News Analysis |
A group of Muhajirs in the US have launched a ‘FreeKarachi’ campaign against the alleged atrocities committed against their ethnicity by the Pakistani state. The campaign gained momentum when a group of cabs carrying the ‘FreeKarachi’ slogan joined the Martin Luther King Day Parade in Washington, D.C. on 15th January. The ‘FreeKarachi’ campaign is led by Nadeem Nusrat, the US-based former convener of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London (MQM-L).
This is Washington D.C., the capital of the USA. Taxis are lining up with #FreeKarachi banners to participate in Dr Martin Luther Kind Day parade in the capital. #FreeKarachi pic.twitter.com/OfqCLT3hik
— Dr. Nadeem Nusrat (@nadeem_nusrat) January 15, 2018
Pakistan reacted strongly towards the campaign and recorded their protest in the US State Department. “We took it up with the State Department and they assured us that they continue to support Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as strongly as they always have,” explained Pakistan’s ambassador to US, Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhary.
It highlighted other alleged atrocities committed by Pakistan, like undercounting their population in the census, extortion of money by security agencies and grabbing of Karachi land by the military.
During a recent visit of Pakistan by US Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua protested against the ‘FreeKarachi’ campaign, to which Wells assured that the ‘US considers an enemy of Pakistan as their own enemy’.
Foreign Office spokesperson, Dr. Muhammad Faisal during a press briefing on Thursday was asked about the ‘Free Karachi’ campaign, to which he responded that Pakistan has taken a serious note against the malignant campaign, and Ambassador Wells has assured us that US fully respects Pakistan’s territorial integrity.
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Pakistan’s ambassador to US, Aizaz Chaudhary said that the billboards and signs appeared only for a short while, and they have been removed with the help of US authorities. The US assured Pakistan that no US agency is behind this campaign and they have no support from US authorities.
The article used anti-Pakistan rhetoric rather than actual facts and figures to appeal to the readers and gain sympathy. The article posted in Washington Times compared the situation of Karachi to British occupied America of the 16th century.
On Thursday, the US newspaper Washington Times featured a story about the ‘FreeKarachi’ campaign; it shows that the cause has a significant amount of funding which is not available to a small political party. Ambassador Chaudhary explained that there were unknown hands behind it.
This is not the first time that a slandering campaign has been launched against Pakistan. The ‘FreeBalochistan’ banners were seen last year in London and Geneva, and it spread to the New York City in December last year. The supports of the ‘FreeBalochistan’ campaign announced their support for the ‘FreeKarachi’ campaign.
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These campaigns are a part of ‘Fifth-Generation’ warfare against Pakistan. The DG ISPR in an interview earlier this month, termed fifth generation warfare as the biggest challenge faced by Pakistan. It is a war fought using information media to influence the minds of people and rather than fighting the enemy face to face, it deteriorates you from within by manipulating the thoughts of people. It is the biggest challenge because the enemy is unknown and it turns the people against themselves.
Even though Nadeem Nusrat claims that they are not seeking separation, the ‘FreeKarachi’ campaign is self-explanatory that they want separation from Pakistan.
The recent tensions between US and Pakistan have provided space to anti-state elements to disseminate their propaganda. The campaigners are exploiting the freedom of expression offered by the US Constitution to further their interests and adding fuel to fire to the already strained US-Pak relations.
In the feature story of Washington Times, the campaign demands ending of enforced disappearances and alleged human rights abuses against the Muhajir people, it also demands justice for Prof Hassan Zafar Arif, who was found dead in his vehicle earlier this week.
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While speaking to journalists in New York, the spokesperson for the ‘FreeKarachi’ campaign, Nadeem Nusrat explained that they don’t want separation from Pakistan; the campaign is only for ending atrocities and abuses against the Karachi people.
‘FreeKarachi’ campaign; it shows that the cause has a significant amount of funding which is not available to a small political party. Ambassador Chaudhary explained that there were unknown hands behind it.
“We want this campaign of terror — not just against Muhajirs but [also] against the Baloch, Sindhis and other ethnic and religious minorities — to end,” Nusrat exclaimed. He also offered that if the state stops terrorising their people, the Muhajirs and Balochs can integrate with the mainstream.
Even though Nadeem Nusrat claims that they are not seeking separation, the ‘FreeKarachi’ campaign is self-explanatory that they want separation from Pakistan. The article posted in Washington Times compared the situation of Karachi to British occupied America of the 16th century.
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The article accused Pakistan of leeching out all the taxes earned by Karachi and not giving them enough representation in the centre. It highlighted other alleged atrocities committed by Pakistan, like undercounting their population in the census, extortion of money by security agencies and grabbing of Karachi land by the military. The article used anti-Pakistan rhetoric rather than actual facts and figures to appeal to the readers and gain sympathy.