Fearing operation in Karachi, MQM prefers talks

ISLAMABAD – The fear of possible operation in Karachi in case the MQM pulls itself out of coalition government is pushing the Muttahida to continue dialogue with the PPP despite its reservations that the commitments made from the other side are unlikely to be fulfilled, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably. “The MQM does not want to disengage the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) to closing the door for dialogue as it could pave way for an operation in Karachi in which activists of the Muttahida might be killed in discriminately,” an MQM source confided to this scibe seeking anonymity.
“We are certain that PPP will not meet our demands but we want to continue engaging it in dialogue as it will help us avoid confrontation or its possible fallout in the form of any operation in which, if happens, the MQM workers would be discriminated and targeted in the name of action against criminals. We know such operation will not be against criminals and only the workers of the MQM would be targeted in the name of criminals as no political party or any other force desires to see MQM expanding fast in the country,” the source said.
The source also added that his party knew that dialogue process was just a time gaining strategy for the PPP and MQM as both the parties were exploiting political compulsions of each other. “The PPP needs the MQM support at the centre to retain majority whereas the MQM using it as an opportunity to stave off any political or apolitical aggression from any quarter,” the source said. He also added that the present time was extremely difficult for the MQM as its workers had got fed-up with talks, held again and again but yielded no results.
Meanwhile, Farooq Sattar had also said Tuesday outside the Parliament House after the presidential address that the MQM leaders were being questioned of the utility of talks which did not yield any results.
When Wasay Jalil, spokesman of the MQM, was contacted in this regard, he said that it was true that his party did want situation that could lead to unnecessary confrontation but it should not be taken as weakness of the party. “It is not 1990 or 1992…. the MQM now has grown much stronger,” Wasay said.