The need for the MQM to reinvent itself

For MQM to be taken seriously on its words, it should immediately announce a programme of voluntary de-weaponisation

There has been considerable debate on whether SSP Rao Anwar transgressed his mandate as a police officer by calling for the MQM’s disbandment. There are divergent views on why he called this news conference. What is not in doubt is that publicly calling for the disbandment of a political party is a transgression of his mandate as a public servant.

The important issue currently being discussed by millions across the country is whether the allegations made against the MQM by SSP Rao Anwar are indeed true or not. Did the MQM violate its mandate as a political party? While SSP Rao Anwar is answerable to his seniors for his conduct, the MQM is answerable to millions of Karachiites and Pakistanis. The onus of getting the party fully absolved is now a big challenge. The party is yet to deny in clear terms whether its workers were ever sent to other countries for terrorist training as was alleged by the SSP. Instead, the party’s supreme leader severely criticised the Pakistan Army and law-enforcement agencies for the security operation currently being executed in Karachi in tandem with Operation Zarb-e-Azb. The wider aim of this operation is to clear Pakistan of the TTP, terrorism, target killers, the bhatta mafias, kidnappers and criminal gangs. Operation Zarb-e-Azb is designed to ensure the security of the lives and property of all Pakistanis. Militants and criminals have been apprehended across the land, which no one can deny is a good thing for the citizens of our beleaguered country.

The MQM’s operational techniques bear similarity to those of the Irish Republican Army’s (IRA) position post-2005. Like the MQM, the IRA faced some serious allegations regarding terrorist activities. Its ideology was solely based on the concept of victimhood and the promotion of a sense of deprivation. This ideology and associated narrative was used to encourage militancy among its followers, which was directed against other communities and the state’s security apparatus. The IRA made a conscious decision to engage in peaceful political discourse free of terrorism. Under the supervision of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, the IRA voluntarily destroyed its entire arsenal, which included surface-to-air missiles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, grenades, two tonnes of Semtex and hundreds of assault rifles. It took a bold political decision to end its questionable activities after 30 years; and it paid off. The IRA is now an integral part of the Northern Ireland government and is much better positioned to serve its supporters by being a non-militant party.

The MQM’s leadership can learn useful lessons by studying the IRA phenomenon. The MQM’s image as a political party that uses violence to enforce its agenda is a major factor in its failure to attract widespread support from middle class voters across Pakistan. It now finds itself demoted to fourth place from its traditional third place in the National Assembly. In 2013, the PTI successfully attracted middle class voters all across the country previously considered the MQM’s natural constituency.

For the MQM to survive and thrive as a national political party, it should first of all acknowledge the failure of its strategy of using force and then act decisively to correct it. Mere news conferences, blaming of the media and telephonic addresses will not cut the mustard. For the party to be taken seriously on its words, it should immediately announce a programme of voluntary de-weaponisation. Mr Altaf Hussain should order all his party officials, sector operatives and workers to deposit their legal and illegal arms to an independent body which should operate from its own Head Office 90. Once collected, these arms should be decommissioned in full public view. If this policy is implemented, it will enormously help the party to get rid of its negative image as well as of those elements which have hijacked its mandate to pursue questionable activities. Following this, the party should empower its MNAs and MPAs not to be subservient to their sector in charges. For its local offices, the party should organise transparent internal elections so that the MQM has a grassroots operational structure based on true democratic values.

SSP Rao Anwar clearly crossed a red line by asking for the MQM’s disbandment. However, following his statement, every Pakistani is now demanding the MQM’s disarmament. Pakistanis want the MQM to honour its political mandate and play its role in government and society as a non-violent, liberal, democratic political party — a party that has the potential to serve poor Pakistanis across the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2015.

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