Myth or reality?
A lot has been written, said and discussed about the political party confined primarily to the largest city of the country, Karachi. Some love it, others hate it. Some consider it a messiah, while others have very negative opinion about it. Starting as a party for the rights of the “muhajirs” (migrants), who were considered to be the less privileged, to becoming a party notorious for extortions, kidnapping for ransom and target killing in the city, MQM does have a lot of mystery around it. The party targets feudalism and talks about the common people. It does boast of people who have risen in the ranks of the party from very humble backgrounds. Having sweeping majority in the business hub of the country, MQM has been among the top four parliamentary parties in the national assembly and the second largest party in the provincial assembly since 1988. Some of the questions that arise in my mind are; has the party really been the “Robin Hood” of Karachi? Has it been taking from the rich and giving to the poor?
The party came into being in 1984 during the era of General Zia-ul-Haq. This isn’t surprising because the political history of Pakistan shows that almost all the political parties were somehow or the other sowed during the military rules in the country. But it is surprising that a party having a leftist political view was established during General Zia’s time. Only conservative parties and politicians could flourish during the second tenure of military dictatorship in our country. In such a time, MQM gaining ground in Karachi is mysterious.
Before MQM, the political strength in Karachi was with the religious parties. In the general elections of 1970, four out of seven national assembly seats were won by Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (two seats each)
Before MQM, the political strength in Karachi was with the religious parties. In the general elections of 1970, four out of seven national assembly seats were won by Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (two seats each). The general elections of 1977, allegedly the most rigged elections in our history and which resulted in the second martial law in the country within months, saw nine out of 11 seats going to PNA (the grand alliance against Pakistan Peoples Party of mostly conservative and religious parties). The likes of Professor Ghafoor Ahmed, Muhammad Azam Farooqi and Syed Munawar Hassan (all from Jamaat-e-Islami) became representatives of the people of Karachi in the national assembly. Even the non-party elections in 1985 saw religious and conservative leaders representing Karachi in General Zia’s assemblies. This changed for good once MQM entered the political scene of Karachi. MQM never won less than 21 provincial assembly seats out of a total of 28 in the four elections between the military rule of General Zia and that of General Musharraf. This includes the elections of 1993 when Karachi was going through “Operation Clean-up”. Although religious parties, as MMA (an electoral alliance of five religious parties), made a comeback in the city in the 2002 elections held under General Musharraf, MQM has by and large taken the city away from them. Allegations of stolen mandate surround this success of MQM in Karachi. So first we had a party against the trend made during the military rule and then we saw the political wings of our agencies and the “establishment” let MQM have their say in the city. All of this happens even when the army targets the party during “Operation Clean-up” is certainly mysterious.
The love-hate relation of the party with the army continued during General Musharraf’s time as well. The party was the general’s strength in Karachi (as claimed by himself, quoting the May 12, 2007 incident). General Musharraf appointed a party worker as the governor of the province, who remains the governor to-date. At the same time some argue that the formation of MMA, allegedly Musharraf’s team “B” (it did help Musharraf with the 17th amendment), was to rob as many as five seats from MQM from the city. The party also deserted Musharraf when it walked out of the coalition government led by PML-Q. The relation with the army continues to be the same as the leader of the party is heard singing and inviting army at the helm of affairs at one point in time and then complaining of its political involvement at another.
MQM does not have a history of this love-hate relation with the army only. They are also known for the “hide and seek” they have been playing with each government that they have been part of, whether at the federal or provincial level. They have been part of almost all governments since 1988 and they have walked out of each government at least once. The party which targets the feudal and the capitalists, itself strengthens them by being part of their government is seriously mysterious.
The law and order situation is cited as the biggest problem of Karachi today. Irrespective of the allegations as to who is responsible for the deteriorating situation, the fact of the matter is that people have suffered target killing, extortions, and kidnapping in the city. Ironically, the law and order situation in the pre-MQM period, when the religious parties were considered to be the voice of the city, was much better than today. MQM, being “the” political party of the city, and being in almost every provincial and national government and especially being the local government of the city between 2005 to 2010, has been found helpless to control the law and order situation. MQM is probably the most structured political party of the country. Well defined sectors and the very efficient sector in-charge system make it a party directly connected to the people of the city. That such deep-rooted connections are still not good enough to monitor the wrong doings in the city is certainly mysterious.
MQM is certainly being tested for its political manoeuvring. Whether this test will fail them or further add to the mystery surrounding the party is a question to be answered. One can hope that as a result of these investigations a lot of questions will be answered once and for all
Of late the mystery surrounding the party has increased manifold. The party’s leader is facing investigation in UK on the charges of money laundering. There are investigations going on in Pakistan as well targeting the party and its leaders. The “Baldia Factory Fire” incident, Shahid Hamid’s murder case and the ranger’s raid on “nine-zero” (home of MQM) is probably just the tip of the iceberg. A lot is to follow according to my understanding. That all of this happening in parallel on the timeline is nothing but mysterious.
MQM is certainly being tested for its political manoeuvring. Whether this test will fail them or further add to the mystery surrounding the party is a question to be answered. One can hope that as a result of these investigations a lot of questions will be answered once and for all. Conspiracy theories will be silenced by hard core facts. We will know if MQM has victimised Karachi or been the victim itself. MQM might get a chance to mend its ways if needed. But that too will depend on its popularity. We will also test the popularity of the party. The coming by-election will be a litmus test in this respect. Then there are local government elections. The party will have a lot to prove. Whether MQM is a reality or a myth will soon be unravelled.
As always, being an optimist, I am hoping that my optimism will not be dashed by the age-old give and take strategy of our invisible “angels”. Whether through MQM itself or some other political force, Karachi will see change. Peace in the city will be restored and the city of lights will light on the map once again, an absolute must for the economic and social development of the land of pure.