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.
@all: Well friends;
1: It is true that somehow MQM is losing its grip over Karachi; because of gradual and continual decline in its popularity and support among masses hence lower rate of favouring votes in several established constituencies. Though I believe it for the Karachiites as a whole, there have been many great blows the movement has taken like for the first time there are two or three MPAs of ANP from Karachi and of PPP too. The many of won seats are just held with slight differences with opponents’ votes even in municipal elections as well as provincial or federal also. The repeated clashes with other parties and some of the violent in the recent times are an alarm for the movement’s top rankers and thinkers.
BUT!!! Since its day 1, MQM still draws its only power “the youth” which is the real spirit of our beloved Karachi and the symbol of strength and dominance. Youth is the nerve of MQM hence the street power of MQM is still unhurt.
2: Since 1997, MQM has not been limited to its 1984’s concept of Mohajir Nationalism and plans to spread its message of empowerment of the poor all over Pakistan. This is a big challenge for MQM and the greater threat to parties in other provinces. People are shocked to see the serving MNAs and Senators at their doorstep distributing pamphlets in streets of Lahore and Multan. The Convention was witnessed by huge crowds in all cities and it is enough to ring the alarm for Punjab’s own parties and to determine MQM’s possible role in Punjab in future.
3: The Ajrak and Paggri together exemplify the new face and motive of MQM. While several of its selected candidates are Sindhis in Sindh Assembly, MQM has intent to make all Pakistan sure that it is no more a Mohajir dominion or a ethnic faction or a party just limited to urban Sindh but something different good enough to take the ordinary Pakistanis to cabinets of Pakistan.
I would have personally avoided taking part in this debate but as far as the “Voice of Karachi” is concerned, MQM is unavoidable, irresistible and an undeniable reality. Thank you very much.
@jahanzeb. You want him to to come to Pakistan so the terrorist kill him just like te attacked other politicians. It don’t matter wherever you are in the world as long as you are loyal to the country. His party is against extremist and Taliban and that is what the demand of time is.
MQM is actually supporter of all the blood shed in recent years,first by supporting every action of musharraf and now of zardai.
Jahanzaib Irfan and others asking the same question.
// If Altaf Hussain is so much pious… then why shouldnt he come to his loving Country Pakistan….//
What happened after Benazir Arrival? her death has given you Asif ali zardari? Altaf Hussain is not a millionaire or something that he can afford to live in Raiwand farm / zardari house or find some place in GHQ, he possess 120 yards house in federal b area town of Karachi, you and all others need to go and read about khomeni who stayed outside Iran for 30 years then revolution finally arrived in Iran. The day is not far insha-ALLAH when people like Mustafa Kamal and Shahbaz sharif will be working together to help grow Pakistan.
If Altaf Hussain is so much pious… then why shouldnt he come to his loving Country Pakistan….