PPP gains as tug of war among MQM factions continues

Large number of activists belonging to MQM splinter groups have jumped ship to PPP in recent months

KARACHI: Contest over territory and power has always been characteristic of Karachi. While winners of the contest continue to vary over time, the race for becoming the ‘Karachi king’ remains a constant. With Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) – a major stakeholder in this race – having split into three factions in 2016 alone, it is the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that seems to be getting the lion’s share of the advantage begotten by the tussle between the splinter groups.

The struggle for power among the MQM factions has translated into major benefits for the PPP, which is the ruling party in the province. A large number of political workers associated with MQM-London, MQM-Pakistan and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) have joined the PPP in recent months apparently because their former affiliations failed to meet their expectations while they saw their fortunes with the ruling party.



On Sunday alone, around 20 political workers announced joining the PPP in a press conference at Bilawal House in Karachi. Among them, six were from MQM-Pakistan, including a labour councillor at Cantonment Board Faisal, three were from PSP and two belonged to MQM-London. Then on Tuesday, another 23 workers belonging to different political parties, including a senior member of MQM in Safoora Goth, Rizwan Ahmed, announced joining the PPP in a press conference chaired by Senator Saeed Ghani and Waqar Mehdi at Bilawal House.

According to the workers who have jumped the ship, this is happening because their respective parties have failed to provide them a strong political backing in the current scenario with the authorities having launched a crackdown against activists, especially those affiliated with the MQM factions.



Commenting on this, a worker, who had been with MQM-London, said PPP is a better option because it holds sway over the province. Also, he said, joining the PPP sends a message of defiance to the MQM-Pakistan and PSP who had been pressurising them to join their ranks. "The MQM-London network in the city has been taken down by the authorities,” he explained. “It has been left with no power and those still associated with it are either living as nobody or have fled their homes apprehending arrest at the hands of law enforcers. It is better to stay at home with your family instead of getting forcibly disappeared just because you have a tag of a particular political party on you.” He added that after August 22, most of the workers who emerged as supporters of the London faction have disappeared, either on their own or forcibly.

PPP influence in areas that were formerly considered strongholds of MQM can be gauged with symbolic presence of party flags. For instance, the MQM factions’ camps, which were previously taken care of by people affiliated with the MQM factions, are still there in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and others areas but with their loyalties having switched over to PPP.



There is also a tussle among workers who have joined the breakaway factions of the MQM. "Due to likes and dislikes, most of the workers are not opting to join the MQM-Pakistan and PSP,” said the worker. “They have their reservations over some personalities who they see as corrupt and criminal.”

Reactions to PPP’s ‘sway’

Talking about the development, PSP leader Waseem Aftab said that it shows that the political atmosphere in Karachi has gotten mature after the fall of the MQM. “It is a healthy practice, which would have its positive impact on overall politics. Had this happened [some time back], there [would be] bloodshed," PSP leader Waseem Aftab commented.

He, however, criticised the PPP for being one of the most corrupt political parties in the country. He said despite having ruled the province for the second consecutive term, the PPP gave nothing to the people in return. “People are deprived of even basic necessities. No health care, no jobs, no security.”



Meanwhile, MQM-Pakistan called it a malicious campaign on part of the PPP to hold a press conference, claiming that people were joining ranks with them. "PPP has never been a popular political entity in Karachi since the 1970s for it biased policies,” said MQM-Pakistan leader Aminul Haque. “People of the city rejected it because it delivered nothing [to] them [and instead] snatched away many things.”

In the upcoming general election, he said, MQM-Pakistan will surprise everyone by not only retaining its seats but gaining more. "All [the] leaders and workers of the MQM are intact under the leadership of Dr Farooq Sattar and preparing to clinch the 2018 elections."

According to PPP Senator Ghani, the political dynamics of Karachi has changed considerably after the crackdown against MQM. “The terror that earlier hovered over the city has been taken down and now people are free to express themselves,” he said.



He added his party’s leaders on the ground were in contact with dejected MQM and PSP workers and they were in large numbers. “Hundreds of workers have already joined us, more are in contact,” he said. “And they include workers of other parties as well, such as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz.”

Ghani hinted that some leaders of other parties, including MQM-Pakistan, were also in contact with his party. “In Karachi, PPP has intensified its campaign,” he said, adding the party’s doors were open to everyone.

MQM-London's Wasay Jalil did not respond when contacted.