File photo of MQM chief Altaf Hussain. PHOTO: FILE
Hussain’s statement against ECP came after commission ordered the delimitation of constituencies in Karachi. Formulating new constituencies is a strategy to divide MQM’s vote bank, he said.
He further added that the creation of new constituencies is an unconstitutional act and considering this how can ECP promise free and fair elections.
While talking to the media in Karachi, MQM leader Faisal Sabzwari said, “Constituencies should be drawn nationwide. We refuse drawing up of new constituencies only in Karchi.”
The heat had been building up between Supreme Court and MQM since November 28 when the Supreme Court called for electoral constituencies to be redrawn in Karachi in a bid to ease the homicide rate.
Earlier, Altaf Hussain had called the court’s remarks on delimitation of new constituencies “unconstitutional” and “undemocratic”.
Despite, MQM’s reservations, the chief election commissioner dismissed the party's concerns against delimitation and pressed ahead.
COMMENTS (22)
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Hairaan has pointed to the correct circumstances. Sorry to use the words, but MQM works like a dung-beetle, they are having when dung is offered to them free, but come out on the streets and threaten even to the Judiciary, when they are restricted to get free dung.
So why is that when MQM plays unfairly then it is alright but if someone tries to correct it then it is a foul play. Why Altaf Hussain doesn't appear in person at SC and tell the court them what it is, or ECP is doing is all wrong. If he can't come to Pakistan then please sit in Queen's land and enjoy it. Pakistan is for Pakistani's only.
Everybody knows the reality of MQM and Altaf Hussain. So please stop fooling others. If anybody wants to vote for them, its their choice. But dont say that Altaf went to London because he was going to be victimized.
@Baloch: With all the due respect I would like to differ with you.Baloch leaders have been given chance to come back to Pakistan more than once. Door is still open. Please think as a Pakistani and not from specific region. Most of the migration is secondary to economic reasons and not political.
@Blithe: Very good point. I agree with you.Pakistani media should not even print his statement. He is no more relevant to Pakistan.
@Muhajir: There is no body as muhajirs after 66yrs. They are all Pakistanis . Please do not play this card. And open your mind. The original people who migrated from India, they have passed away, almost 99% of them . So do not call muhajirs yourself or to any body else.
@Baloch: Out of all martial laws this country has seen, only one General was Punjabi, I.e. zia-Ul-Haq (he was Arain technically and not pure Punjabi). Rest were all non-Punjabi so get your facts straight, look at yourself in the mirror because its not the mirror that's giving the wrong picture, it's the person looking in the mirror!!
I am not a supporter of MQM but personally feeling that this decision is very biased & against the people of Karachi. If they wanted to do demarcation, then why not in rest of Pakistan? And Why only 48 days before Elections?
Besides the demarcation is done in Defence, Kimari & Clifton areas where there is relative peace. What does the Supreme Court wants to Exhibit??
@baloch: no they are sitting there because they are taking money from both sides. from the pakistani (intelligentia) side as well as the other side (I am not naming others because they aren't limited to India only but Arab countries too desperate to see us inferior race with A-Bombs in Afghan like situation). Iran helps mediate these sort of things with sardars because in Saddam's era huge cache of arms were found in Iraqi Embassy compound to help you guys alongside sistanis to create a state. no one (except Balochis) can go to Balochistan nowadays and the more you show this sort of behavior to other Pakistanis, the more you differentiate yourself based on your ethnicity and a perceived superiority complex which comes with it the more the majority of people will hate you. And remember Pakistan isn't in 70s anymore, we have very solid defense structure which will prevent any monkey-business if the cat is still dreaming of meatballs.
no baloch sardar is honest, if they were, they'd have built something (atleast something) in balochistan, its not as if you get paid nothing in budget and royalities! apart from that last time I visited a year back there was virtually no load-shedding of any sort in most of Balochistan.
ask yourself this question: are punjabis against your girls going to schools and colleges or quality education (Balochistan has worst education and health system in the whole country) and it doesn't stop there you also kill those people of other ethnicities coming and helping you in education and health. Balochis are one of the most well-to-do people and yet they can't start Private schools or pressurize their local governments to enhance the quality of tuition.
I have nothing against Balochis but trust me every punjabi isn't the same, not every punjabi belongs to riwind and gujranwala, not every punjabi works for Pak Army, and not every Punjabi is responsible for your situation (you and your sardars are), and not every Punjabi is living in Heaven lighted up by your Natural resources.
as far as Altaf is concerened, only instable people can really take him as their leader. the way he talks, the way he does this business of his in Karachi. He is but God Father (even God Father and Mafia has some dignity in their way of doing business with innocent people, a set of moral guidelines which they follow strictly unlike him).
Baloch:i agree with your opinion in terms of Army excesses in Balochistan but as for Altaf Hussain,what about now?Why is he not coming back to Pakistan while his party has been sharing power for more than a decade? If you want to defend actions of a man like Altaf 'bhai' better use some solid arguments. P.S. i hope tribune publishes this comment too,people should not be fooled in guise of the so called truth.
On same wavelength with our Made in Canada "Shaikh Ul Islam." Two peas in the pod, match made in the Dark Hole of "Strategic Depth."
"....from time to time it forbids me to do some thing which I am going to do, but never commands anything. This is what dters me from being a politician. And rightly, as I think. For I am certain, O men of Athens, that if I had engaged in politics, I should have perished long ago, and done no good either to you or to my self. And do not be offended at my telling you the truth: for the truth is, that no man who sets himself firmly against you or any other mutitude, honestly striving to keep the state from many lawless and unrighteous deeds, will save his life; he who will fight for the right, if he would live even for a brief space, must have a private station and not a public one". (Apology- Plato) Why are we Baloch and Muhajir till the day of judgment? When will we be Pakistanis? Why don't these leaders become national leaders instead of a leader of a particular group or clan? The matter is, that we always help in igniting the divide based on ethnicity. The matter is not that of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and KPK, but of the politicians who set there forever and fight against the system in this country. If someone is interested in changing the corrupt system, which you are talking about, he/she should come and fight it from within instead of living in the UK and or Switzerland and struggle against it on the Telephone. If they want to change the system, they should start from their own selves. Come back, face the allegations, fight and win. When some one is not even ready to share the atrocities (according to them) done against this nation, how on earth, do they pretend to know the feelings of the people, who are going through these atrocities and injustices which they are, day in and day out, talking about? They are biased and corrupt and are the one who corrupted all the system; they are not the honest leaders. Where was Mr. Nelson Mandela, when he was struggling against the odds of ethnicity in South Africa? Was he in the UK, Switzerland or the USA? Wake up, whoever you are, these so-called leaders used us in the past and they are using us again. If we, still, don't understand, then these leaders are clever enough to to make us fools, and they have every right to that. We deserve to be abused on the hands of these 'gurugantas'. We deserve to be in the "fool's paradise" for the rest of the history and beyond. " ...Virtue is not given by mony,.......but whichever you do, understand that I shall never alter my ways, not even if I have to die many times". (Apology..)
Although it is true that the delimitation should be done in all of Pakistan and after the conclusion of a proper census, the MQM should defer to the judgement of the SC, if it respects the independence and supremacy of the SC. The ECP has been directed by the SC to conduct the delimitation, and until this decision is reviewed by the SC itself, it is binding on the ECP
Moreover, comparing the plight of Balochi leaders to that of Altaf Hussain is, in my opinion, unwarranted. Balochi people (and their leaders) have been targeted incessantly and aggressively by the powers-that-be. On the other hand, despite having had operations conducted against them (many many years ago), the MQM has wielded much power (both political and on the street) in Sindh and Karachi, in both the Musharraf era as well as the recently concluded provincial government. One would imagine that with such power, Altaf Bhai would be safe in at least Karachi. But instead of coming back to Karachi to lead his followers (as he is after all a major political personality), he has decided to gain a UK citizenship (which, as highlighted by others on this forum, disqualifies him from ever holding public office in Pakistan). Balochi leaders have had to escape to protect their very lives, while many have stayed behind and have paid a high cost (Nawab Akbar Bugti immediately comes to mind). What has consequently happened to majestic Baluchistan is an absolute shame. The plight of Baluchistan (including that of its leaders, and its people) with that of the MQM is not a cogent comparison.
Finally, to those who're playing the muhajir card, please remember that the MQM is MUTTAHIDA Qaumi Movement, and not Muhajir Qaumi Movement.
Just my two cents, A Karachiite who is first a Pakistani, and then a muhajir.
Well when the constituencies were modified in Musharaf era to benefit MQM then he was very happy and also had full confidence on ECP.
Too bad.Now it ll be very difficult to stuff the ballots with fake votes.
@Syed A. Mateen: In Pakistan elections have never been won or lost at the polling booth.
@Blithe: @Saghir: He took asylum because of army operation against his party and people by punjabi army. Ask any Baloch leader why they're sitting in Switzerland or England or anywhere else, they'll tell you the reason why. I'm not an MQM voter but I feel his pain because our Baloch people are going through the same torture. Every community in Pakistan is facing or has faced operations in some form except Punjab!
p.s. I hope tribune prints this comment, readers should know the truth
You are a British citizen and took asylum there, You are not contesting elections so please don't interfere in Pakistan.
I personally don't think that delimitations of constituencies is going to make any difference on the results of elections, as a MQM voter will remain MQM voter, no matter wherever he or she lives in Karachi.
People migrating from all over the country to Karachi which has been built into Karachi by the Muhajirs .Now the biased Judiciary wants to curb the rights of the Muhajirs .
and @ Rabael , If this malafide delimitation is to be done why not in KPK or in Punjab as well ?
There is nothing wrong in Supreme Court and ECP's decision. Only those parties who are dependent on Ethnic Differentiation as the soul basis to garner Votes should be actually worried after this decision.