‘When India and Pakistan can sit for talks, why can’t MQM factions?’

MQM-Haqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed calls for unity to save Muhajirs’ share in country’s politics

KARACHI: Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) - Haqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed has endorsed the idea of talks among Karachi-centric parties – Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) - Pakistan and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) to be more precise – for a possible reunion or, let’s say a coalition, in the upcoming general election.

In a press conference at his office-cum-residence in Defence Housing Authority, Afaq said he was ready to support all the efforts to centralise the vote bank of MQM-Haqiqi, MQM-Pakistan and PSP since these parties represented the urban populace of Sindh and held opposition to the sway of Pakistan Peoples Party.

“It is essential that all the stakeholders unite to save the Muhajir nation’s share in the politics of the country,” he remarked, saying that when India and Pakistan could hold talks for a peaceful resolution of their matter, why the MQM factions, who have a violent past like the two countries, can’t.



His endorsement lent credence to reports that these parties were already in talks, having an apparent admission that among them no one was in a position to maintain the mandate that a unified MQM had over Karachi, Hyderabad and other urban parts of the province.

One of the interesting parts of his press conference was that he believed there was an ‘artificial political vacuum’ devised in the city by the policy makers of the country and they were forcing a puppet leadership in the veil of PSP onto it. Interestingly, back in 1992, he was accused and deemed as a similar actor whose strings were pulled from somewhere else.

During the talk, he appeared rather prepared and apparently spoke from his experience when he advised the PSP leadership, referring to them as his ‘younger brothers’, to make sure that whatever they are asked to do from a certain quarter in the establishment should not conflict with the interest of the Muhajir nation.



Reportedly, meetings have been held at neutral points between the MQM-Pakistan and MQM-Haqiqi leadership with the mediation of their mutual friends over a possible merger. Reports further suggest that the two have extended their willingness to do so but a disagreement remains over the leadership.

Suggesting that a merger was not necessary for a ‘reunion’, the MQM-Haqiqi chief said the parties could also form an umbrella organisation to tackle the challenges of the hour. He added that during this time, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and other parties, who never cared about the city and its people’s wellbeing, were trying to gain more by investing from the resources they held being in power.

The MQM-Haqiqi chief also announced that his party will be expediting its political campaign on the ground and, thus, a women convention will be held at RCD Ground in Landhi on May 11. After that in July, the party will hold a public gathering in Nishtar Park to show its strength, he added.



Commenting on a possible future course, he said that the parties could also agree on a seat adjustment in the upcoming general election as, according to him, there was no other way out to save the mandate of urban populace of Sindh.

Afaq also extended his invitation of a coalition to PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari. He said Zardari should have also come to the forefront when the Centre posted a non-resident person, Mohammad Zubair, as the Sindh governor. “There could be only one natural alliance in the province and that is between Sindhis and Muhajirs.”