Politics of ultimatums

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Not a good sign

The MQM seems to have revived the politics of ultimatums by threatening to boycott the joint sitting of parliament to be addressed by President Zardari today if the government does not take appropriate measures to stop the incidents of extortion and target killing in Karachi. The issue was raised by party’s deputy parliamentary leader Haider Abbas Rizvi who latter staged a walkout along with his colleagues from the National Assembly on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the MQM’s Coordination Committee which met simultaneously in Karachi and London sought permission from Party Chief Altaf Hussain to tackle the landlords and feudals extending patronage to the bhatta mafia. The committee examined the reports generated from the crime data showing that extortions made from different markets across the city were compelling the business community to shift their businesses elsewhere.

The warning, however, shook the law enforcement agencies out of their complacency as they launched a massive operation against extortionists following an announcement of a province-wide strike by traders on Saturday. But at the same time the PPP and the MQM leaders started accusing each other of their failure to curb the rising crime wave in the megapolis, reminiscent of the confrontation seen during Zulfikar Mirza’s stint as Home Minister.

Unfortunately, the menace shows no sign of abating despite repeated warnings to the Sindh Police by the superior judiciary which had taken suo motu cognizance of rapid growth in the incidents of extortion and killing. No serious effort seems to have been made by the government to purge the police force of appointments made on political basis which remain the main cause for the breakdown of law and order in the province.

What is significant is that for the first time Mr Rizvi has conceded his party’s inability to curb the incidents of extortions despite being part of the ruling coalition. The belated realisation requires the MQM to help the PPP find a political solution to the issue rather than setting deadlines or threatening to boycott the presidential address to the joint session.

1 COMMENT

  1. MQM has desperately used bycotting tectics on number of occasions for mere benefits, there were never clear reasons for boycotting or even threats for going out of Govt coalition.
    petrol prices were the best exan[mple for such threats and boycots.

    a day before they threat the Govt for mere small increase in oil products and stayed in Govt when prices went sky high !!!
    regarding Bhatt and Bhatta Maafia, it is interesting to note that MQM has started crying now.
    are thier more shareholders now??? this question requires answer.
    PPP,ANP and MQM all in the GOVT, to whom they are crying for
    such politically motivated tectics are our indicators of short sightedness and ignorance of Pak poilitics, which has strenthen its roots deep inside the Pak country.
    let us hope for the change which is evident inshaAllah

    Khalid
    Jubail,SA

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