Extortion and street crime: MQM puts the squeeze on govt with street muscle

Amid shouting, MPAs break microphones, protest that this city is Altaf Hussain’s.

KARACHI:

The curse of the Ides of March came a day late for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), as its coalition partner, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), put on a show of its street power inside the Sindh Assembly.

The hall turned into a veritable political rally. For the first time in four years, the house could not take up its agenda. Nineteen microphones fell victim to the fracas which involved arguments between PPP ministers and MQM representatives, including Nadir Magsi.

After attempts to restore a semblance of order failed, acting Speaker Shehla Raza adjourned the session until Monday, citing the “unruly” attitude of MQM members.

There were scenes to behold. The MQM MPAs, who were protesting against the rise of extortion threats in Karachi, threatened staff for not turning on their microphones, tore up printed copies of the agenda and bent the microphones of lawmakers who had been directed to begin Fateha prayers.

At around 11 am, the MQM MPAs entered the hall and began chanting slogans and held up placards. As the PPP watched, MQM MPAs began thumping their desks and stood on their seats.

MQM’s Raza Haroon said that extortionists had made the lives of the business community miserable in Karachi and they would not tolerate it any longer. “Despite our complaints, some elements are supporting these criminals, giving them a free hand to loot and plunder Karachi’ites,” he said. “We want to tell these criminals who have full backing of jagirdars (feudal lords) that this is Karachi, a city of Altaf bhai,” he added, referring to the MQM’s chief.

“We do not want to divide Sindh. But please do not create conspiracies and consider us third-class citizens. If it continues, the people of Karachi and Altaf bhai will be forced to make a decision.”

In their excitement, one MPA placed a placard on acting Speaker Shehla Raza’s chair but removed it, while Religious Affairs Minister Abdul Haseeb’s frenzied shouting almost caused him to faint.

The MQM demanded Raza take up their points of order but she wanted the Fateha to end first. When she asked PPP MPA Munawar Ali Abbasi to speak, a few MPAs, including Abdul Moeed of the MQM, bent his microphone and asked the staff to turn on theirs. They refused, and later told the media that they had been threatened.

Raza gave up on the prayers and asked Arif Mustafa Jatoi to ask questions but he couldn’t be heard amid the deafening chants. Some protesting MPAs tried to use his microphone and bent it when Jatoi refused.

Raza tried to appeal to MQM parliamentary leader Sardar Ahmed but his silence and the MQM’s refusal to back down led her to end the session for Monday,

While several MPAs filed out, the MQM’s representatives did not leave. Deputy Parliamentary Leader Faisal Subzwari said: “We are elected representatives and it is our duty to raise public issues, but unfortunately we are denied our rights even [here]. Many areas have been turned no-go areas. We will not let crime flourish in the city. Our people will come out to control the situation if government institutions fail to.”

The MQM did not leave the hall, and the staff switched off the lights.

Shazia Marri and Pir Mazharul Haq told reporters that the MQM has to respect the assembly. “This approach ... has really left us wondering,” Marri said, noting that extortion was not new to Karachi. “We know how people snatch sacrificial hides and extort from the business community. Many criminals have been arrested and we are making efforts to get rid of the menace.”

Haq said that if the MQM had concerns it should have contacted the chief minister.

Raza called for a report on the damage. According to sources, the microphones of the secretary and additional secretary along with 17 MPAs, including that on the desk Raza uses when she is not chairing the session, was damaged by the MQM.

Jatoi said his microphone was “smashed to pieces”. He requested that his questions be listed on Monday’s agenda.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2012.