PML-N leaders mock MQM rally

“It was a rental rally. Most of the participants were brought from Karachi,” says Ahsan Iqbal.

ISLAMABAD:

Punjab’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has reacted angrily on Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) rally in Lahore, calling it a flop show and predicting no room for the Karachi-based party in the province.

“It was the most expensive rally in the country’s political history. Millions of rupees were spent but the desired results could not be achieved,” a spokesperson for the party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said in a statement.

“It was a rental rally. Most of the participants were brought from Karachi,” said Ahsan Iqbal, a PML-N member of the National Assembly, echoing accusations by some segments of the media that thousands of MQM supporters were brought in from Karachi on trains and buses to bring them to Lahore, the venue, from MQM’s power base. Ahsan Iqbal appeared to be claiming credit for letting the MQM hold a public rally in Punjab despite political differences with them.

“It shows one thing…there are political and democratic liberties in Punjab,” the spokesperson for Sharif’s party said.

“I wish same liberties are also there in Karachi,” he added referring to what opponents often blamed restrictions by the violent activists of the MQM to carry out political activities in its stronghold.

Iqbal also ridiculed MQM’s often-repeated slogan of ridding the country of feudal system and promoting the middle class in the country’s elite-dominated politics. The MQM, however, thanked the provincial administration for letting it carry out the public rally in its backyard. The party’s statement particularly mentioned Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th,  2011.