News Analysis |
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) is at crossroads. The much-publicized in fighting has cost party dearly in the March 3 Senate elections. Kamran Tessori , the blue-eyed boy of Farooq Sattar, was unable to win and Bahadurabad group only managed to win a single seat.
It is believed that 14 voted against the group’s [Bahadurabad] decision. Despite their last ditch effort, they could not manage face-saving. Responding against the allegations of horse trading, rejoiced Bilawal Bhutto told the media, “MQM is finished” and all the drama created by MQM is nothing but the consequence of their own internal rifts.
Bilawal argued that rather than leveling allegations against PPP they should first sort out their internal rifts. He questioned that if the party had sorted its internal difference and stood united before the elections than how could they blame PPP for horse-trading.
But declaring MQM-P finished with its power neutralized is an over-statement. It may have lost the Senate elections, and in the fight may have suffered un-repairable damage to its reputation in Karachi and across Sindh, but its vote bank remains intact.
Young PPP leader termed their defeat a failure of leadership. Bilawal rejected MQM’s allegations and claimed that in fact, MQM is using non-existent rigging to hide its own flaws and internal problems.
Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal termed MQM a tumor which cannot be treated and needs to be completely removed. He claimed that in fact, MQM legislators are trying to fool people after voting purposely for PPP.
The Senate election results proved that MQM may not be the power to reckon with, but discrediting the party altogether is an exaggeration. Surely such a brutal defeat brought humiliation, as a small party like Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-N) which has only 6 seats in the assembly as compared to MQM’s 38 managed to bag one seat.
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Such a situation definitely draws a criticism from other parties. Despite the efforts to show solidarity on election eve, both the groups within MQM-P had a major faceoff during the election-day which was evident. The humiliating defeat has appeared to widen the rift between the two groups. Ambitious Amir Khan and Faisal Sabzwari may have their eyes on the party’s leadership, and appear to be equally responsible for party’s situation along with egoistic Sattar who put the party at risk for Tessori.
MQM is a reactionary party which was allegedly created by the establishment to curb the dominant PPP in Sindh, especially Karachi. With the passage of time, it developed into a massive crime-ridden group which is allegedly responsible for the surge in crime rates and murder of hundreds of individuals including celebrated intellectuals, after its founder Altaf Hussian went into exile.
Other allegations of money laundering include that of Rs 32.4 million on Moeen Amir Pirzada, Rs 35.2 million on Rehan Zafar, and Rs 20.6 million on Sufyan Yousaf. Anarchy in Karachi required immediate and swift actions, which finally are proving satisfactory.
Its political model proved successful but it prompted violence, tortures and extra-judicial killings in Karachi and urged people to raise slogan against Pakistan. The current division in the party may have been the work of hidden forces trying to dismantle the party whose senior leadership is allegedly responsible for money laundering and inciting violence and terror financing.
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Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) launched the cases against its leadership and accused Farooq Sattar of laundering over Rs. 26 million. Moreover, other allegations of money laundering include that of Rs 32.4 million on Moeen Amir Pirzada, Rs 35.2 million on Rehan Zafar, and Rs 20.6 million on Sufyan Yousaf. Anarchy in Karachi required immediate and swift actions, which finally are proving satisfactory.
But declaring MQM-P finished with its power neutralized is an over-statement. It may have lost the Senate elections, and in the fight may have suffered un-repairable damage to its reputation in Karachi and across Sindh, but its vote bank remains intact. If grouping persists, it may not be able to challenge center or bully Sindh government as before, but expecting it to lose next general elections is nothing but a far cry.