The Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in its latest report has claimed that besides other causes, Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) have been triggering instability in the country since long. CRSS here on Wednesday launched two reports titled “Pakistan’s Security Challenges” and “Afghan Jihad & Emergence of Transnational Networks”.
The report ‘Pakistan’s Security Challenges’ alleged that MQM and JUI-F have one-line political objective, (rule in every government) and that the have been a cause of instability in the country. “These parties have been alleged to be closer to the establishment rather than their voters,” the report said. It further said that from time to time threats of these parties to their coalition partner were believed to be only ‘blackmailing’ tactics at the ‘behest of the establishment.’
“In a situation when neither of the two largest parties in Pakistan PPP and PML-N have clear majority in general elections, the importance of the parties like the MQM and JUI-F becomes critical for having the power of making or breaking the governments,” it said. It said that MQM, because of its fascist style of politics and big representation in Karachi and Hyderabad, often resorts to blackmailing its coalition partners.
Talking at the launching, CRSS Executive Director Imtiaz Gul highlighted that “Pakistan’s Security Challenges” analysed three most critical security problems that Pakistan was facing including situation in Balochistan and ever-deteriorating situation of law and order in Karachi. The report also lists the status of FATA, feudalism, bureaucratic lethargy and political expedience and lack of vision among the “structural” causes that have created internal and external security challenges for Pakistan.
The report strongly emphasises on the federation to find a political and agreeable solution to the situation in Balochistan along with maintaining peace in Karachi. Appreciating the recent parliamentary hearing on the issue of Osama’s death, he said that this could be the beginning of better parliamentary days because this was the first time the top military elite stood for eleven hours before the elected representatives.
He also remarked that military’s predominance on many policy and strategic issues has created many problems for Pakistan and its people. The other report discusses the emergence of transnational networks that started to emerge during the so-called Afghan Jihad and assumed the role of informal financial and assistance lines initially to ‘Mujahideen’ and later to terrorists after September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York. Carefully analysing the history of the emergence of such networks, the report cites the process and functionality of these networks across the Muslim world, more particularly in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In addition, the report lists the organisations based in Pakistan that are influenced, directly or indirectly, by the ideology of Al Qaeda. “Pakistan has been passing through one of the most challenging phases of its life since its founding where the political and security challenges are multi-faceted,” Imtiaz Gul said.