INTERVIEW: Another script, same players — MQM spokesman Wasay Jalil

Kamal hasn’t achieved much really

These are hardly MQM’s best days. First came the Operation that rocket Nine-Zero and shocked Karachi. Then came those surprise confessions that linked party bigwigs with Karachi’s notorious underworld with its linkages across the Arabian Sea and the Atlantic. Then came reports of MQM-RAQ collusion. All this time the London police was investigating the Imran Farooq murder case as well as money laundering charges against Altaf Hussain.

And then came Mustafa Kamal’s bombshell. Not much of what he said had not been said before, though never by someone so high up the party ladder – even if once upon a time – especially one taken so seriously and admired by much of the public. Kamal was, after all, the brain and the brawn behind Karachi’s miraculous transformation in the Musharraf era, when he was city mayor. He also made quite a reputation for his honesty back in the day, something he no doubt counted on to help him as he pleaded his case so suddenly.

But the party seems collected enough. It made a swift enough rebuttal before going into a huddle to revise its strategy. And while little, understandably, is coming out for the moment, DNA talked exclusively to party spokesman Wasay Jalil in London, go get an understanding about the mood around the party chairman.

Q: Mustafa Kamal had tried to stage a comeback a couple of times before also, but rolled back. This time too there were rumours that he was returning, so the party must have factored it in. But did you expect him to go to the length that he did?

Wasay Jalil: MQM is not privy to any past attempt made by Mustafa Kamal to come back. Mustafa Kamal and Anees Qaimkhani parted ways with party due to their personal reasons and we do not believe that their departure from the party was with any malafide intentions.

Q: Why is MQM focusing so much on the timing of Kamal’s return in its rebuttal? Do you see a link between the Operation, the wave of accusations and confessions, and this press conference?

WJ: Surely we see the linkage between the ongoing Operation and accusations and confessions tailored for media. And that link is the “minus One” formula — MQM without Mr Altaf Hussain.

Q: Going by electoral indicators, MQM did fairly well in the cantonment and local body polls despite unprecedented political pressure. Do you think Kamal can find sympathisers and change this trend?

WJ: Past events, either state-led operation in the ‘90s or the more recent operation of 2013, have cemented the fact that no parachute leadership has ever worked in Karachi. Mustafa would not be able to find companions as MQM still enjoys massive public support as proved by the 2015 municipal elections.

Q: The party’s official position regarding Altaf Hussain is very clear. But hasn’t his being away for so long strained communication channels between the leader and the party? Do you still prefer the arrangement as it is or will the party consider some changes now?

WJ: Mr Hussain being away has never been an impediment for communication. He is constantly in touch with party workers through available means of communications which by the way have improved with revolutionary changes in technology.

Q: Most people have believed for some time now that Altaf Hussain’s personal mood swings not only affect the party’s position and policies but also cause embarrassment sometimes. How do you feel about this perception?

WJ: People of Pakistan have to understand that Mr Hussain is not an ordinary politician, a typical leader like others. He wants his workers and senior members to be disciplined and hardworking; the way he has trained us to be. Once Mr Hussain or the Rabita Committee sees a disciplinary violation from any member or department, action is taken to rectify those violations. We Pakistanis are not used to such discipline in other political parties because once the head of the organisation is not disciplined and upright, then how can he apply the same rules to his workers?

Q: Do you feel other parties will use this opportunity to attack MQM or will they, like you, notice other motives and agendas behind recent developments?

WJ: Yes, of course, our political opponents will see this as an opportunity to gain some political ground in urban centres of Sindh. This is how politics and political parties work. Kamal, by his press conference, has clearly launched this minus Altaf Hussain agenda, which I mentioned above. But by the grace of Allah, such dreams will never come true.

As far as the allegations of extortion are concerned, let me raise a few questions of my own as food for thought. While Mustafa Kamal has raised the matter of bhatta, would he like to explain while he has served as in-charge of Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation (KKF), what was his role in the alleged money being labelled as extortion? He was solely responsible for the charity funds then why is he blaming Altaf Hussain for misusing the funds?

Where was Kamal’s conscience when he was enjoying the protocol of a Sindh provincial parliamentarian and IT minister? For years he has been serving on the top positions of MQM then why didn’t he see and raise his voice against wrong doings in party or leave the party in those days and what took him so long?

Why did his conscious not compel him to come forward and express his reservations over what he has been alleging now? Since he was the chief trustee of the KKF, why didn’t he do anything to stop what he now calls wrong practices?

The man who was sitting beside him in the Press Conference, Anees Qaimkhani, was serving one of the top most positions in the party during his last days in 2013. If, according to Kamal, the party had been involved in wrong businesses, this means that Altaf Hussain was not aware of all as he was living in London and things were happening under the nose of Anees Qaimkhani. Why suddenly this one man became clean in two years while he is wanted by Sindh Rangers in Dr Asim’s case? How can Kamal start his own clean political party with the help of an absconder?

While serving on high posts given by MQM, didn’t Kamal know that party had RAW affiliation and during the mayorship, while having close relationship with the then Army Chief, why didn’t he share the information for the sake of the country?

Does Kamal carry the evidence of his allegations or was it just a part of media trial that we are seeing for the last three years? Because, if he has the evidence, shouldn’t he be going to the courts of UK or Pakistan for the sovereignty of Pakistan, instead of launching a political party?

The truth is that all the allegations have no legs to stand on and these allegations are a part of a new propaganda to malign the MQM leadership. This mudslinging campaign would soon die down as was the case in the past.

Another matter I want to raise is that, as per media reports, Anees Qaimkhani is wanted in many criminal cases and his name had emerged in a number of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) reports. But would anyone tell me how a wanted man landed at the airport, crossed over into Karachi while all officials at the airport – from PIA to Civil Aviation and ASF — turned a blind eye to him?

This doesn’t end here. Now the same guy wanted by courts and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) is roaming freely in Karachi and no one is taking any action. This means it’s a script being followed by all characters. The nation will know how things would take a turn in the future.