More of the same
Altaf Hussain unhappy with his party, threatening to step down, threatening the government with MQM legislators’ resignations, invoking sacrifices for the country, etc, are manoeuvres that have, unfortunately, become synonymous with the party’s way of working over the years. And while there is no way of ascertaining if there are more compelling reasons (than usual) for his latest outburst, it cannot be denied that party bosses have cried wolf one too many times to be taken at face value.
But these are hardly usual times. And truth be told, MQM does boast a rarity in Pakistan’s politics. Despite its reputation of muscling around Karachi and neighbouring areas, it does offer a framework where a committed party worker can climb up the ranks based solely on merit – the Karachi nazim who turned the city around and earned praise of millions is one such example. Therefore accusations, from the chief himself, that workers are indulging in bribes and becoming used to a luxury lifestyle, are disappointing.
Yet however much Altaf’s concerns about party meritocracy were genuine, his intentions were directed towards Islamabad; as most political posturing is during these strange times. The first, and majority, reaction to his demands has been the usual; that no better time than the present – when the ruling party is weak – to bag more ministries. There are precedents, set not just by MQM. But his not so usual desire of coming home for 15 days, for this and that reason, is more interesting, and has conspiracy theorists doing more rounds. Simply put, the more politicians take interesting positions these days, the more there is talk of old timers anticipating a systemic paralysis and the subsequent hunt for suitable personalities to keep the intermediate setup intact.
What direction MQM really takes from here remains to be seen, especially as Islamabad’s present stalemate nears its end. But if its actions muddy the waters more than usual, it risks losing relevance as the country enters a new political situation. Considering that the political system is under extreme stress, and consequences of implosion could be extreme, it is wiser to take measured and prudent steps instead of igniting further disarray.