No one knows whether it was a routine roll call or a surprise for most of Pakistanis. Anyhow, when Altaf Hussain (or his representative) started the telephonic roll call from London on July 20th morning, he came to know that night shift members of the MQM Rabita Committee at MQM’s Pakistani HQ, popularly known as Nine-Zero, were still there, fast asleep, while the morning shift of Rabita Committee members had not yet reported. Enraged on such a ‘deplorable and in-disciplinary’ act, he ordered to suspend 19 members of the Committee; they were asked not to participate in any political activity including attending party’s organised iftar parties. Later in the evening, all the 19 members, which included prominent names such as Nasreen Jalil, Haider Abbas Rizvi, Dr Saghir Ahmed and many other soft faces of the party, repented and tendered apology not to repeat the mistake. Once again, on the recommendations of the so-called same Rabita Committee, Altaf Hussain ordered to reinstate all the suspended members of the Rabita Committee. Amusing, isn’t?
One may take this act as a joke, others may consider it a show of power by Altaf Hussain that he is the MQM, not any other leader or worker. Whatever is the case, it’s regrettable that top leadership of MQM was humiliated by no one else, but by the party’s supremo himself. Last year, a few of the Rabita Committee members were beaten by party workers on instructions from the top. We don’t know for how long this type of politics, if it’s called politics, will continue.
It’s high time for Altaf Hussain to let the local leadership grow and organise party matters as deemed fit per prevailing political atmosphere. Otherwise, party will lose not only the capable and sincere hands, such as ex-Mayor Karachi, Mustafa Kamal, but also discourage new educated and aspirant blood to serve the city and party.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
