Karachi operation: 6 member committee to be formed to address MQM’s grievances
The decision to form the committee was taken during a telephonic conversation between MQM chief Altaf Hussain and Karachi Corps Commander Lt General Sajjad Ghani late on Friday.
The committee would be comprised of three representatives from the MQM and three officials of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) taking part in the Karachi operation.
Earlier, the MQM chief had announced that he would write an open letter to Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif over alleged atrocities committed against MQM workers by LEAs during the ongoing operation in the city.
Altaf had said he would write a letter to General Sharif to raise the issues of arrests, torture, abductions and extra-judicial killings of MQM party workers at the hands of law enforcement agencies.
He added that he is writing the first letter to the army chief and that he would keep updating him in subsequent open letters.
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Dear All Those who have commented on MQM have no experience except listening one story from another. Pls feel free to go interiors of Sindh Punjab Balochistan & KPK then you will realize what's the ground reality. Agree that all r not Angrls & there can be negative folks also & the worst part is that we all r indulged in Racism & Hatred. Be plausible what PPP is doing to the city nobody is least bothered. When MQM was given chance in 2002-2008 in shape of Parliamentary structure they proved & in 2005-10 when Mustafa Kamal along with Town Mayors did for Karachi & simultaneously Kanwar Naveed Hyderabad is commendable. Those who appreciating Rangers attitude is not fair as it's all one sided. Godforbid may your house be seen by Talibans & Gang war criminals 0r what Anp did to the city. Rangers torturing their workers in the ethnicity & there r cases of Sudomy & rod insertions in rectums. May you don't see that. Feel pain rather blind folded stories. Only liberal voice of Pakistan who dare to stand against Talibans & other fabric forces. Not all r criminals but yes may be few there but these all r isolated cases in the name of party. Middle class phenomenon, well educated, no fake degrees, no political feefdom, no policy all dynasties & most vocals on any issue In Pakistan, if this is the case then MQM really is a bad party for all
@Napier Mole: when we speak of criminal elements in the folds of MQM,it's important to get to know how,when and why of the question.Now as we cast a glance at ,perhaps,PPP,we see the Al-Zulfiqar (Reference :Militancy in the Political Parties of Pakistan)phenomenon ,only when ,after ZAB's arrest and subsequent murder.We try to understand the context and historical fatcs of the oppression the PPP ZAB supporters went through.My opinion is that militancy may/must have crept into the party as the only defense shield against the 92 aggression against them,and then they may have got into a vicious circle.I think chronology will support this premise,for we see no criminal record on any of the members before the said year,though they were rounded up on all kinds of criminal charges since.I can still hear Late Ishtiaq Azher's voice an octogenarian an erstwhile Muslimlegi when he tells the BBC correspondent that he has been accused of torching a bus and other such crimes,while it was difficult to even move easily for his painful knee.We must,as a nation,try to think more deeply and analsy for ourselves rather than be lead by vested interest opinion makers.
@Aysha M: congratulation u have wonderfully explained the worth of MQM , but u must realise that it is no excuse that other parties have criminal elements in its fold , i mean gullo butts , MQM should purge all kind of bad elements sooner than later .
@Napier Mole: @Arzoo: whats happening here MQM is the only hope that we ahve with its credential of liberal moderate , modern , multi ethnic,multifaith , pluralistic , progressive party . Now fact of the matter is that since its inception , it was always under existential threat , dealt with unlawful with brute force , it has come so far with so much of opposition, can we deny single moat important fact that MQM gave identity to people who are most marginalized in pakistan i mean true blood karachiite who have only one address both temporary and permanent , karachi , this mega money anounced is also due to MQM and its people who have very loyaly backed MQM since last thgirty years , had there been no MQM we were also would have been treated like stranded pakistanis in the camps of bungaldesh , atleast MQM raise its voice at all injustice and disdrimination , its is the only party which talks about local body election and city govt, it proved its worth when since 2002 till 2008 during mustafa era , yes i agree this point that MQM , should strive and struggle more and should not agree to less than greater karachi , like greater london , directly elected mayor for karachi essebmly , like london essembly , with poer over locally recruited police , health , trasnport education along with civic needs , and control over revenue and finances , well this the way modern mega cities are goverened , and so should karachi , all these democratic party never once held local bosy election so much for the love of common people , MQM holds just 22 seats in 340 plus assembly , they try to do as much as they can do , i think now they should involve citizens for local local and GDGK, MQM should run a public supported campaign , and do dhurnas and strikes , till we get our high powered local govt , still blaming MQM wont do us much good , as all other parties just wish to loot and plunder karachi and bad mouth true karachiites , we should implore MQM to start its act now
@Arzoo: I am just in the teething stage in developing some understanding of the political landscape of my home city. MQM with all its faults and failings, remain the only unifying political force, an illustration of which we saw on 6th July. May it be resolution of shia and sunni conflict in the city or supporting the minorities, they do their bit. They are socially responsive and ethnically inclusive,liberal, moderate and progressive, what more can we ask of them. In terms of criminals/militants in their cadres, unfortunately all our political parties suffer from the presence of such elements. MQM seem to have received more than its share of negative perception building by the media.And please explain what is meant by the absence of an 'alternative voice', dont the political parties nominate candidates for constituencies in urban sindh. People have a choice, they can stay at home and not vote until they find the 'alternative voice', why is it so hard to believe that MQM leadership has actually won the hearts and minds of the most educated and informed voters in the whole of Pakistan.
@ Napier Mole: Very well put. While agreeing wholeheartedly with you, two points need to be added further to what you have said: 1) When leaders become vulnerable because of their personal exposure, they cannot forcefully represent their constituency and fight for their best interests & 2) While it is now amply clear that the tendency to assign blame to MQM for being the only party susceptible for hard-muscling is greatly exaggerated and a sheer fallacy, fact remains that there are militants among its' cadres that needs to be rooted out. Other than the fundamental necessity of self-government on a local basis, an inherent part of any democratic set-up, Karachi police needs to be manned by educated local people if the citizens expect decent and respectable treatment, and enforcement of rule of law. MQM has miserably failed in projecting these demands with any consistency. And, yes, you are right, this is only possible because of a lack of an "alternative voice."
@Mehran Soomro: Only if those in power and being in power means the chief executive of the province could develop interest in urban sindh and its people beyond the taxes they pay, and focus a wee bit on the well being of the urban population things can improve. Political will to devolve power to grassroots level is what is required but the rural Sindh doesnt seem to have enough of trampling the urban tax payers
@ Ayesha M
You are calling the chessboard white while I am calling it black :-) I agree though that you are being more articulate. In any case, I agree with your conclusion. Mqm needs to wake up and not just in time for the next elections.
Speak in favor of Mohajirism and/or MQM, here you get your comments accepted but if you expose MQM and their follies, ET will keep moderation strict. Yellow Journalism.
Karachi is heartland of Sindh and it was once the city of light but this is very sad fact that so called new owners of Karachi, aka "Na Maloom Afraad Party" has made it a city of violence and intolerance. Karachi needs not usurpers, but real heirs who look after it. Karachi needs rule of law, peace and accountability.
MQM has been power for last 20 years and they have failed to deliver and there should be accountability, and with free and fair elections, proper population survey and delimitation, I am sure, many Pseudo political groups will reduce to its original size.
No terrorist whether religious fanatic or militant political wings be spared. Only rule of Law should prevail, and all terrorists and militants political groups must be brought to justice. Karachi cant be left on the mercy of militant gangs and sector incharges. Our state must not get black mailed by these groups. People of Sindh and Pakistan support this operation.
Dear Napier Mole, I agree with the beginning part of your comment. The development projects announced are shallow and dont address the issues that are ailing the city. There should have been reservation in accepting the trifles. You are right. But your argument that MQM has maintained electoral success in the past 9 elections because absence of an alternative , is rather harsh and unfounded. MQM uprooted JI from Karachi and released the metropolitan from the myopic vision of those who sell religion for political gains. Today we see Christians carrying their religious symbol cross to MQM rallies, so minorities feel safe with MQM. MQM gave the city identity, equity and a powerful voice to all oppressed. What protects them is not an absence of an alternative voice. The city was offered an alternative in the form of PTI, they faced rejection all over, the testament of which is the by elections of August 22nd when army was in and outside the polling stations. I dont think MQM has 'blundered or plundered' the rights of Karachi. None of the big political parties are interested in devolving power to the third tier of governance, so same in Karachi. More is required of MQM, because we all have our hopes pinned on them and looking at their track record, they must be working on it. The fundamentals need to be changed, looking policing, with powerful local government is what Karachi needs. Also, quota system is well into its 5th decade. MQM celebrating 30 years of inception should perhaps need to focus on these
Finally a sane move....
yeah right, Now terrorists will write there concerns to the government for there safety , what a joke. Keep taking action against them Rangers brothers they are the real enemies.
MQM guys, I think you need an open letter from the citizens of Karachi as well - for bartering away the representation of Karachi for trifles, repeatedly - and repeatedly. Your silence on the metrpolitan government demand for Karachi is criminal. The only thing that is protecting you is that no alternative voice has arisen for the rights of Karachi so u keep getting Karachi's votes by default. Remember the day, such an alternative and credible voice arises, ur days would be numbered. It is a tragedy of himalayan proportion really, the way you have blundered and plundered the rights of Karachi and for that matter the other urban areas of Sindh.