Casting doubts on patriotism

Will not work

Our turbulent politics never runs short of providing the television news networks one exciting episode after another with reruns and follow ups – all for free. Such a presentation on March 3 kept the audience glued to their television sets for nearly three hours. The script was like old wine in a new bottle or like repetitive folklore. The story was rejuvenated as the storyteller was a rebel MQM stalwart and a former colourful character in the drama, who resurfaced in Karachi to deliver the sequel.

The passionate narration in the realty show nearly convinced the public mind, at least for the moment, to seriously consider the contents as real life events and not as some horror fiction. The production turned out to be quite a feat, as the insider reaffirmed hair raising tales (or facts) of organised crime, extortion, murders, money laundering, misplaced blind loyalty and political treachery.

Star performer of the show was Mustafa Kamal, a former Senator, a popular Karachi city Nazim and a blue eyed boy of the MQM chief. The one man supporting cast was another heavy weight and a former Rabita Committee Deputy Convener Anees Qaimkhani. Both descended together on the Karachi political scene after spending three years of self-imposed exile in Dubai (a safe haven for our political elite escaping from something) living with their families in self-acclaimed luxury.

A press conference was hurriedly put together for the same afternoon. The solo performance of a well-conceived three-part script of past, present and future exceeded expectations. The high note was an unprecedentedly belligerent direct attack on the leadership and person of Mr Altaf Husain that triggered a floodgate of similar blunt and intense accusations by many others, who earlier could not even dare dream of.

The duo claimed to be men of conscience. They attributed their meteoric rise through the ranks of MQM to hard work and dedication to the party. They claimed to have no part in the criminal activities that were undertaken by a section of the party under direct command of the chief (whom they had difficulty calling the quaid). In due course, they differed with the party policy and became disillusioned with the leader who was gradually turning wayward in his autocratic manner. Their conscience persuaded them to dissociate with the party and throw away their lucrative positions.

Fearing reprisals of their former mentor over their insolence, they quietly left the country with their families and abstained from active politics. Their conscience pricked them once again after three years. They owed it to the people to return to the homeland, fight the evil and tell the truth. They announced the formation of a new party (with no name) extending a general invitation to anyone willing to join. A knight in shining armor had entered the arena to deliver justice, peace and prosperity to Karachi and the Urdu speaking people.

Mr Kamal has adhered faithfully to the original script down to the last word during the unending follow-ups. His solitary target is Altaf Hussain. He never stops talking of his ruthlessness, excessive drinking and deteriorating mental and physical condition. He blames him for destroying two generations of the Mohajir youth and pushing them into a life of crime and violence. He has termed the Rabita Committee as a powerless body that is periodically humiliated and restructured in full public view. Its role is just to implement orders delivered from London and not to question why.

As expected, the entire front-line of MQM rallied behind their leader and dismissed all charges against the party and its leader as baseless and unfounded. Its prominent members are making desperate efforts to appear unperturbed with an air of business as usual and avoiding much comment. They consider the development as yet another conspiracy that is doomed to fail.

MQM was converted into a political party in 1984 from a student organisation that was founded in 1978 in Karachi. Its objective was to protect the interests of the ‘Mohajirs’, who perceived themselves as the victims of discrimination through ‘quota’ system that gave preference to certain ethnic groups for admissions to educational institutions and employment in the civil services. In 1997, it tried to extend its influence nationally from being ethnically regional and changed its name from Mohajir to Muttahida. The party has pursued a roller coaster ride with the establishment and other political parties, which have simultaneously supported and despised them.

Altaf Hussain emerged as its undisputed leader. With his charismatic oratorical skills, he was able to unite the migrant community under its banner. He consolidated his power through a disciplined organisational structure (of units and sectors) that filtered down to the street level and developed into a dreaded mafia. He had zero tolerance for dissent and his word was final in party policy. He gradually transformed into a cult and the loyalty of his followers became devotional. The workers were tasked to raise funds to finance the party as voluntary contributions by businesses. Soon, these converted into forced demands and extortion. Muscle power was indiscriminately used to coerce submission.

The timing of the current challenge thrown by the two rebels is significant. Altaf Hussain is reported to be suffering from multiple physical and nervous ailments. The transmission of his public addresses has been forbidden by law. He has been under investigation in murder and money laundering cases, during which Tariq Mir is reported to have admitted to Indian funding to MQM in an interview to British police. The Rangers operation has practically neutralised his militant wing through which he controlled his followers (or disciples). Sindh government is in no mood to let the elected MQM mayors take control of the cities. His leaders are having a hard time defending his vagrancies. A vacuum of leadership and race for succession is a distinct eventuality of his vulnerable incapacity or mortality. There could be no better time than now to stand up to him and show your hand.

Mustafa Kamal has not clearly spelt out so far the objectives or the manifesto of his new party. His attention, all his press talks and appeals have circled around MQM. He has tactfully refrained from speaking against any of his previous colleagues. The few who have joined him also hail from the same group. His main thrust has been to win the ordinary worker and is pleading general amnesty for those misguided involved in violence and crime, similar to one offered to BLA militants. After all, he is a branded product of MQM and charity begins at home. The mystery question is, will he beat them or join them?

MQM is a large ethnic minority group of over 20 million established voters and is a political force of the country. It has survived frequent previous onslaughts. If any rogue elements of the party members have accepted funding from RAW at some time, they must be tried and sentenced. To declare the entire party unpatriotic or Indian agents for the misdeeds of a few is like an attempt to destroy the entire political structure of the country. Going by our previous experiences, this must not be allowed to happen.

The forefathers of this community have rendered monumental sacrifices of lives, property and their ancestral homes (of centuries) to migrate in 1947 and adopt this region as their home. Their educated middle classes were the backbone to prop up the earliest administration of this country. This party has made its mark in public benefit and social welfare initiatives through its Al-Khidmat Foundation. Their people from Karachi and Hyderabad were the first to reach the northern areas in assistance of the victims during calamities like earthquakes. In cricket matches against India, they are the ones who support our team the most. Only fools or our enemies can discard their patriotism or sow seeds of discord for them on this ground.