MQM and Taliban

Being a liberal political party, Sindh’s urban based MQM’s stand against religious extremism has been very vocal from the onset; they never minced words when it comes to condemn the atrocities meted out by Taliban and like-minded groups. It was only MQM who opposed the Swat deal between Pakistani government and Taliban in 2009 wherein all the plus 350 National assembly members surrendered (minus MQM and one league member in individual capacity) in favor of Taliban. MQM’s point of view proved correct within few months when Swat deal broke off due to Taliban’s increased oppression of the local population, forcing the army to launch a major operation in Swat to cleanse the valley of terrorists. When Swati Taliban attacked the teenager activist Malala Yousafzai, it was only MQM who condemned the Taliban by name, while other political parties shied away either to find an excuse not to accuse or upset Taliban, or if forced by public opinion, they didn’t name the Taliban but condemn unknown assailants.
In this backdrop wherein Taliban are getting coveted support from several religious-political parties and their apologists in the media, and security forces are still reluctant to launch a final assault against Taliban, MQM has announced to hold a referendum to ask the ordinary people whether they want to live in a Pakistan run by the Taliban, or the one fancied by the father-of-nation Qaid-e-Azam. It’s a desperate attempt on the part of MQM to mobilize general public opinion against the religious extremists. We all know that this cancer is not limited to Pakistan’ tribal areas, but has engulfed other parts of the country as well.
The Supreme Court has asked Sindh police chief to clarify reports that around 7000 Taliban have entered Karachi. It’s a known fact that different chunks of Taliban are operating in the city carrying out bank robberies, kidnappings for ransom and such crimes; Karachi has become a major center to collect funds for tribal areas’ insurgency. On Friday, Taliban announced that they have decided to deal with the MQM and rid the people of Karachi of the ‘suppression’ of MQM —-“We would show no leniency to the MQM…”said Taliban’s spokesman, Nov 2. Karachi which is already gripped by ethnic, political and sectarian violence doesn’t need another group to fuel it further. Taliban will try to give the conflict an ethnic color (as most of the Taliban are Pashtuns) and that would be the last thing this city needs.
It’s time for law enforcing and intelligence agencies to halt Taliban’s nefarious aim, to plunge the Pakistan’s economic hub in further chaos and violence. Same is applicable for other political parties to get united against the threat coming from Taliban; if today it is MQM, then tomorrow it would be their turn.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia