Rehman Malik just might have another trick up his sleeve

With Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s landing at Karachi airport and contacting the leadership of Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) requesting them to review their support to the call extended by Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) Chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s for the long march, the MQM is all set to re-examine its previous stance and any announcement in this regard will be made public today (Thursday) or on Friday, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Well-placed sources in the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the MQM while talking to this scribe, gave off strong hints about the possible backtracking of MQM Chief Altaf Hussain from his previous announcement to support Dr Qadri’s long march scheduled to start from January 10. On Tuesday night, the MQM chief had announced to support Dr Qadri’s long march and had also called him and exchanged greetings for a successful show of power at Minar-e-Pakistan.
On the occasion, Altaf had stated that he stood together with Dr Qadri until the end of the corrupt medieval feudal and familial political system while promising full support to his revolutionary struggle. He called upon the youth of Pakistan, particularly of Punjab, to strengthen their arms and bodies for the call of January 14. He informed them to wait for the final call of the MQM Rabita Committee, according to a press release issued by the MQM on Tuesday.
“Yes, initial contacts have remained successful and we hope to get a positive response,” said a PPP leader requesting anonymity. The PPP leader added that the party believed that interior minister Rehman would pull another surprise in this regard and the MQM’s Rabita Committee might overturn the decision announced by Altaf earlier.
Sources in the MQM also confirmed that a review to Altaf’s previous decision was on the cards. “In principle, we have full agreement with the agenda set by Dr Qadri. However, some of our members have reservations over the modus operandi of the demands to be met. Since all the members of the Rabita Committee were here in Hyderabad to attend the funeral of party’s senior leader Anees Ahmed Khan Advocate’s father, we will meet tomorrow (Thursday) in Karachi to start discussions over the issue,” a MQM leader and a member of the Rabita Committee told this scribe.
He said that Altaf had not yet announced a final decision in this regard and his statement should be taken as a principle decision to support the agenda set by Dr Qadri. “Despite agreeing to his agenda, we will ask Dr Qadri as to how he wants to achieve his objective. Consultations within the party are on and we are also in touch with Dr Qadri to evaluate his procedure. We will announce our decision soon,” said the MQM leader.
When contacted, MQM spokesman Wasay Jalil said that the Rabita Committee would meet on Thursday to take a final decision in this regard.
“Though Quaid-e-Tehreek Altaf Hussain has announced to support Dr Qadri’s move, there is still no word about the modus operandi. We want to know how he will implement his strategy to get the job done,” he concluded.