It’s not Altaf, that’s for sure
Till August 22 the entire MQM revolved around the party’s founding father Altaf Hussain. Altaf’s anti-Pakistan tirade left party leaders inside the country with no option but to dissociate themselves from his remarks. The Karachi MQM, they claimed, would henceforth take decisions on its own. The insistence by the London Secretariat that only Altaf was the MQM chief led Farooq Sattar and others to change party constitution, remove Altaf’s picture from party flag and disown the entire London leadership. Altaf has subsequently directed MQM Convener Nadeem Nusrat to set up a pro-Altaf MQM in Pakistan.
The MQM is clearly divided in to two factions now, each one with its peculiar strengths and vulnerabilities. As the MQM has grown under the shadow of Altaf Hussain, will Farooq Sattar’s faction be able to carry the pro party’s voters with it in the next elections? Early this month MQM lost PS-127 by election in Karachi, the first defeat after its disconnect from London. Many think the defeat has little significance as the constituency comprises a number of ethnic groups and it is not the first time the party has lost it. There is however a perception that while Sattar has the backing of practically all Tanzimi leaders, the Tehriki workers who play the key role as MQM’s election machinery are still loyal to Altaf Hussain.
So far Naddeem Nusrat has succeeded in getting only one MQM MNA to resign. All other MPAs, MNAs and Senators have ignored his call. When it came to assigning the onerous task to organize the pro Altaf faction, the only volunteer Nusrat could find was a recent turncoat from PTI. Numerous members of MQM’s militants’ wing, which is part of the party’s Tehiriki group, have been arrested or killed in encounters. This creates another hindrance in the way of setting up an MQM loyal to Altaf Hussain. What adds further to Nusrat’s problems is the precarious state of Altaf’s health. Once Altaf fails to show up in videos, his die-hard follower will have to look for guidance elsewhere.
