While the ruling party’s sights would have been set on a possible sabotage by the opposition, the first threat to a historic moment for the president came at the hands of a coalition partner.
However, for yet another time, after high drama, sources said the situation was pulled back from the brink in a manner that has become the hallmark of the president.
After staging strong protests in the Sindh and National assemblies on Friday, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), an ally in the ruling coalition, announced that it will boycott the joint session of Parliament in protest against what it called increasing incidents of extortion in Karachi.
However, according to sources, the party took back its decision in light of assurances given by President Zardari in a phone call to MQM chief Altaf Hussain.
There was no official announcement regarding the reversal of the boycott decision.
The initial decision was made in a joint session of the MQM’s Coordination Committee in London and Karachi.
Late on Friday, however, the president called Altaf Hussain – and assured him that he had taken note of the situation, and had directed Interior Minister Rehman Malik to take action on the matter, sources said. Zardari also assured the MQM leader that he himself would call a meeting to address MQM’s concerns.
Altaf assured President Zardari that his party would support him if he took action against extortionists and criminals in Karachi.
The assurance worked – and, in a late night development, the MQM said that its lawmakers would attend the address, sources added.
The MQM had cited the government’s alleged ‘inaction’ and ‘non-serious attitude’ towards its demands to step up against extortionists in Karachi as the reason for its boycott.
Earlier protests
Earlier the National Assembly witnessed an uproar supporting the MQM’s demands – by both the opposition and the MQM itself. While the government remained silent, refusing to make any contradictory or reconciliatory announcement, the MQM amped up its protest.
“We will not let the president deliver his speech if the government does not take notice of the issue,” warned MQM lawmaker Waseem Akhtar, as angry lawmakers chanted: “stop extortion” and “save Karachi”.
The protests continued for about half an hour after the question hour session till Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi prorogued the house.
“We have approached every responsible person in the government, have given lists of identified criminals but there is no action,” Akhtar claimed.
He added that Karachi was a major contributor to the national exchequer and warned not to ‘expect this contribution’ if things remained unchanged. Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khursheed Shah expressed his bewilderment over the MQM’s protest saying, “I cannot understand against whom you are raising slogans”.
“Everyone knows who is behind extortion in Karachi … we need MQM’s support to curb the menace,” he said while urging the MQM to be realistic.
He also welcomed a suggestion by Sheikh Rohael Asghar of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for the constitution of a committee to probe the matter and report back to the house. “Those (political parties) who are found guilty (of extortion) have no right to be in politics,” he added.
Sardar Mehtab Abbasi from the PML-N said that all coalition partners share the Sindh government but the ruling PPP was mysteriously silent.
Questioning the interior minister’s credibility, Abbasi underlined the need for an ‘operation’ against those involved in extortion, irrespective of their party affiliations.
Advocate Parvez Khan from the Awami National Party (ANP) questioned MQM members, saying, “What steps have you taken to improve the law and order situation of Karachi?”
The MQM had supporters, but some cautious ones.
Sheikh Waqas Akram from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) was almost prophetic in his support. He sought a commitment from the MQM to not back off under the guise of ‘reconciliation’ with the PPP.
“Do not go for reconciliation with the PPP on extortion the way you have been doing in the past; otherwise we will believe your protests are nothing but a drama,” he said.
MQM’s firestorm of protests resonated in the Sindh Assembly as well, with Friday’s proceedings marred by intense demonstrations on the floor of the house. There were heated arguments between PPP and MQM members, while the latter left their seats, raised slogans and even carried banners in front of the speaker’s dais.
“Despite our complaints, some elements are supporting these criminals, giving them a free hand to loot and plunder Karachi’ites,” said MQM’s Raza Haroon.
“We want to tell these criminals who have the full backing of jagirdars (feudal lords) that this is Karachi, a city of Altaf bhai.”
The MQM also called for a “peaceful protest” in Karachi today (Saturday) against what it terms to be the “autocratic and undemocratic attitude” of the PPP’s representatives in the Sindh Assembly.
(Read: Bhattakhori and forcible conversions on the rise in Sindh)
Published in The Express Tribune, March 17th, 2012.
COMMENTS (20)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
MQM election strategy: Provoke ethnic riots in Karachi, Blackmail the government for concessions. Works every time.
This is not the first time . that MQM has staged a drama. Its boycott was only a minor drama. It is ridiculous that this party is fully involved in extortion of money in Karachi and other cities of Sind. It has lost faith in the public and cannot befool the people of the country anymore.. It is a party of opportunists. It has not yet clarified about the millions of dollars of Baber Ghouri which were brought in the Senate elections for the purchase of votes in the suitcse. Nobody trusts this party and its head . Its uturn has not surprised the people at all. It should feel ashamed .
The assurance worked – and, in a late night development, the MQM said that its lawmakers would attend the address, sources added.
Another QALABAZI, as expected by MQM = MUTAHIDA QALABAZI MOVEMENT
The old usual stuff. Seriously, give us a break. You call a strike; the city which supports you comes to a standstill; the people who vote for you suffer. In the end, its only us only who pay the price for your politics. As for your demands, no doubt extortion mafia is a serious threat, but you yourselves have also dabbed quite a lot in it. Your gangs also demand protection money from businessmen the same way as others do. We're used to that, and we don't expect the 'assurances' you get from our incompetent President to change anything. Can we at least get a break from the strikes now?
Chore Machai Shore The same old MQM style...
Two buses were being set on fire two in different areas of Karachi.
The usual MQM blackmailing tactice at critical moments culminating at bargains for its leader who has cases against him. It will be foolish to to think that MQM will ever go against the sitting government even in future as it has to protect itself from re opening of cases that were withdrawn once when Musharaf took them as partner and again when Zardari took them as partner. They are friends in need, friends in deeds.
Please watch Mujeeb ur Rehman shami views on Karachi, Before saying anything
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlBwrkpieso
MQM has exercised its muscle power profusely and blatantly in the past as pressure tactics. Now is the time when they gave up this student –n- street -politics – tactics, for they with such a huge vote bank and such organized organist ion can work wonders for this town, whole of Sindh and whole of Pakistan. And if they did not change themselves for positive, keeping the context in perspective, it could safely be said that it will surely be a looser in the future .
MQM is like ........Oops I did it again!!
“We want to tell these criminals who have the full backing of jagirdars (feudal lords) that this is Karachi, a city of Altaf bhai.” Does this not make it clear who are the extortionists?
It's election year - we will this happening very frequently in the coming month. Especially with a new amendment coming to help in Swiss cases.
Today here, tomorrow there and the day after...........................somewhere else. Salams
Today in the morning i got out of my house to fetch milk and bread for the breakfast and saw all the shops were closed. Upon inquiry found that mqm boys came on bikes and ordered immidiate shut down of all shops in the area. There were eople standing wanting to buy food for children but what a pity. I feel ashamed of this society which doesn't even have the guts to stanf up for its rights.
@blithe: I hope you get over your PTI-phobia soon, it's not healthy. This news piece is not about PTI, and yet you feel compelled to drag them in...why?
Once more...??? Can they stick to their demands? They cry on false demands to get increase in their hidden package with PPP.
Politics of "U-Turn" and "Crocodile tears" are hallmarks of MQM and it's not first time, they repeated it multiple time, they do it time and again. Such politics of blackmail and fake cries only expose their inherent weakness and double character.
People of Karachi will appreciate MQM for all these efforts.
Classic example of u-turns from MQM.
So what is new?
MQM and ANP have proved themselves to be nuisance parties. PTI, I fear, will be much the same.