Adil Najam
News reports suggest that the MQM (now the Muttihada Quami Movement) has held large simultaneous rallies in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan with its leader in “voluntary” exile Altaf Hussain addressing the rallies over the phone.
It would be fair to say that the MQM has been a largely Karachi-based but increasingly urban-Sindh phenomenon wielding immense political influence in those areas and that most people in the Punjab have looked at the party, its tactics and its leadership with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. The party’s leader, Altaf Hussain, who is now a British citizen and has lived in voluntary exile in London for over 18 years still seems to hold total control over the party and his phenomenon is even less comprehensible to many outside of the MQM’s traditional stronghold areas.
The MQM has, in fact, been trying to expand its areas of influence, including in the Punjab. First outside of Karachi and Hyderabad to the rest of urban Sindh, then into rural Sindh, and more recently into the rest of the country. The push into Punjab seems to be a concerted one and is synchornized and planned. It remains to be seen what, if anything, will come out of this. But given the political and organizational resources the MQM brings with it, this is clearly a challenge to Punjab’s political status quo that they will not be taking lightly.
I myself am not at all sure what this means. Is the MQM truly out on a national expansion or whether this is a move geared more towards consolidating their position in Sindh rather than actually expanding into the Punjab? What sort of political reception will they get in the Punjab, and from whom? What are they reading in the political tea leaves about the changing fortunes of the established parties in the Punjab – the PPP and PMLs – and also about the political frustrations of the general electorate? How will the other players respond to this move?
Like much that comes out of the MQM, there seems to be a thought-out plan behind this move, but it is not yet clear what it is.
From The News:
hose who chanted slogan of ‘Roti, Kapra aur Makan’ (food, clothing and shelter) gave nothing to the people in the past 62 years.
In his telephonic address to the convention held simultaneously in Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi, Hussain urged the people of Punjab to maintain order as ‘MQM has made its way to Punjab’.
He said that his party, after coming into power, would distribute feudals’ land among poor people. Hussain said that the country’s debt would also be returned by selling these lands.
He said today people have converged here to save Pakistan, which suffers from dual system of education and where children of the poor are made to sit on ground in yellow schools in the absence of chairs.
The MQM Chief said the masses continue to be subjected to atrocities for the last 62 years. He said actually “it our fault who cast vote in favour of defaulters of enormous debts,” asking, “Why do people of Punjab keep voting for plunderers and looters who have been tried before?”
He said the people will have to make a pledge not to support thieves. “It is Allah Almighty who has all the power to decide as to who gets respect and who gets humiliated,” he said citing Quranic verses.
Altaf Hussain said MQM has made its way to Punjab despite all the hurdles put in its way. “MQM is here to paint faces of thieves and looters in black and walk them in streets,” he warned.
The issue of Seraiki region and South Punjab would be resolved, he promised.
I think they are smelling disarray in Punjab as Nawaz Sharif popularity goes down and trying to make a move to capture some seats there. As was said if they start putting up good middle class candidates they could shake up things
I think it is a stunt and will just go away
Mr. Hassan Abbas and Ch. Aslam; what middle class are you talking about; all their party leaders are involved or wanted for in murder. It does not matter if you are from middle class or upper class if you are not doing good for your country or if you are doing corruption, it’s all the same. Read the book Animal Farm, I cannot remember the author but it’s based on Russian revolution, just replace the pigs in the book by MQM and u will get my point u
The MQM is out to end the Jagirdars hold on the people of Pakistan. i.e. the poor people of Pakistan. Altaf Hussain has said so openly on so many forums and meetings of his Party Faithful both in Pakistan and abroad. That is what all of this means. To the normal eye this is plainly visible. To many Punjabi eyes it may not be that simple to comprehend what all of this means. Punjabis have never really seen grass roots political movements like the MQM. This could be a new experience for them and this is certainly a boon to the poor people of Punjab. We should welcome this with open arms and wish the MQM can win a few seats in the next election. All new political forces (right or left) need to be encouraged and all political activity needs to be supported sans interference from ‘agencies’. MQM made peace with the agencies long ago, so they are free to operate.