File photo of Altaf Hussain. PHOTO: MQM/FILE
The MQM has never been an easy party to decipher. Some of what it says makes good sense. Its strong stance against militancy is commendable, as is its position against feudalism and the culture it breeds. But sometimes it is hard to understand quite what the party and its chief are aiming for, particularly given the fact that the sands shift constantly — as in the sudden reversal over joining Tahirul Qadri’s Long March.
In his most recent speech to party workers, MQM chief Altaf Hussain has raised the issue of linguistic and ethnic divisions. Mr Hussain said that if a uniform local government system is not introduced, ‘Urdu speakers’ may have no choice but to seek a division of Sindh. The matter, of course, goes back to the Sindh Peoples Local Government Ordinance of September 2012. The law has been controversial but raising the language issue is unfortunate. Today, we need unity rather than more divide. It is also true that the ‘Urdu’ issue has faded into the past. Today, Urdu is the language that links the country — and will undoubtedly expand further as the literacy rate increase. The dispute over the language is more or less non-existent and it probably does not need to be resurrected, simply because it is a matter that has been settled.
Mr Hussain also spoke on the dual nationality issue — raising the matter of Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s oath of allegiance to King George VI — and this may have come across as a bit confusing to some. The fact of the matter is that Mr Jinnah’s oath was required under the hastily-framed rules whereby Pakistan came into being after British colonial rule ended in India. Today, our Constitution bars dual nationality for ministers. Mr Hussain’s words could mean that a minister from his party would be torn between allegiance to the Constitution and to the party chief who is, indeed, a dual national. All our politicians need to move towards greater responsibility and maturity. It is time they learnt to do so, putting the national interest above all else. Others have erred in a similar fashion. It is time for them to rise above their own interests and play a part in guiding us out of crisis.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 13th, 2013.
COMMENTS (10)
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Dual nationals – especially those that were born and brought up in Pakistan but obtained a citizenship of another country have largely done so to take advantage of jobs and benefits of the country they are living in. It is not because they are double agents. Who do you think these people support when Pakistan is playing England or Australia? They will always support their motherland. They send dollars and pounds home. That is much needed foreign exchange that Pakistan doesn’t have. They lobby their local government on Pakistan’s behalf. That is goodwill Pakistan on its own could not generate. It is the same for Indians, Sri Lankans etc. So why deny them the right to vote?
Decision making of a GSM leader living abroad for last 2 decades couldn't be any better. It's not his fault.
Altaf sahib made it very clear that local govt system is equal to division of Sindh, as this will give them everything, whatdivision of Sindh will give it to them. Thanks for being honest.
Very well said. MQM needs to realize that its about time they look for a different leadership, otherwise they are heading downhill at the speed of 100 miles per hour like PPP.
wrapped up,intricately,in politics,he is not ,the one,WHO have tried time and again ,turn the tide to his political stance.
Pretty confusing editorial in which you skirt the two issues raised by Husain in his speech; namely Jinnah's character and 1947 rules under which Pakistan and India achieved Dominion Status within the British Commonwealth and secondly the sheer duplicity and anarchic politics preached and practiced by Husain and his MQM. In Jinnah's case he has got his history mixed up in order to equate himself with Jinnah as a character and his own duplicitous acts of seeking political asylum in Britain to escape capital charges pending against him in Pakistan. You can clearly see Husain muddy the founder of Pakistan to justify his sordid acts and the conspiratorial behavior of MQM's leadership in Pakistan. Secondly despite Husain's best efforts to show himself as a mainstream leader, yet time and again he exploits ethnicity and language to restore his legitimacy in the eyes of his followers when he knows he has come acropper and more so expliot Pakistan's contagion with regional and ethnic divisions that are splitting her apart from Frontier, which it has become than a province, to Quetta, to Karachi and to it's hinterland. He needs a doctor more than Jinnah ever did while bringing a nation into existance.
Altaf Please !
It is not easy to understand Altaf Bhai and predict MQM's next move. The Rabita Committee needs to strengthen the 'rabita' within the committee and reach a concrete decision before making public statements. Altaf Bhai is requested to consult the Rabita Committee before giving telephonic addresses. This will give him useful feedback about public opinion.
Anyways MQM seems the same one man party in a sense because no one makes core decisions except Mr. Altaf. First he says we are participating long march, all part leaders start praising long march, then he says we are not participating, all leaders start blaming long march. How ridiculous it's :-D
ET should call MAJ Quaid-e-Azam as he was the founder of the nation. Sure he does not have MAJ,NI MAJ,R.A etc on his name but it should be every Pakistani's way of showing respect to the founder. Mr Editor- you should encourage use of language to remember the Quaid and not shy away from using words which signify his importance. Words like these should at least be used within the literature and publishings in our country.