MQM must denounce and help locate attackers
Altaf Hussain is bent upon ruining the future of the MQM. Whether this is because of personal frustration over the party beginning to learn to take decisions on its own or on the behest of someone else remains to be seen
MQM is the fourth largest party in the National Assembly. What is more, the party has continued to win every by-election and the subsequent LG polls. Its nominee is likely to be elected Karachi’s Mayor. This explains why both the PML-N government and the opposition have encouraged the party to dissociate itself from its militant past and act like a peaceful mainstream force.
Last June, when the MQM decided to resign en bloc from the Parliament and Sindh Assembly, complaining that it had been unfairly targeted in a police and paramilitary crackdown, Ishaq Dar met the party leaders and assured them that their grievances would be looked into and made the party withdraw the resignations. Last month a disaffected MQM was brought back by Khurshid Shah to rejoin the opposition block for drafting the ToRs. Qaumi Wattan Party’s Chief Aftab Sherpao resigned from his seat on the committee to accommodate MQM. Both Khurshid Shah and Pervaiz Rashid have visited the hunger strikers’ camp to talk to the MQM leadership. This was followed by an MQM delegation calling on Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday. The delegation was satisfied with the talks and announced the end of the hunger strike. It seemed that things were moving in the right direction – which did not suit Altaf Hussain.
Altaf Hussain’s outburst against the media – particularly three private channels – was totally uncalled for. He signaled MQM workers to attack the media houses. The defence of the action by Mustafa Azizabadi was untenable and unacceptable. It was an attempt to incite elements within the MQM to violence. What many expect from the MQM now is to denounce the violence without any ifs and buts and help the administration in locating those who participated in it.