MQM hits hard rock
Ranger's have visibly changed the environment of the city
Dunya News Report (Shahzad Badar)
The MQM appears to have reached a conclusion that 1992 operation is going to repeat itself. The 1992 operation was a massive crack down launched by the paramilitary force Rangers to split the MQM and curb its street and political activities. The party was accused for having links with RAW by the IB chief Brigadier Imtiaz and according to MQM sources around 10,000 of its the activists were killed extra judicially by the police and Rangers.
The IB chief later confessed on media that there were no proof of its links with RAW and the Jinnnahpur map associated with the party was concocted. This confession coming from the horse’s mouth has damaged the credibility of government claims and now creates doubts in the mind when MQM is accused of getting money from Indian sources.
The latest allegations coming from its former top brass leaders like Waseem Aftab, Mustafa Kamal, Anees Qaimkhani and Sarfraz Merchant the businessman who gave money to MQM for running its finances in London are sticking around the MQM (A) leaders like a millstone and the government has set up a committee to investigate the charges leveled by Sarfraz Merchant.
The intensity of the Rangers crackdown has visibly changed the environment of the city and eliminated the fear factors that ruled the city prior to the operation. Despite the Rangers inability to prevent the release of 29,000 criminals, many hardcore target killers have either been apprehended or eliminated. The graph of target killing and kidnapping for ransom has fallen drastically giving Karachi a semblance of a peaceful but chaotic city.
The MQM is very wisely avoiding responding to or countering allegations related to flow of Indian money into its coffers but hitting hard at other allegations. The resignations from top MQM leaders and their defection into a nameless political party created by Mustafa Kamal will continue to increase gradually as the establishment intensifies its efforts and maneuvers a peaceful replacement of MQM leadership to a more stable, mature, pliable person. The establishment had never approved the whimsical and maverick policies of the Altaf Hussain and had always hoped to see MQM replace its leaders. The MQM had to change its main slogan from attaining its destiny to wanting the leadership not destiny to divert attention.
Altaf’s Hussain’s health, his aloofness from his followers and speeches has finally landed him into a crisis which can be termed as the mother of all crises. He not only has to save his leadership but also prevent the brutal splitting of his party. Will the cleaning of garbage from Karachi streets save the MQM?
The MQM Coordination Committee is accusing the ‘Establishment’ of hatching conspiracies to eliminate MQM. The MQM has undergone a similar surgery in 1992 and was split into MQM(H) faction which could never take off despite the patronage of official circles.
The political climate and the mood in the city and within the MQM according to a political analyst is different now compared to what it used to be in 1992. The excessive coverage by media and social media is influencing opinion in Karachi. The media factor he said was absent in 1992.
With more private media and social media active Mustafa Kamal can gain more political ground and win hearts unlike the MQM Haqiqi. The PTV with its poor credibility could not help change the opinions in Karachi in 1992.
Sarfraz Merchant TV interview, his non political status and friendship with close friends of Altaf Hussain , gives some credence to his allegations. Merchant in a Dunya TV interview with Kamran Khan claimed that he became friends with MQM chief Altaf Hussain in 2007 and had donated money for MQM. Merchant further revealed that the MQM had registered a company by the name of ‘Euro Property’ for collecting money from Indian sources.
Mustafa Kamal’s posters appearing overnight in the streets of Karachi and his plans to show some street power in Bagh-e-Jinnah with renegade MQM leaders are strong indications that some hands would be working full time to make him a success.
The PTI carving a niche in Karachi is an indicator that the people of Karachi are always looking for a change and Kamal’s new party would have some followings. The party comprising MQM leader Waseem Aftab, Mustafa Kamal, Anees Qaimkhani till date is bound to attract all those tired by Altaf’s speeches and policies.
MQM workers tired of collecting hides and playing hide and seek with security forces would be compelled to quit the MQM and seek shelter with Mustafa Kamal. The new nameless party might not be able to counter or stand up to the MQM Altaf in polls but will surely be able to save all those MQM leaders and workers fearing the hands of law. END
