Differences of opinion: Ethnic tensions are manufactured, says Afaq Ahmed

MQM-Haqiqi leader opposes the creation of new provinces.

KARACHI: Over the last couple of weeks, the violence in Karachi has escalated ten-fold. The chief of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi, blames President Asif Ali Zardari. While speaking a press conference at his new house in Defence Housing Authority Phase V, he said that the president had laid the foundations for provinces to be divided on ethnic and linguistic bases.

“He is responsible for this,” he said. “The president has caused Mohajirs to wake up and ask for a province as well.”

Since being released from prison, Afaq Ahmed has been resolute in his belief that provinces should not be divided, however, he has repeatedly dodged questions on whether he would support a Mohajir province. “I will never do anything to work against the Mohajir people,” he said. “The wall chalkings [for a Mohajir province] and the rallies that you see can only happen with a political party’s backing.

“Whoever is behind this is using the Mohajirs emotions for their personal gain and this is why they don’t come forward and reveal who they are.”

Kalabagh Dam

Afaq Ahmed has been very vocal on the lingering issue of the Kalabagh Dam, which he sees as a proponent for fueling ethnic conflict.

He taunted nationalist parties by asking why they did not bother to do anything about it.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2012.