Want change and a revolution? Join the MQM instead of ‘old faces', says party

Party’s membership registration drive to start today.


Our Correspondent February 08, 2012

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)

Mrs.Rizwan khan | 12 years ago | Reply

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..

Apnakarachi | 12 years ago | Reply

@Khawaja Faraz: Your comment is highly recommended.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ