Dr Mirza went too far, we’re told
Upside down, inside out. The laws of logic don’t apply to debates over Karachi. Many a cart is put before the horse, many a correlation is accepted as causation.
The current spate of killings in Karachi resumed when the PPP’s enfant terrible, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, as subtle as a sledgehammer as always, burst out against the MQM and its leader Altaf Hussain. To the liberati – and twitterati – it is Mirza who is to blame, not the activists on a rampage. Imagine the same line of reasoning being used in a similar situation anywhere else in the country.
True, Dr Mirza shouldn’t have gone off in a manner like that, at a time like this. It was uncalled for and impolitic. But the implication that it is he who has on his hands the blood of those killed in the subsequent riots is ridiculous.
The kid gloves with which the mainstream media treats those who call the shots in Karachi is evident in the low standards set for the latter and the pristine standards for anyone else in the city’s unfortunate turf war. In the commentariat, any explanation (any, any) that tends to be even-handed in its criticism, that tries to move beyond the Golden Mean Fallacy (“all sides are to be blamed equally”) is immediately trashed as one that does not know the true-ground-realities-of-the-city, a ruse used to justify anything and everything, from the 12th of May, 2007 to beyond.
Part of Dr Mirza’s diatribe was interpreted by some to be offensive towards not just the MQM but the mohajir community as a whole, for which he tendered an apology yesterday, endorsed by the Urdu-speaking members of his party.
A mercurial character, the doctor, displaying little of the respect that politicians usually have for time and place. In the past, his behaviour has ranged from refreshingly honest, to needlessly reckless to downright crass. But is the other side the epitome of maturity? The MQM is not known to pull any punches when it comes to the leadership of other parties, including the PPP.
Not withstanding the provocation, the MQM must learn to take criticism well, even of its top leadership. If it has taken offence at a particularly caustic swipe, it should pay it back in the same coin. The disproportionate response shown the other day resembles the uproar that followed the Danish cartoon incident. Secularism, anyone?
To speak against Altaf Hussain in TV channels and print media is a taboo. Imran Khan was one of the few who broke this taboo and called Altaf as a fascist and murderer. Imran Khan is on record to use equally harsh language against MQM supremo but MQM didn't take on Imran Khan. Zulfiqar Mirza said exactly the same words as Imran did but why this time this reaction resulting in loss of lives.
Very good editorial. Altaf Hussain is not a saint, he is as human as is Zulfiqar Mirza and therefore as long as he is in politics, his party must learn to endure criticism. It is also true that a lot of wrongs have been done, thousands killed and injured because of the style of politics of the leader of MQM, who himself wants to live comfortably in London, while Karachi is often set on fire, mostly at his call. Zulfiqar Mirza is also not a good man, who feels proud of calling himself a badmash. Similarly Wasim Akram is another man who spits venom from his mouth against other communities and political leaders. Was it necessary to wait for the death of 15 innocent Pakistanis and burning of over 100 vehicles, before Mr Altaf Hussain, whose follwers call him a PIR had his ego satisfied. The PRESS and ELECTRONIC MEDIA in Pakistan are either very afraid or have a bias when it comes to the MQM and the mistakes or utterings of their leaders.
Perhaps the best editorial on Karachi, role of MQM and men like Zulfiqar Mirza. Men who opt to come into politics and hence assume a public role have to learn to endure public scrutiny. Altaf Hussain is not a saint, nor should he be revered as such. He is a man with many weaknesses and qualities, as are others like Asif Zardari, Imran Khan, Nawaz Shariff, Munawar Hussain, Afzandyar Wali etc. Karachi has suffered enough. It is not politics if violence is used so often as is done in Karachi, mostly during protest calls by MQM. Karachi is the major port city of Pakistan and should not be allowed to be held hostage by one party. It is a city with a multi ethnic background and no ethnic origin or political party can claim to represent 100% of the population, given the role and quantum of violence that has been used in the garb of politics. Karachi must remain part of Sindh, because creating more administrative units will not resolve the issue, but what is needed is RULE OF LAW, justice and transparency. The MQM has a legitimate role to perform, given the support that it has amongst its constituency. But getting elected does give you a ticket to be above the law, violate the constitution and make life difficult for your opponents
Ref above, please read the last sentence as "but getting elected does not give you a ticket to be above the law, violate constitution and make life difficult for your opponents"
Congrats for such a bold editorial. Political parties in Pakistan, be they PPP, MQM, PML(Q), PML(N), ANP, JUI, JI, TI etc must understand that getting elected is not a licence to hold to ransom this country, its assets, security of citizens and the law. Zulfiqar Mirza should not have issued derogatory insults against the whole urdu speaking community, nor should Waseem Akhtar have insulted every Punjabi household. What GOES AROUND< COMES AROUND< to haunt you. If the MQM is so sensitive about such filthy outbursts, it must also exercise restraint. What Zulfiqar Mirza uttered was unacceptable, but what is even more unacceptable is the resort to violence resulting in death of 15 citizens of Karachi to appease the ego of Altaf Hussain and his sidekicks. It is time the STATE OF PAKISTAN exercise its writ and put a stop to this politics of blood, which has infested and haunted Karachi. The PPP, as the ruling party, must be seen supporting Rule Of Law and remain within the confines of constitution and stop putting hurdles in the efforts of Supreme Court to punish crimnals and robbers, who have been caught and being prosecuted. People like Babar Awan, Rana Sanaullah, Firdaus Ashiq, Kamal Mustafa, Kamal Ali Agha must learn how to speak in public.
telling it like it is. no kid gloves treatment here. that is why this editorial standsout among the host of other writings on the sad events. the mqm truly represents the people of karachi but they have to learn to respect alternate views.
This is second time I am commenting on this editorial. Pakistan Today is undoubtedly an independent newspapers unlike some others and particularly published from Karachi.It is very unfortunate that TV channels played a dirty role in recent violence in Karachi.
Coming to the editorial published today that the editor while criticising Zulfiqar Mirza has questioned the role of MQM. I fully agree with the last paragraph of the editorial which reads as follows:
"Not withstanding the provocation, the MQM must learn to take criticism well, even of its top leadership. If it has taken offence at a particularly caustic swipe, it should pay it back in the same coin. The disproportionate response shown the other day resembles the uproar that followed the Danish cartoon incident. Secularism, anyone?"
So Mr Altaf Hussain don't consider yourself larger than your size. You are not immune from criticism. Your policies can best be defined as ethnic, intolerant and murderous. Mr Altaf you are sitting in London and you may be gleeing to see the capitualtion of Mr Mirza but atleast he had the guts to say something about you which others can not dare to say.
Mr Altaf don't think that stupid remarks of Mirza and your instigation of people to ridicule Sindhis being branded as uncivilised etc etc will help harmony in Sindh. At least one thing is obvious that you did plan for Jinnahpurb and that you still consider yourself as mohajir and your party is still a mohajir Qaumi movement striving for a separate province but have you thought how will you achieve this???
Altaf Hussain is not a PIR and if the so called educated middle classes want to worship him like illiterates, the problem is with them and their mindset. He is as good or as bad as others like Shujaat, Fazalur Rahman, Shariff, Zardari, Zia Ul Haq, Musharraf, and Afzand Wali. He is human and there is no sacrilege if somebody has abused him. The blood of those killed in Karachi is on his hand and those who are in government.
The article is confusing to the extent of sheer rambling. It’s disappointing to notice how we are losing erudite journalists in the print media.
….and the first MQM troll arrives.
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