Pakistan

Govt committed to ‘uneasy’ alliance with MQM

Top PPP leaders observe alliance with MQM as important to save Karachi from further bloodshed.

Zia Khan October 20, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Top Pakistan Peoples Party leaders on Tuesday regretted what they perceived as the ‘hostile’ attitude of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) but decided to continue an ‘uneasy’ alliance with the party despite all odds.

Meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, the PPP core committee observed the alliance with the MQM as important, at least for the time being, to save Karachi from further bloodshed. This development has come two days after the MQM threatened to quit the ruling coalition in protest at the government’s failure to curb target killings of its workers.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik reportedly briefed the meeting about the latest spate of killings in the city and sought more powers for law-enforcement agencies.

However, the demand made by one of PPP stalwarts as well as the Awami National Party (ANP) to hand over the city to either the military or the paramilitary rangers was cold shouldered.“This is out of question … the statement of one of our party colleagues about this was his personal opinion,” a participant of the meeting told The Express Tribune. The growing hostilities between the PPP and the opposition Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz in Punjab were also the focus of the meeting. The meeting weighed several options to counter the ‘undemocratic forces attempting to topple the government’.

Another participant said the party leadership had decided not to enter into any hostility with the MQM to ‘save Karachi from further violence’. “We won’t let the situation reach the point of no return. We will continue our policy of reconciliation,” one of Zardari’s close aides quoted him as saying. The president directed the interior minister to submit a comprehensive report on the situation in Karachi and said that those behind the killings be brought to justice regardless of their political affiliations.

‘Call in the military’

Earlier in the day, one of PPP leaders, Nabeel Gabol, said Karachi should be handed over to the army, adding that the government has failed to curb target killings. Speaking in a private TV programme, he said reconciliation needs to be put aside and the Karachi situation focused.

President of ANP’s Sindh chapter, Shahi Syed, also demanded the deployment of the Army in the city. Condemning the killings of a large number of labourers and daily-wage earners, he said the government has failed to check killings and political extremism because of its policy of compromise.

PM Gilani

Alarmed by the ongoing wave of violence in Karachi, Gilani on Tuesday ordered strict vigilance by law enforcers. The premier rang up the interior minister, governor, chief minister and home minister of Sindh and directed them to “sit together to resolve the issue,” said a statement issued by the prime minister’s media office.

This comes amid reports that peace in Karachi is a big factor in determining the fate of political setups in Pakistan. A couple of days back a leading Middle Eastern newspaper saw in the latest spree of violence in the multi-ethnic city a familiar pattern that has been behind the fall of governments in the 90s.

MQM MNA Dr Farooq Sattar also telephoned Gilani and discussed the ongoing wave of target killings in Karachi.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AGENCIES

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2010.

COMMENTS (15)

Liaquat Ali | 14 years ago | Reply @Hira Mir Here is one point of view about the terrorism in Karachi: http://www.khabraingroup.com/column-corner-detail4.htm Most if not all of the police force in Pakistan is recruited out of "men who lack basic needs, from the rural area" as well. So are you saying that if all people become well-fed they will stop joining the police force?

Hira Mir | 14 years ago | Reply @liaquat. I do not believe terrorism to be a political strategy. We have been saying this for many years and now we are suffereing due to this denial mode. As far as poverty is concerned, majority of recruitment militants are men who lack basic needs, from the rural area.

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Dr. Asad Sadick, Germany | 14 years ago | Reply PPP has no guts to go without MQM. They would be doomed and they know it. They hate each other anyway.

Imran A Azeem | 14 years ago | Reply Both the parties have different agendas MQM is talking aboout middle class rule and PPP having a huge background filled with corruption & capitalist charges.

Liaquat Ali | 14 years ago | Reply @Hira Mir Terrorism is a political strategy used by certain well-fed actors. Poverty has nothing to do with terrorism. There are many countries in the world where the populace is poorer than Pakistan, but has no terrorism. The reason is that the populace has given up their otherwise inalienable rights in favor of their ruling elite. The youth recruited in the UK for terrorism are not poor. Those conducting terrorism in Karachi are not poor. They are reasonably fed.

Liaquat Ali | 14 years ago | Reply @Gogi You may be correct, but you may not be factoring in the power of a government communique in the international circles. The other governments around the world honor the words of the Government of Pakistan unless proven otherwise. They have to. As long as the PPP government is giving the PR lip-service to the MQM, it cannot just say we don't believe you. The onus then is on the MQM to prove that the PPP were not serious. Besides, do you think that the PPP will stop the killings? The only way the PPP will stop the killing is when it is out of the government. Until then, it does not matter if the MQM is in the government or not.

Liaquat Ali | 14 years ago | Reply Here is Faisal Abidi acknowledging the nature of jiyalas. Watch 4:52 till the end. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcUi1SE9OeA&feature=related Here is the shameless acknowledgment of PPP jiyalas "right". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgcYHZHcxUI

Hira Mir | 14 years ago | Reply @gogi. Rightly so poverty is increasing ground recruitment for terrorist organizations such as Taliban who with ease convince vulnerable to stand against the State.

ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply All i know is, is that MQM actually worked in developing the city of Karachi and helping out its people. Since the mayor left, NOTHING has happened. It's sad to see a Pakistan in which the first question is 'are you mohajir?' 'are you pathan?'. This govt and other political parties need to be be brought to justice!

Abdul Nasir Saggu | 14 years ago | Reply it is the most strange alliance. Each party blaming other for killing of its workers and yet it is called alliance. In my opinion it is unnatural union for respective interests of the parties

Gogi | 14 years ago | Reply Before they "crash and burn" not much will be left in this land of the PURE..MQM should move away and lay low...let the PPP find new bed fellows.

Sohrab | 14 years ago | Reply @Liaquat Ali: Much of what you have said about PPP's government may be true but the fact remains that Karachi has been a killing field much longer than the PPP has been in power this time.

Liaquat Ali | 14 years ago | Reply The PPP government is messing with the Army, the Judiciary, and the media. It seems to be an unwanted guest for a short period of time. The MQM should not take the blame of its failing. This is something ex-Mayor of Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal emphasized in his interview with Kamran khan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0OOMH_hZHk The PPP won though sympathy votes in 2008 due to the unexpected political assassination of Benazir Bhutto. This is PPP's last opportunity in the government. The PPP must crash and burn on its owns accord. If the MQM expedited its death, it may unfortunately get a sympathy lease to its life in the form of King Bilawal.

azzeex | 14 years ago | Reply Why PPP and ANP are poking the nose in calling the ARMY to take over the Karachi even they are not in quantity. Must ask with the large population of KHI that what they want !!!!

Gogi | 14 years ago | Reply another day another dollar for the rulers in Islamabad...poor will die as they always have.

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