News Analysis |
US Congressman, Mr. Dana Rohrabacher called on MQM founder and leader, Altaf Hussain in London. Exiled Baloch Leader Khan of Kalat, Suleiman Dawood also took part in the 4-hour long meeting. The three agreed to work for a “common cause”.
Pakistan has reasons to be worried; India’s open support to the ever so feeble Baloch militancy is a strong enough factor
According to reports, sources and statements, the beleaguered MQM leader delved upon the ‘plight’ of his community. Altaf gave a detailed debriefing to the US Lawmaker about what he construes and touts as injustice towards the Mujahir community.
Mr. Altaf Hussain expounded upon details of unlawful arrests, torture, abductions, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions of MQM workers and common Muhajirs in Karachi and other urban areas of Sindh at the hands of ‘Punjabi’ Para-military force in Rangers and other law enforcement agencies.
Read more: Are MQM factions thinking of uniting against PPP for 2018 elections?
He said during raids, the personnel of law enforcement agencies use profane language against female members, often molest them and badly mistreat with the elderly. Mr. Altaf Hussain told Congressman Mr. Rohrabacher that not only MQM members are being subjected to severe human rights violations, the family members, including women, of MQM officer-bearers and leaders are also being arrested illegally.
The exiled leaders may have been emboldened to reinvigorate their struggle against the state and Army of Pakistan owing to the fast-strengthening Indo-US ties
He said his own close relatives and relatives of MQM leaders living in exile are also being unlawfully arrested. Mr. Altaf said that scores of incarcerated MQM workers and their dear ones have gone missing after being taken into unlawful custody by security forces hailing from Punjab. He further added that law enforcement agencies in Pakistan have become the biggest law breakers on the planet. His focus was on the word ‘Punjab’.
Ticking the right boxes
Throughout his meeting with the US Law Maker, Altaf focused on a few themes to include Punjabi domination, injustice against a community(Mujahir), Human rights violations and the so-called grotesque role of Pakistani security forces. These are the very allegations which inimical forces allege Pakistan of. Altaf who has been cut to size after his “Pakistan Murdabaad speech” last year ramped up his tirade against the Pakistani security forces.
Read more: MQM-Pakistan slams Altaf Hussain for seeking help from Indian PM Modi
Altaf and other Baloch leaders have been long-accused of conspiring against the Pakistani Army on behest of foreign support
He explained extensively as to how the law enforcement agencies belonging to Punjab have denied millions of Mohajirs’ sole elected representative party, the MQM, its democratic and constitutional rights through the use of brutal and illegal force. He also gave details of the illegal closure of MQM’s party offices throughout Sindh, including the party headquarters called as Nine Zero. A list of hundreds of extrajudicially killed and missing MQM workers was also shared with the US lawmaker.
Mr. Altaf Hussain also apprised the US lawmaker of repeated arrests, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and acts of mistreatment of Baloch men, women, elderly and even children at the hands of Punjabi security forces in Balochistan province. This went down well with the Khan of Kalat and both agreed to work together for the rights of the Baloch and the Mujahir communities.
Mr. Altaf said that scores of incarcerated MQM workers and their dear ones have gone missing after being taken into unlawful custody by security forces hailing from Punjab
Mr. Rohrabacher understandably showed sympathy for both the leaders; he agreed to lend full support for the “common cause”. He pledged that he will take up these issues in US Congress as well as all other appropriate forums. Mr. Rohrabacher has long been a harsh critic of Pakistan. Last year he introduced a bill to cut aid to Pakistan. He said: “We will be then basically giving money to a government that not only represses its own people but, through its support of terrorism and terrorist organizations, threatens the people of the U.S. and those peoples elsewhere.”
Read more: Pakistan’s foreign policy and current challenges-part 1
Altaf and Sulaiman spoke a language that is very well received in Washington, New Delhi, and Kabul
Altaf and Sulaiman spoke a language that is very well received in Washington, New Delhi, and Kabul. Altaf and other Baloch leaders have been long-accused of conspiring against the Pakistani Army on behest of foreign support.
The exiled leaders may have been emboldened to reinvigorate their struggle against the state and Army of Pakistan owing to the fast-strengthening Indo-US ties. Both countries are trying to condemn, deter, and compel Pakistan. Both the countries see Pakistan as the instigator of troubles in Kashmir and Kabul. Pakistan has reasons to be worried; India’s open support to the ever so feeble Baloch militancy is a strong enough factor. Moreover, the Agartala Conspiracy and the subsequent Indian role in the dismemberment of Pakistan compels the state of Pakistan to take cognizance of these developments.