jobs and education to the middle class Urdu speaking people of Sindh. Like their predecessors they too accuse the MQM Altaf of being sponsored by the Indian intelligence agency RAW and have been begging a general amnesty for criminals accused of killing and kidnapping.
The MQM(K) claims that it’s birth is spontaneous unlike the previous Haqiqi group which had the backing of the establishment. News reports indicate that Kamal has benefactors who helped him get a job in Dubai, planned his return and bought a house for him in DHA Karachi and pasted Kamal’s posters all over the streets in Karachi and Hyderabad.
Mustaf Kamal and his dissident group are hoping to attract more senior party member which would not be difficult given the ongoing Rangers crack down on criminals.
Farooq Sattar and Altaf Hussain are complaining that the party men are being coerced and threatened that they would be arrested on the allegations of having links with the Indian RAW if they did not switch loyalties. Media reports speak of MQM office-bearers and workers being regularly arrested on charges of terrorist activities. Farooq Sattar is accusing the Rangers and Sindh police of using strong-arm tactics to change the workers loyalties.
As pressure to isolate the MQM leader Altaf Hussain continues many senior MQM leaders who fear that their past activities could make them fall prey to the ongoing Rangers crack down have fled the country to escape the law.
The MQM has previous experience of dealing with similar crack down’s and survive. Altaf Hussain has referred to Kamal Mustafa and team as “dirty water” which has been removed from the party. Rebutting their allegation that he has taken money from RAW Altaf commented that he was offered money by the agencies which he refused, why would I go to RAW if money is available close to home he claims.
Altaf knows that he and his party would be able to survive the shocks but it would suite him and his party if the establishment adopts the MQM like in the Musharraf era.
In his recent letter to the army chief Altaf Hussain reiterates his loyalty claiming, he has fought with the Pakistan Army during the 1971 war. “It pains me to say that I am being falsely accused of having links with RAW. I have always considered the Army in high esteem and it was because of this that several army generals held meetings with me after 2001 for the betterment of the country.”
He also assured the army chief that allegation of MQM’s links with RAW are baseless and fabricated. “MQM is a patriotic political party that firmly believes in the security and stability of Pakistan. MQM has never been and never will be party to any foreign conspiracy against Pakistan. Pakistan was my country and it will remain my country. As a matter of fact, MQM and I stand with the Pakistan Army in facing international threats and challenges to Pakistan”.
Will the establishment accept Altaf’s olive branch and cease its operation mid way- the answer is no. The establishment has been going steady with its national action plan and hopes to fight the scourge of corruption and terrorism particularly in Karachi which is the main economic hub of the country.
MQM(K) has helped by conveying the thoughts of the disgruntled party men who had hitherto feared to speak their mind. Members of the K group now would have to prove their innocence before people can trust and vote them into assemblies. Due to ethnic factors pervading the social and political life in Karachi it would be difficult for any force to break up political parties into non entities. History has shown that political movements/parties with public support are best dealt with by negotiations and not brute force and propaganda. END
