'Muhajir parties should band together for the good of the community'

MQM-Haqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed speaks to The Express Tribune on politics, community and Muhajirs

KARACHI: The Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) - Haqiqi chief has said that if Muhajir-centric political parties such as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) - Pakistan and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) do not evolve a strategy together to find common ground, there are chances that they will end up with nothing in the 2018 election.

In an interview with The Express Tribune, Afaq Ahmed said that given the change in the political landscape of the city, he wanted all these parties to put their differences aside and join hands to fight their common rivals - the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

"The Muahjirs have had enough of fights amongst themselves. They can't sustain [this] anymore," said Ahmed, who has allegedly equally shares the responsibility for the violence in the city with MQM-Pakistan, admitting that he has learnt from his past mistakes. "Yes, there have been some things that should not have been," he admitted.



Backdoor channelling with MQM

He does not refute reports of backdoor channelling with the MQM, PSP and other parties. According to him, he is open to negotiations, as he has been in the past. "In 1994, I had extended my hand to Altaf [Hussain] through some mutually respected people but he never replied in a positive [manner]," he claimed.

"Yes, my associates in the party are in touch with the MQM. They meet and hold talks frequently. As far as the elections are concerned, I believe we can do some seat adjustment if there's an agreement," said Ahmed, adding that the same is the situation with the PSP.

About the fate of the party without Dr Farooq Sattar behind the wheel, he is sceptical. "The way this division has been created gives enough room for Altaf to strike back. And maybe he can do so. He still has his network with some support in the city," he theorised.

The formation of PSP

On the mention of the PSP, Ahmed said Mustafa Kamal and Anis Kaimkhani are like younger brothers to him and he advised them that they should 'keep in mind that whatever they do or have been asked to do should not conflict with the interests of the [Muhajir] community'.



Interestingly, he praised Kaimkhani. According to him, he was the person who ran and maintained the whole structure of the MQM. "Anis was a very hard worker and loyal to the party. He should not have been treated to insults by Altaf. This actually broke his heart and he went out of the country and then returned to announce his own party with Mustafa Kamal," he related.

Ahmed denied prior knowledge that the two would form their own party. He said that he got wind of the plan and called up Kaimkhani "I call him Kakati. I asked him, 'Kakati kya kar rahe ho yeh tum?' He replied 'kuch nahi Afaq bhai. Aesa kuch nahi he.' But then some days later, he was in here in Karachi."

 Musharraf saga  

Referring to former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf as an 'isolated and frustrated' man, Ahmed said that he wanted to overtake the MQM after the minus-Altaf formula. "He will not succeed in this though. No one takes him seriously now. His time has gone," he said.



The MQM-Haqiqi chief said the former president put all his efforts into convincing people to swear him in as the new leader of the Muhajir community but no one actually considered this option seriously.

MQM-Haqiqi's line of action

After a considerable period of time, MQM-Haqiqi has made its presence felt. In a recent women-only gathering at RCD Ground in Landhi it has portrayed an impression that it still it holds some ground in the area.

"MQM-Haqiqi has started its campaigning on the ground. We received warm welcomes almost everywhere we go. It is a good sign and we are hopeful that the coming times will not only be better for us but for this city too. We should look forward and let bygones be bygones," he commented.