MQM’s shenanigans

What it wants is anyone’s guess

Elections in Pakistan some 40 days ago were heralded as the harbinger of change though the result and aftermath of the results leave one bewildered if there ever were a chance of any change. In fact, what we are seeing is more of the same as the largest province, all alone, propelled one party to government in the province and at the centre, one province stayed the course and voted for the same political forces it has almost always done, the third one brought into power fifth party in the past five elections while the last one barely voted for anyone. Where that promised change is, about which every political party was so vocal about, is anyone’s guess.

However, the good thing is that the democratic mechanism has continued its path, except for perhaps in Sindh where it has hit snags. So far the Sindh provincial government has only eight ministers, five of whom were sworn in on Friday. This time, not much unlike other times, it is the MQM that has slowed down the process by not giving any response the PPP for its offer of joining in the provincial government, other than a silent treatment. The MQM, which after holding a referendum on the issue and counting the votes, hasn’t yet announced any results, or its decision what it wants to do, putting the PPP in a tough spot. Ethnic in origins, the Muttahida is a party that has always sided with the treasury benches whosoever was in government. And in a move very much unlike its character, it has decided to sit on opposition benches in the federal government, which might not be a bad decision to prove its political maturity. But it neither is willing to do the same in the provincial assembly nor has it made its intentions clear on what it intends to do. The MQM may gain some political mileage out of this confusion, or might force the PPP to give in to some of its specific demands, if it makes any, but this is putting the democratic process under strain. The PPP, on its part, needs to sort out its issues with the MQM and settle down on a power sharing formula.

The MQM also has an image problem. Critics accuse it of using street power when things don’t go its way, and with the recent calls for wheel-jam and shutter-down strikes the MQM is not helping itself. As tragic as they are, and highly condemnable, the killings of Muttahida’s leaders in no way justify bringing all activities in the economic hub of the country to a halt. This only fosters the perception that the MQM hasn’t yet matured into a mainstream party and employs tactics that are not entirely legal to get what it wants. It isn’t the only party that has lost its leader; PTI did too but it didn’t issue any call for strikes. The MQM should join hands with the PPP and eliminate the problem of terrorism in the city, and restore peace. Moreover, it needs to act responsibly and stop making life tough for others.