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MQM - Time for Change


London Metropolitan Police has interrogated two leaders of Muttahida Qaumi Movement and recovered important archives as well as high valued diamonds, jewellery from two bank lockers.

 According to sources, police had tracked the details of bank lockers while conducting search operation on Altaf Hussain and his relative’s homes.

 The sources said that London police has compiled a report based on solid evidences against Altaf Hussain and sent it to Crown Prosecution Service, Dunya News reported.

 The Crown Prosecution Service is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by the police in England and Wales.

 Police sources added MQM chief will be part of interrogative process after governmental lawyers’ response.

 Two former leaders of the political party provided firm proofs to London police which helped the officials in investigations.

 Police officials also claimed that amount of more than one million pounds were recovered during the raid.

 London Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Services will present progress report today on Imran Farooq murder case before British Home Secretary Theresa May.

 Crown Prosecution Services will hold a special session with the top police officials before meeting the home secretary.

 Earlier, Chief of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain  voluntarily stepped down from his post on June 30 after the raid conducted by London police on his residence but rejoined his post after 6 hours.
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In 1947, many Muslims living in areas declared as part of India, had to migrate to Pakistan. People who came from East Punjab [India] to West Punjab [Pakistan] got fully absorbed due to same language and culture. The word Muhajir [immigrant] is considered as derogatory by them. But Urdu speaking people who settled in Karachi, Hyderabad and other parts of Sindh  still call themselves Muhajir [immigrant] due to different language and culture.  Similar is the case of those moved from India [Bihar] to East Pakistan [now Bangla Desh]. The rural Sindhis who are mostly backward like their brethren in other provinces under the yoke of feudal system feel that educated Muhajirs have dominated them, they feel that Muhajirs have taken over their jobs and opportunities along with main cities Karachi & Hyderabad. Sindhi feel that they are going to be rendered as minority in their home land Sindh with thousands of year old civilization and culture. On the other hand Muhajirs have their own grievances, lack of jobs on merit and opportunities according to their population. Traditionally Muhajirs supported JI [Jamaat-e-Islami, a religious-political party] they were oppressed under doctorial rule like other poor Pakistanis. However being educated and vocal, concentrated in port city of Karachi, initially the capital and later financial capital of Pakistan, their voice is heard instantly. All people living in Sindh rather Pakistan have to coexist. The complex issues among them can only be resolved through patience and dialogue not militancy.

Karachi is hub of MQM [Mutihida/Muhajir Qomi Movement]. According to the census of 1998, in Karachi; Urdu speakers [Muhajir] make up 48% of the population, Punjabis 14%, Pashtuns 12%, Balochis and Sindhi together 13% and others 12%. The others include Dari, Gujarati, Dawoodi Bohra, Memon, Marwari, Brahui, Makrani, Khowar, Burushaski, Arabic, Persian and Bengali. Now arguably the population of Pashtuns has increased considerably since then and may be as high as 20-25%. The demarcation of constituencies have done in such a way that in Karachi, out of the 42 provincial assembly seats, 35 belong to MQM, 5 to PPP and 2 to ANP. Yet this is in sharp contrast to demographics of the city. Now these 52% of ethnicities other than Urdu speakers have very little representation in the National and Sindh assemblies, which need to be rectified in all fairness. Proportional representations system is a possible fair solution  all over Pakistan which can address the grievances of all smaller parties and groups in Pakistan. Fair representation is the spirit of democracy.

Simple & peace loving patriotic Urdu speaking citizens [Muhajirs] supported Mr.Altaf Hussain who in eighties founded MQM to struggle for their rights. Unlike other political parties lead by dynastic families of feudal lords and business tycoons MQM draws its leadership from middle class, this has many plus points. However unfortunately the image of MQM has been tarnished due to its zero tolerance to dissension, which is not only undemocratic but leads to fascism. The mafia like war with breakaway faction MQM (H) has cost many lives. Hence alleged involvement of militant wing of MQM in killings, torcher, extortion and other illegal and anti state activates gets out of control. While people join and leave other political parties, MQM has only one Way In.. no one  can leave MQM, those expelled, live a quiet life till they breath their last or die under mysterious circumstances. MQM has monopolized the leadership of Urdu speaking community, where as diversity is strength of democracy. 

Mr.Altaf Hussein is living in self exile in London; he is now a British citizen, with no intentions to return back to Pakistan, even though MQM remains part of successive governments during lat one decade. 

Political leaders live exile expelled by rulers but they return back to their country to lead from front when ever situation improves. Nawaz Sharif and Benazir are recent examples, though they have kept their business and wealth in foreign lands they returned back. Benazir Bhutto was well aware of threat to her life, survived two attempts but it did not deter her, finally embraced death with honor. Nowhere in the world leaders settle down abroad permanently, swear allegiance to foreign state and lead political party in their previous country. This is not only betrayal to the oath of allegiance rendered to the adopted land but to the people of Pakistan. How can a person who is not under the constitution and law of Pakistan take big decisions for citizens and state of Pakistan? A foreigner leading a political party in Pakistan does not farewell morally, ethically and legally. Every human being have limitations, which could be exploited by foreign governments to their advantage. How can one accept the oral claims of patriotism by Mr.Altaf Hussain which are contradicted by his actions? Even if for the sake of argument, claims of patriotism and loyalty to Pakistan by Mr.Altaf Hussain are accepted, granting probability of 51% to 99% in favor, still there exists probability of 49% to 1 % to be otherwise. What can be done if opposite is true; nothing as he is neither in Pakistan nor its citizen. In India Sonia Gandhi, an Indian national, living in India for years, but was kept away from heading the government due to her foreign roots. Mr.Altaf Hussain is not holding any government seat, but his clout is such that no government can be formed without his consent, especially in Sindh. He holds key to the peace in Karachi, financial capital of Pakistan.  Common people may be befooled but not the intellectuals among Urdu speaking people, they are not insane, they understand this, what makes them to remain quiet? Its fear of life through terror and violence. Recent revelations by ex home minister of Sindh [denied by MQM] have further cemented the negative perceptions about MQM leadership. History of last 25 years reveal that while MQM did make some short term administrative gains but strategically on long term basis it has not been able to solve the problems of people it claims to lead. They are kept Muhajirs, mentally if not physically. Is simmering of issues, vital for its existence and survival?   

It well known that MQM is organized on the lines some what similar to the German Nazi Party.  Mr. Altaf Hussain is like "Der Führer", with  absolute power and full command over the party. All other party offices are  subordinate to his position and depend on his instruction. Rabita Commmitte is like the Reichsleiters ("Reich Leader") directly subjected to the Führer. The Reichsleiters formed the "Reich Leadership of the Nazi Party" (Reichsleitung der NSDAP), which was established at the so-called Brown House, in Munich and MQM equivalent is 90 [Nine Zero].  The political leadership corps in Nazi party encompassed a vast array of paramilitary titles at the top of which were the Gauleiters, who were Party leaders of large geographical areas [see Sector Commandeers, Unit Commanders in MQM]. From the Gauleiters extended downwards through Nazi positions encompassing county, city, and town leaders, all of whom were unquestioned rulers in their particular areas and region. The general membership of the Nazi Party, known as the Parteimitglieder, mainly consisted of the urban and rural lower middle classes. 7% belonged to the upper class, another 7% were peasants, 35% were industrial workers and 51% were what can be described as middle class, MQM with rural base follows almost similar pattern.

 The sector commanders and others in hierarchy maintain strict watch on people down to street level.  Any one going against the party policies is handled with iron hand voices of defiance are silenced. This act as deterrence for other potential dissidents. About ninety police officers who participated in operation against criminals allegedly associated with MQM in nineties have gradually been murdered. The strict military like discipline is visible in telephonic addresses by Mr.Altaf Hussain from London and during rallies. A  political party has nothing to do with militancy and violence, this is the big line which separates a political party from terrorists like Taliban.The successive governments have to be soft with MQM due to their support for government and nuisance value. MQM can paralyze Karachi, the financial capital of Pakistan at short notice. Now with independent media and judiciary the environments have changed. The politics and militancy can not work side by side. There shall remain no difference between Taliban and MQM, if both use militancy to enforce their agenda. Present top MQM leadership can not change itself overnight.

The peace loving people, intellectuals along with young people among Urdu speaking community have to come forward to initially establish a forum or pressure group which could be called MPM [Muthidda Pakistan Movement], Pakistani Qomi Movement [PQM] or any other suitable name with a view to persuade MQM to change its approach, abandon militancy and other illegal activities. This has to be done patiently in soft and reasonable manner not to antagonize but to support, however use of social media may be helpful.
Replacement of word ‘Muhajir’ with ‘Mutehidda’ by MQM did not change its outlook. The Urdu speaking people may stop calling themselves as Muhajir, they may prefer the title of “Pakistani”. Because they are first Pakistani and then Punjabi, Sindhi, Baloch, Pathan or Kashmiri, their adopted homes. Their language Urdu is the national language of Pakistan, which is now spoken in the homes of all Pakistanis with pride. Urdu is replacing regional languages at fast pace. The word 'Muhajir' gives the impression as if they are here temporarily, which is not the case, they are here for ever, they are Pakistani it includes stranded Pakistanis in Bangla Desh as well. This ‘Pakistani Movement’ should be open to all those who consider themselves to be Pakistani first [for Muslims, first Muslim, then Pakistani] and then Punjabi, Sindhi, Baloch, Pathan or Kashmiri. The people living in present Pakistan prior to 1947 also struggled for independence but the sacrifices rendered by those who left their homes for sake of this country are much more. The new forum or pressure group should sincerely struggle for all the oppressed people in Pakistan and Pakistanis stranded in Bangla Desh since 1971. Balanced representation from all the provinces and minorities should give it a national out look and character rather than ethnic or regional.  Pakistan Zindabad.

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