The ongoing probe into the murder of Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) slain leader Imran Farooq has brought grim implications for the party that has resulted in the massive turnaround in the country’s politics, with the MQM’s fortunes taking a nosedive.
When Imran Farooq was murdered in 2011, the MQM was an indispensable force in Karachi for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Besides, international powers including the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) also have deep interest in the metropolis, mainly because of the port.
The city’s port had been used by these international powers for all the supplies that are so vital to sustain their decade long occupation of neighbouring Afghanistan. It was here at this port that thousands of containers from the US and the UK used to land while the authorities concerned decided to look the other way to increase their own influence in Afghanistan. The success of the US and its allies there had also been dependent on these supplies. To ensure the continuity of this arrangement, both the mentioned international players needed MQM’s support.
The probe into Imran Farooq’s murder was pursued quietly by the UK police back then and they did not seem to be in any hurry to solve the mystery behind the high profile murder. In addition, no mention of MQM’s leader Altaf Hussain was made in the international media, nor was any briefing given by the police officials concerned of the Scotland Yard. The UK government also seemed calm, despite the fact that diplomatic circles had started pointing their fingers towards a high profile figure.
During the last government, these powers were also against any destablisation of the PPP government in Islamabad, of which MQM was an integral part. Back then, criticising the MQM or its leader was considered equivalent to creating problems for the PPP government. Even the PPP, being fully aware of the events in the UK, was hardly showing any signs of letting the cat out of the bag. Former interior minister Rehman Malik was most supportive of the MQM leadership.
Thing seem to have changed presently as the US is all set to leave Afghanistan next year. It would require the Karachi port once again to ensure the withdrawal of their men and military equipment, and it is not the MQM that controls the port anymore. Furthermore, the new government formed in Pakistan after May 11 elections have sidelined the MQM even more.
Moreover, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government has no sympathy for the MQM or Altaf Hussain. Nor does it require its support to run the government.
The other day, PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar had told the press that his government was fully in the loop as to the direction of the probe. He said that British investigators were keeping their Pakistani counterparts well-informed about the probe. The UK police also interrogated Altaf Hussain, reportedly in case related to money laundering and the investigation went on for several hours.
These domestic and regional factors might show in the decisions of international powers as the probe wraps up.
MQM and PPP popolarity are on the decline among the People due to their bad performance during the last 5 year being in Federal Govt, bothe Parties has disappionted the liberal and secular minded educated middle class, their failure to restore law and order in Karachi, both Parties were friends and feo at the same time, that was bad politicas.PML N considered both Parties as their poltical rivals and will try to take full advange to regain their lost hold in Sindh.MQM must change its organisation structure and adopte a Political Party structure and merage with APML.
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