Expressing opinions: ‘MQM, PPP, who cares?’

People in Sukkur share their views on MQM leaving the coalition.

SUKKUR: “We don’t really care who supports or who leaves the government,” says Ghulam Qasim Lakho, a rickshaw driver in Sukkur. “We just want household items at cheaper rates but that has become an unattainable dream,” he adds.

The Express Tribune interviewed several people in Sukkur city, asking them about their views on the changing political scenario, with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaving the coalition to sit on the opposition benches in the federal government.

Lakho might have expressed his disinterest in the latest development but he sure had an opinion: “PPP is harvesting what it sowed two-and-a-half years ago.”

Since the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) came into power, they have done nothing for the poor people, he says.

Support for the MQM too was running low, with many people doubting their true reasons for leaving the coalition.

MQM just wants to revive the former local government system and to usurp land in Hyderabad and Karachi, claims Jeay Sindh Mahaaz Chairman Riaz Ahmed Chandio.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party, Dr Qadir Magsi, says MQM just wants to play the hero by sitting on the opposition benches.

“Zardari made a huge mistake by leaving a big national party like the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and joining hands with Muttahida instead,” he opines, adding that MQM had proved to be “weak crutches” for the government.

Now that MQM is not part of the government anymore, their demands should be made public so that everyone can see what kind of a party MQM is, Magsi says. Commenting on the present political scenario, he predicts that the PML-N could play a vital role unless the government chooses to look towards the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) for support. “PML-Q’s support will not be long-term and then the only option left will be to hold midterm elections,” he says. He suggests that the Prime Minister should advise the President to dissolve the National Assembly and announce midterm elections-in which nationalist parties from Sindh will take an active part, he promises.

Sanaullah, who runs a grocery shop, is also critical of the MQM. “Their decision to withdraw support is too late. They should have parted ways earlier,” he says.

Poultry dealer Mohammad Hassan suggests that the PPP should learn a lesson from the split and take some concrete measures to provide relief to the people, who are sick and tired of the rising prices.

Mohammad Amjad, a pesh imam, fell among the more cynical residents. “Nothing will happen, nothing ever happens. What benefits have we gotten from earlier changes [in the government]?” he shrugs. “This country was created in the name of Islam, which emphasises equal human rights. But we don’t even get our basic civic rights here,” he adds before walking away.

But perhaps the most pessimistic of all was Bushra Khatoon, a housewife. “Democracy is not in our blood. We are used to martial laws and the country is once again moving towards a martial law,” she predicts.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2011.