Pakistan

Govt, non-democratic powers want to snatch Karachi from MQM: Altaf

MQM chief says civilian and non-civilian institutions have time and again tried to eliminate MQM

Web Desk July 15, 2015

Chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain. PHOTO: APP

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Wednesday warned democratic and non-democratic powers against any move to ‘snatch’ the party's mandate in Karachi.

“No one can snatch Karachi from MQM through their conspiracies,” the MQM supremo said, during his telephonic conversation with MQM Punjab president Senator Mian Atiq and workers of Punjab organising committee, as per a statement posted on the party's website.

Read: ‘Incitement to violence’: Several FIRs filed against MQM chief

MQM’s official website quoted Altaf as saying, “Civilian government, along with non-democratic powers, want to snatch Karachi from MQM."

Accusing the establishment of trying to rig the NA-246 elections, the MQM chief said, "Pakistan’s civilian and non-civilian institutions did not learn any lesson even after his party’s historic victory in NA-246 elections."

Further, he said civilian and non-civilian institutions have time and again tried to eliminate MQM through military operations.

However, Altaf hoped his party will continue its struggle for the rights of the people of Karachi.

Meanwhile, at least 30 FIRs were filed against the MQM party head at different police stations across the country in the past 24 hours.

Read: Hard and abrasive: Altaf criticises Rangers’ role in Karachi

Earlier, a resolution demanding that the MQM chief be brought back to Pakistan and tried for his remarks against the armed forces was also submitted in the Punjab Assembly Secretariat.

COMMENTS (12)

Mehran | 8 years ago | Reply No group or party can survive forever on the basis of militancy, mafia-ism, violent and hate politics. Karachi- the heartland of Sindh and Pak was under MQM's tyranny for last so many decades. People of Karachi in particular and Sindh in general thank Rangers and Law enforcement agencies for conducting much needed operation against militant mafia groups.

Raisani | 8 years ago | Reply Karachi is not Altaf's fiefdom. Karachi is mini Pakistan and Pakistan is of Pakistanis not RAW's or its agents.

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imtiyaz | 8 years ago | Reply Karachi does not belong to mqm and altaf hussain but the problem the mohajirs are happy to pay money extorted from them but people who have come to Karachi refuse and fighting back this is the problem which pak army needs to destroy mqm and free Karachi whatever the mohajirs say

Radiohead | 8 years ago | Reply @vicktor I suggest you to re-visit the poll data from 2013 general election. 90% of National and Provincial seats are won by MQM, and if this is not the proof for owning Karachi then what is? By the way please try avoiding the word dhandhli, remember NA-246.

Napier Mole | 8 years ago | Reply Every biased rant here confirms the deep seated fear of Karachiites that all the current efforts are aimed at breaking the unity of Karachi. Every dirty trick in the book is being unleashed against mqm and every step being taken to 'nuke' the Karachiites into submission. The result would, however, as always be contrary. Mqm, for all its warts, will emerge much stronger from this crisis. Yes, mqm has lots of shortcomings but the citizens of urban Sindh would like to decide mqm's fate themselves. They would want mqm to lose on the altar of delivery and good governance and not on the force of guns, especially when they are from non Karachi elements. Give Karachi a share in Sindh government, let Karachi have a full fledged local government, give mqm power. And then if it does not deliver than Karachiites are smart enough to vote it out. Is this principle too difficult for the establishment to understand. Does Ms Juicy Gossips and others drooling over mqm's tough times have an answer to this.

Whiskey Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Karachi is not a personal property of any political Party or personality. Had you run Karachi without your killing, looting,kidnapping ,Land grabbing and terrorizing, you wouldn't have to worry about undemocratic forces trying to bring Karachi to normalcy.

Aamir - Toronto | 8 years ago | Reply @Hasan Askari......People like you live like an ostrich, simply bury their head in the sand and then assume all is well.

Hasan Askari | 8 years ago | Reply @ Hashmi brilliant post. @ Others There is a graph that was published in a newspaper showing crime rate in Karachi over last 2 decades. It was lowest in era when Musharraf was in power and MQM in local government. Then it spiked 10 times when Zulfiqar Mirza cam in and attempts to install PTI started. It is increasing since then. To any Karachite who belongs here and to any Urdu speaker it is clear that there is only one party who really cares about the city and it is MQM. Their local government was the best thing in years Therefore no matter how much you try let me assure you Karachi will vote MQM. We know because through history we have seen nrest of the Pakistan does not want good for this city. Its not an emotional rant but based on history. You have used us and looted us and did not invest back. It would be safe to conclude that you made Karachi like this so that your masters in Gulf can develop Dubai etc Just leave us alone,..just mind your business for once..cant give us province give us proper government and just go away...you are not capable of running your own affairs...dont ruin a good educated city with your tribal ways

S.R.H. Hashmi | 8 years ago | Reply If Altaf Hussain says “Civilian government, along with non-democratic powers, want to snatch Karachi from MQM”, adding “civilian and non-civilian institutions have time and again tried to eliminate MQM through military (and civilian) operations,” he can not be accused of much exaggeration. During an earlier operation against MQM, attempts were indeed made to promote MQM Haqiqi and to get it to replace MQM. It was also claimed at that time the back of MQM has been broken. However, MQM bounced back despite all that. And the latest results for NA-246 – elections for which were conducted under Rangers supervision – clearly show that the party retains full support and popularity among its supporters. It is claimed by some that Karachiites are fed up with MQM and MQM gets its votes through high-handed tactics but if it were true, the highest concentration of MQM-haters would have been in Azizabad where MQM presence is strongest, and given an opportunity to cast their votes in a free, fair and transparent elections, they would have been pleased to through MQM out. But that did not happen and MQM won by a large margin with PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami making a very poor show. One can have nothing against law enforcers picking up persons found involved in criminal activities, but the Rangers recent statement that they will target MQM Unit and Sector incharges (presumably even without any criminal evidence against them) can only be interpreted as an attempt to destroy the party structure, as a first step to greatly weakening the party, with the ultimate aim of eliminating it altogether. Needless to say, such attempts were made in the past as well which failed utterly, and a similar exercise conducted now will not produce any different result. However, one thing which it is sure to do is to make a lot of Karachiites unhappy, as they will be forced to feel that they were being targeted just on account of their ethnicity because even though MQM has people from all ethnic backgrounds, yet a vast majority among its supporters still consists of Urdu-speaking people who form a majority also of the city population. As it is, Karachi has enough problems. As such, the attempt at senior levels should be to start solving these problems, instead of creating some new ones, and for no good reason. Karachi

Mrs Juicy Gossips | 8 years ago | Reply @Hasan Askari: And why shouldn't taxes be collected and bills be paid ? That happens in most, if not, all civilized places around the world. What has MQM done to advance the well being of the general population in Karachi ? That's right, zilch !

Hasan Askari | 8 years ago | Reply Yes Karachi belongs to Pakistan when it is about looting money, collecting taxes, bills. It becomes economic hub and mini Pakistan. I absolutely agree with AH. In fact the whole game being played is for the purpose of installing non MQM party in Karachi However it wont work.

vicktor d'souza | 8 years ago | Reply "Snatch" ?? An unfortunate word choice. Since when did Karachi belong to MQM for it to be snatched from them by anyone ? Karachi belongs to Pakistan, end of story.

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