Myth of elitist Mohajir politics shattered, says Kamal

Says he plans to mobilise the people well ahead of 2018 elections

HYDERABAD: The myth of exclusive Mohajir ethnic politics has been shattered, senior Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) leader Mustafa Kamal said on Friday.

Speaking at the public meeting inside the Pakka Qila here, the PSP leader said: “The establishment, government, intellectuals, media and other people were always sold this impression (by the MQM) that Mohajirs can never break (away) from Altaf Hussain or (disown) ethnic politics even if they knew that their leadership is corrupt, inefficient and (working as) agents of RAW (the Indian spy agency),” said Kamal.

Thousands of people had gathered at the sports ground to listen to the PSP leaders rake MQM-London and MQM-Pakistan leaders over the coals and unveil the party’s future political strategy.

“But today, Mohajirs have broken this myth and demonstrated that they are with wisdom, education, harmony, civilization and (support) their country.”

The PSP succeeded in staging its maiden show of strength in the locality, which remained an MQM stronghold for decades.

The densely-populated fort, built in the latter half of the 18th century by the Kalhoro dynasty, holds the same importance for the MQM as its headquarters ‘Nine-Zero’ in Karachi.

Except for MQM, no other party was able to organise a public meeting inside the fort since 1986.

He told the crowd that his party would not wait for the 2018 general elections, but he planned to mobilise the people much ahead of this date.

Advising his supporters to press their elected representatives to serve them, Kamal urged them to ensure courteous conduct while doing so. “The hotline between London and Rehman Malik (the former federal interior minister) must not stop you from exercising this democratic right.” He also announced to hold a public meeting in Karachi on Jan 29 next year.

Deploring the ineffectiveness of incumbent elected governments at federal and provincial level, he pointed out that malnutrition killed 350,000 children every year despite the fact that Pakistan was a food exporting country.

“I want to do politics for these children and their mothers. I don’t want to do politics for the United States, Afghanistan and Kashmir.”

PSP’s chairman Anis Qaimkhani recalled the historical background of the Qila and said it was used to incite divisive politics of ethnicity in the 1980s. “But today, the residents of the same Qila are welcoming Sindhis, Punjabis, Balochs and Pakhtuns.”

Former health minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed, Ashfaq Mangi, Iftikhar Randhawa and others also spoke on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2016.