ISLAMABAD: Disenchanted with the government’s cosmetic measures to weed out extortion in Karachi, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement is laying the groundwork for a final parting of ways with the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government.
MQM leaders are increasingly dissatisfied with the government’s inaction and they are likely to come up with a final strategy very soon.
“We are keenly looking at the trends. If the government fails to curb extortionists, we would have no option but to leave this coalition,” a leading MQM parliamentarian told The Express Tribune.
Known for its capricious stances and for playing it by the ear, the MQM has not publicly declaring its intent to part ways with the coalition. However, insiders from both the MQM and the PPP say that once elections are imminent, the MQM will leave the coalition for obvious political reasons.
“Under the 20th amendment, caretaker governments in the provinces will be formed in consultation with the leader of the opposition in the province and the opposition would have a due share in that set-up. In such a case, it will suit the MQM to be in opposition, especially in Sindh, and get a lion’s share, as opposed to being part of the government,” said a PPP leader from Sindh.
The MQM is worried about its political clout in Karachi, its traditional stronghold, due to changing local dimensions. The changed demography of the city due to a huge influx of Pashtuns in the past three to four years; covert cooperation between the Awami National Party (ANP), the Mohajir Qaumi Movement, Sunni Tehreek and Lyari Amn Committee, which has resulted in a loose alliance against the MQM; and infiltration of extortionists and criminals allegedly backed by political parties in the areas that have been traditional domains of the MQM are matters of concern for the estranged government ally.
Moreover, sources said, the MQM also has apprehensions over small but politically significant changes that the PPP intends to bring in delimiting some of the constituencies in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, on the pretext of the Supreme Court’s order for improving the law and order situation.
The MQM had announced, last week, to boycott the joint session of Parliament but changed its decision at the eleventh hour following contact between the top leadership of both parties.
A few days later, MQM chief Altaf Hussain contacted President Asif Ali Zardari and reminded him of promises made before the joint sitting.
When contacted, MQM deputy parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Haider Abbass Rizvi said that the steps taken by the government in the name of so-called improvement of law and order in Karachi were “cosmetic”.
“Our satisfaction doesn’t matter here when it comes to the issue of extortion; the real problems are for the traders whose children are being kidnapped for ransom. More than 70 have been kidnapped so far,” Rizvi added.
Another MQM leader said, on condition of anonymity, that the government gave mere statements just so that the presidential address would sail smoothly.
“The MQM had withdrawn its boycott before the presidential address because it never wanted to cause any damage to the democratic process but now it seems that things are out of control for President Zardari and Rehman Malik,” he added.
“Requests made to the prime minister yielded no results as he is powerless ... We demand that President Zardari should take this issue seriously as businesses and industries would be destroyed in Karachi if the situation remained the same,” MQM MNA Waseem Akhtar said.
However, PPP leader Khursheed Shah was of the view that the government was sincere in exposing those involved in extortion.
“The PPP is ready to constitute a joint committee to probe extortion and other crimes in Karachi. Everybody knows who is actually involved in extortion. If the MQM is sincere, it should come forward and work with the government to eliminate the menace,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (16)
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A party which just cannot stay away from Power corridors is shedding crocodile tears, much that its also to be blamed for these conditions in karachi.
I like the MQM, but let's be real, they are only agitating against the government because PPP aligned groups are now eating into MQM's share of bhatta, that's all.
@Salman Orangiwala:
You are trying to say MQM is not mean? How many times during these 4.5 years of PPP government have they made similar statements? Aren't they losing respect, if they had any?
How funny! MQM never gets tired of passing on such statements.
What a joke! The party known for indulging in extortion or bhatta is championing the cause for eradicating the same. Give us break!
Can't wait for Zardari go on anti-corruption hunger protest.
Ya right
@ Amir , You people just day dream ...................... sorry to disappoint you .
MQM has done nothing for their people in this tenure so they have taken up this issue for election campaign, we all know how much these political parties are sincere
@Amir: MQM is only doing compromise because they know the situation of Karachi,but u don't know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Argument wins the situation but looses the person / organization" So, we should be careful for comments of major stackholder of Urben area of sindh because situations arenot important,people or organization like MQM are important. Think about it.........
I was a MQM supporter. NOT ANY MORE. If we have to take care of ourselves, why should they be voted and go to assemblies in my name?
This is the tradition of MQM to get set way from ruling government. she always adopts this policy when elections are closer to be held. she has no value for the interests of common people except the greed of ruling with led-governments
MQM decides to quit the ruling alliance "the Umpteenth time" :)
Hahaha........the MQM finally able to see its vote bank but people now least bother and look for the change. MQM is not trustworthy anymore.
What a joke! They have already left the govt. three times in 4 years I guess, and every time they tell that they won't sit with the govt in NA. Nothing new. They just don't want any share/partnership of extortion in Karachi that's all.