Looking for a long term solution
In an interesting political development on Friday opposition parties, with the support of ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Sindh Assembly, passed the resolution against MQM Chief Altaf Hussain. This was because of his statements seeking foreign help and it demanded the provincial government to take strict legal action against him. Further, the resolution also rejected the demand raised by Altaf Hussain to divide the province.
However, soon after, the MQM leadership moved two resolutions against former president Asif Ali Zardari for his remarks against the army and PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Now all these political developments would further worsen the Karachi conundrum.
PTI lawmaker in Sindh, Syed Shahabuddin, told DNA that they were urging the Sindh and federal governments to register a treason case against MQM Chief Altaf Hussain for asking the enemies to help Muhajirs in Karachi. Adding to what he stated Nisar Khoro, Sindh information minister, said “we reconciled with every political force for strengthening democracy but we cannot support the political party which is asking for India’s help to intervene in our country.
“We consider this a war on our sovereignty and will not support any particular force asking for such help from India,” said Khoro.
Altaf Hussain’s latest political blunder?
It is true that MQM and its leadership is under unprecedented pressure and Altaf Hussain, isolated in UK, has to react, show potency and power and political acumen to sustain hopes and aspirations of hundreds and thousands of followers.
But inviting India for help and writing to UN Secretary General for intervention in Pakistan are serious political blunders that only increase the isolation of MQM from national politics.
“We consider this a war on our sovereignty and will not support any particular force asking for such help from India,” said Khoro
Altaf Hussain must come up with a better political vision instead of repeating old slogans and threats that have no real effect in the changed national and regional dynamics. For instance, the loss of control on media platforms that no longer broadcast his outbursts live from London has severely curtailed Altaf Hussain’s threat perception and needs deep reflection by MQM leadership.
But his latest outbursts calling for NATO intervention in Karachi, taunting India for not helping ‘Muhajirs’ and writing to UN Secretary General are serious political blunders.
Political Commentator Dr Moeed Pirzada on his social media account also stated that Altaf Hussain must come up with a new political narrative.
What MQM needs to understand is that continuous references to India and Muhajirs from India don’t help. Not anymore. “Appeals to UN and NATO are pointless in a changed regional situation with the Pakistani establishment now becoming a pillar of stability regionally. Altaf had conveniently ignored the executions of LeJ’s Malik Ishaq and what it means in terms of changing dynamics,” said Pirzada adding that MQM leadership needs deep reflection; it continues to be Karachi’s most popular party; it represents the educated middle classes and its best bet is to have a strategy that allows it to connect with middle class feelings and politics across Pakistan. That surely is difficult. But Altaf Hussain’s frustrated outbursts from London are not helping MQM’s politics.
Media analyst Adnan Rehmat told DNA that Karachi serves as a barometer of Pakistan’s political and economic credentials. The current drive — the most serious effort in two decades — to decriminalise politics and to undermine the debilitating effects of militancy (terrorism, sectarianism and ethnic violence) is an extremely important one. There will be political and social casualties (investigations, arrests and trials — even deaths) in the short term but this will create enough space for key stakeholders to dramatically improve governance. The inept government of PPP in Sindh and the standing of MQM are both taking a hit.
Rangers operation
MQM and its supporters had been saying since the inception of operation by the Sindh Rangers that MQM is the only political party that is being targeted. However, Corps Commander Karachi Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar says otherwise as he stated on Friday that the ongoing operation against criminal elements in the city was completely apolitical and indiscriminate.
Speaking at the passing out parade of the Sindh Rangers, he said the operation was free from any compromise and pressure.
“Terrorists, their facilitators and financiers are the target of the Karachi operation, and we will spare no effort to achieve all these targets.”
The corps commander said that the Rangers was a commendable institution which was evident from its outstanding performance. He said besides guarding the frontiers of the country the Rangers was a vanguard in the country’s war against terrorism.
Defence Analyst Muhammad Amir Rana said the operation started by the Sindh Rangers was a success as it has managed to control street crime, which was at a peak along with murders, extortion and other heinous crimes.
‘PPP also raised concerns when some of its people were interrogated which clearly shows that the operation is not limited to MQM’
“The crime rate in the city has decreased because of the ongoing operation,” said Rana adding that the ongoing operation is not against any political party in fact it was initiated against the religious extremists and now moved to militant wings and other terrorists associated with political parties.
“PPP also raised concerns when some of its people were interrogated which clearly shows that the operation is not limited to MQM. Actually MQM is a big political force in Karachi due to which there is a lot of media hype about it,” he said.
Political Economist Mobeen Ahmed Chughtai told DNA that he doesn’t think it is even relevant to question whether this operation is or is not against a particular political party. What is relevant is whether what is being alleged is true or not. Has the MQM not fostered a militant wing? Has that wing not been extremely active? Has the MQM not established political hegemony in Karachi through this militant wing? Has the militant wing not resulted in the illegal acquisition of money by the party for its activities? If so, then the operation is working out well and other parties should await their turn.
Constitutional expert and advocate high courts of Pakistan Ali Ibrahim stated that the sheer number of people apprehended since the start of the Karachi operation suggests a huge decrease in terrorism and related incidents. However, we must not, as a people, condone actions which suggest a treatment devoid of due process and natural justice. Laws and their implementation ought not to be altered because there is a general perception in favour of doing so. The integrity of the system depends on it, lest we let men in uniforms act as judge, jury and executioner and complain only when a loved one is killed in the name of an ‘encounter’. People ought to be outraged but they are not.
“In my opinion, this is symptomatic of a larger problem i.e., the failure of the government to apprehend alleged criminals in line with prosecutorial guidelines and an apparent mistrust of the lower judiciary”, said Ibrahim.
Journalist and defence analyst Ali Kamran Chishti told DNA that Karachi’s situation had improved with the federal government’s intervention and Rangers. There’s a command and control centre setup by Rangers, MI, ISI, FIA, MSA who are conducting this operation. And the results are there but for long term stability of Karachi, there have to be serious police reforms, de-politicisation of police and some sort of arrangement between urban-rural administration for a long-term and permanent settlement of the Karachi issue.