Finding direction
Now that MQM is tabling a resolution of its own against Altaf Hussain in the National Assembly the fallout of Farooq Sattar’s Aug23 press conference is becoming clearer. Therefore, reports that Sattar is complaining of inadequate security should be taken seriously by the administration. The great re-engineering of Karachi, of sorts, which is underway right now should not face any unnecessary stumbling blocks. Clearly even shaking the party to its core – making Altaf irrelevant in this case – will not shake the party’s vote bank. The people continue to believe in it and an orderly transition to a more stable leadership is urgently needed.
The matter of Karachi’s new mayor is another problem altogether. Once again the party makes history by electing a mayor in jail – just as he is being investigated for some very serious charges. Now those really running the show have a very narrow range of options to chose from regarding Waseem Akhtar’s new responsibilities. One, he could be provided a working office within prison premises. That is hardly likely to work though if the investigation lingers a while. Two, turn Akhtar’s home into a sub-jail. That, too, might present problems, since the mayor would have to be on the move often enough.
Or three, consider the option of parole. Granted, the investigation must proceed uninterrupted. But so must the office of mayor function without any undue interruptions. It has taken some doing, after all, to bring the LG process full circle. It took considerable arm-twisting from the Supreme Court, no less, to force the government into holding local body polls. And even though today’s mayors will be but a shadow of previous mayors – in terms of power, at least – there is still a lot on this mayor’s plate as he assumes office. Hopefully promises of ‘taking everyone along’ and ‘working together’ will outlast the immediate aftermath of the appointment. Karachi is too important a city to be allowed any more controversy.
