KARACHI:
The consensus among the press corps and political parties in Karachi is that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), a once vocal critic of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), has reached an understanding with the party.
Most press conferences called by either party feature a question or two on rumours of an alliance or an ‘understanding’. But on Wednesday afternoon, MQM Deputy Convener Anis Qaimkhani repeatedly noted that parties talking of “change” and a “revolution” – two key themes of the PTI – would not be able to accomplish it with “old faces”.
“People who have been tried and tested cannot bring about a change,” Qaimkhani said. He was speaking at a press conference at the party’s Khursheed Begum Secretariat to announce that the MQM was launching a membership registration drive on Thursday (today). Qaimkhani was joined on stage by several prominent MQM leaders, including Mustafa Kamal, Shoaib Bukhari, Nasreen Jalil and Amir Khan, the ex-Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi) leader who was accepted back into the party after he was released from jail last May.
The MQM will set up camps to encourage people to register. According to Qaimkhani, the MQM’s popularity across Pakistan had interested people in joining the party, which is why the MQM’s Coordination Committee had decided to launch a campaign. “We would like to give a message through the media that the ‘clean people’ in the parties that have called for revolution and change but have included corrupt people in their ranks, should join the MQM to bring about real change,” he reiterated.
The membership has been opened across Pakistan, but a reporter asked whether the party would be able to enlist new members in Balochistan, where an insurgency coupled with alleged state brutality has turned it into a virtual no-go zone. “We have offices across Balochistan in all districts and zones,” Qaimkhani answered. “The MQM is the only party campaigning for the rights of the people of Balochistan and we will have camps at our offices there.”
PTI and MQM
After the violence of May 12, 2007 – when gun-battles broke out in the city as then deposed-chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry arrived to address lawyers – PTI chairperson Imran Khan was barred from entering Sindh. At the time, he alleged to the Reuters news agency that this was “MQM’s fascist tactics” and he travelled to London later that year to present evidence against the MQM to Scotland Yard.
But much has changed on Pakistan’s political scenario since then. While in Karachi for his December 25 rally, Khan avoided answering questions on the MQM, asking reporters not to instigate a fight. For his part, MQM chief Altaf Hussain congratulated Khan on the success of his rally in Lahore in October. Imran Khan said last week that the PTI would consider working with the MQM if it ended its “politics of weapons”.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2012.
COMMENTS (18)
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I agree with one aspect that MQM does have the potential to bring about a change,however, it will need to change its old image,it has already done a lot of hard work to beautify the city,but all strikes in city are somehow being linked with this party,so it must work harder to bring to books those culprits who deface or destroy government property as then only poor people suffer if buses are burnt,they must work hard to bring down the prices of essential commodities of use to common man,and strictly monitor mischief mongers.MQM will need to have a new image,only then i feel this party is made for the people,by the people.of the people..
@Khawaja Faraz: Your comment is highly recommended.
Well when the leader travels in a private jet and attracts people to his jalsas by getting famous singers to sing in the rally! MQM proved it with their work and system in the party! it is indeed the party which i guess would hopefully be able to change the system quo! PTI is a power hungry party and will not be able to do anything with the people who are part of the status quo! PTI is just going to be another PML N and PPP!!!
The MQM has remained clean of landlords, Pirs, Gadda-nasheens, and tribal sardars. It has retained educated leaders (with real degrees), who have delivered to their constituencies, proof of which is that they have consistently been voted for by siginificant margins in Urban Sindh in the last 25 years. In spite of heavy propaganda, stereotypes, and negative labels against them, accusations of corruption have been minimal and the people's trust in them has largely been concrete. PTI cannot bring "permanent" change by granting top leadership positions to the same politicians who have been part of the corrupt status quo (that ironically it criticizes). On the contrary, MQM, has refused to bring feudal lords in its ranks, and with its middle-class, educated, and committed leadership fabric can steer the country's direction towards education and progress. They are not angels, but have managed to do well with whatever little power they were given (It is a big misconception that they exercise complete control over Karachi and Hyderabad; they only have influence in the Sindh governments policy decisions). When they had the mayorship of Karachi and Hyderabad, they did unprecedented work. Give them the government of Sindh and the province will be flooded with development. Give them Pakistan and revolution will come in a sure and silent way.
Its not the point that MQM can do it or can not, MQM has proved itself that only middle class , morover people who are the victims only they can solve problem.
I would say MQM because their unity and loyalty with Pakistan never changed like some other politicians.
I want to see MQM rule over the country.
So right, MQM is the only party that represents the majority of Pakistanis. It is very naive of people to blame MQM for being involved in violence. It is survival of the fittest in this jungle and I'm glad that they use any means necessary to get the voices of the people heard. They are the ONLY true representatives of the lower and middle classes. People can be so ignorant in Pakistan. They have a problem with MQM's methods, but they're ok with the fuedal system that has raped Pakistan for decades. I used to be a PPP supporter but left that party a long time ago when I realized they were useless. I was welcomed into MQM and have been working with the party for years. And I am very happy to say that I was actually able to contribute to society positively through MQM, something I could never do through PPP.
They are urban feudals and nothing more
They're no angels by any means, but you have to give them credit for being the only mainstream political party whose leadership fought its way from the bottom up (using whatever means necessary) to make their voices heard, rather than being handed everything to them by lineage or feudals. How many other political parties can say that they were founded by protesting middle-class college students?
I think this is the need of the hour that we should give them an opportunity to prove their mettle all over the country because they have, to a larger extent, proved their capabilities by discharging their duties in an efficient and organised manner in Karachi during the tenure of Mustafa Kamal. They have certain other credentials on their part like they are the only party who have brought new faces and new ideas in the parliament and most of their elected members came from educated middle classes or lower middle classes background which was a distant dream in the political scenario of Pakistan. The other good thing which i personally admire about MQM is the consistent stand of its party leader not to hold any public office either for himself or for his family which is again the unusual thing is the Pakistani politics. There are certain other factors which can be taken into account regarding MQM but suffice it to say that they deserve a chance at the national level.
@Ali Khan: Agree with MQM has guts nobody has, it has created parallel police in the form of sector incharges. MQM is in government (since Mush), why didn't they bring change?
I think MQM is the only party which can bring real "change" in Pakistan. Especially, young generation ought to support a party without feudals that has proven time and again by revamping the infrastructure of Karachi and Hyderabad. MQM has the guts undoubdtedly!!!
The only real Hope to this country.... educated people from middle class. Not people with slogans of change and revolution and owners of private jets....( they made Pakistan and they are the only hope to save Pakistan)
@ Truth. So true.
What change have they brought in for their Voters while they are in power since last 04 years.
The heading should be :
"Want change and a revolution using guns ? Join the MQM instead of ‘old faces'"
If the MQM ends its involvement in crime, it is indeed the party with the most potential. That, however, doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon.
Yeah, right.