Dr Noman Baig is associated with the social sciences department of a private university in Karachi and his earliest memory of MQM is that of his injured grandmother being dragged into the house, blood oozing from her legs. She was shot during one of the MQM riots in the mids. The influx of Pashto-speaking refugees from Afghanistan, which Russia had invaded in , added to the anxiety of MQM leaders. They feared that Urdu speakers would face competition for scarce land and jobs as more people settled in the city.
They will have to arrange for their own security. The decade of the s was the most violent in Karachi's history. People were kidnapped, dead bodies with drilled knees and missing nails dumped in garbage heaps; some murdered by police and others by MQM as revenge killings. Around the same time, a turf war erupted between MQM and a breakaway faction: Mohajirs killed Mohajirs, neighbourhoods were barricaded, and there were curfews.
In , more than 1, people were killed in Karachi in drive-by shootings or after they were abducted. Their lifeless bodies were found along a road a few days later. More than 10, MQM activists were killed during the crackdowns, which continued intermittently from to , according to the party.
Despite the stigma of ethnic militancy attached to it from the beginning, MQM was able to bag parliamentary seats during successive elections. It was often the third or fourth largest political group and played a key role in coalition governments in Islamabad. In poor Urdu-speaking neighbourhoods, where people lacked access to government officers to help them in their everyday struggles such as getting a water connection, MQM activists moved in to fill the gap.
The poor public services and lethargic legal system forced people to take their problems to the MQM — ranging from complaints of power breakdown and matters of divorce to dispute among siblings over property — and the party was there to sort it out, says Ali Raza Abidi, a senior MQM leader.
Over the years, while Hussain continued to live in exile, his party became an important part of the federal administration, with its leaders controlling key ministries such as ports and shipping. They sold your little trouble and then cashed the goodwill in some other way. They bought real estate at concessional rates, took bribes and forced their own supporters to pay donations, which never made it to the party.
MQM had also become notorious for using fear to keep itself relevant. Across the city, MQM was accused of taking over playgrounds, a public sports complex and state property that was sold in the open market.
They opened up marriage halls and allowed construction of illegal buildings after taking bribes. In , Imran Farooq, a close associate of Hussain, was stabbed and bludgeoned to death in London near his apartment by two men who later confessed that they worked for MQM.
They had been together since their university days, when they formed a study union that morphed into the political party.
His murder investigation, which ran for years, extended from London to Karachi. And Hussain was at its centre most of the time. Farooq had distanced himself from the MQM before his murder, and many suspected that he was killed because Hussain feared he would emerge as his contender. He was under a constant fear that his house and offices could be raided.
More concerned about his arrest than the organisation in Karachi, Hussain began to lose touch with party activists who were his informants and enforcers on the streets. Although MQM swept the elections in Karachi, the loss of votes came as a shock to many. A few days later, Hussain launched a tirade against his own leadership during a speech, asking activists to beat senior leaders. As low-ranking workers slapped and pushed senior leaders, some of whom had served as parliamentarians, the entire spectacle was captured by media.
Kamal, who has risen from low-level worker to become a senior leader, is a former mayor of Karachi. He formed his own party in after distancing himself from Hussain. Many of the former MQM leaders have joined him. MQM says the bulk of the operation was directed towards its activists. Since then he has faced a complete media blackout. Gabol, while speaking to Daily Times on the phone from his residence, said he was being detained but failed to give any reasons why.
He said he did not know why he was not being allowed to leave his house. Gabol also said that he did not have any faith in his party, which is in power in Sindh.
This is sheer harassment, and this is not the first time that the government has proceeded against me. Gabol said three police mobile units were stationed outside his house along with 25 police personnel, some of which included officials of the CID.
The police mobile units are a routine matter. We have given him a new one, besides the one that was already stationed outside his house. This is because the old one was quite old. Haider also claimed that he would issue a statement soon that would explain the matter clearly. Originally Posted by filosofee.
Originally Posted by Islamabadi. Originally Posted by Cric-PhotoPassionate. Originally Posted by 12thMan. I recommend watching the whole show you will have to find the links on the page He will be featured in Heroes TV series which is popular now. Did you have to put me through this? That man is a downright drama queen. Maybe he can use his singing talents to win her back:. God when is this terrorist Ghaddar gonna die?
The metropolitan police are now formally investigating those comments and in due course will take any appropriate action. Reports suggesting that British authorities have gagged Hussain after his telephonic tirade are abound in the Pakistani media.
They largely remain unsubstantiated. One reason for that could be the results of the recent election wherein governments in Islamabad and Sindh do not need the MQM as an ally. It is a unique situation for a regional party that has always pillioned with power but postured as the opposition. Sibghatullah Qadri QC , a well known barrister of Pakistani origin, whom Hussain and his comrades routinely consult on legal matters, describes the year as increasingly difficult for Hussain.
He has said things that he should not have and now he must be prepared to face the consequences. Even murderers are not killed under the British legal system. How could he accuse the police of such a conspiracy? But those privy to the contents of the divorce papers, privately claim Hussain had admitted to things that could further damage his politico-social credentials even amongst his staunchest supporters. Others say they have done enough to divert the attention of law enforcement agencies towards him.
We have done what we could. If Hussain and company succeed in avoiding the money laundering charges, there is a strong likelihood they will face the music for serious tax evasion — a crime that could make them state guests for a few years.
Shirley Anderson is a pseudonym. Facebook Count. Twitter Share. This article was first published in The Herald Annual issue of January Pakistani journalists who have reported on Hussain still find it uneasy to talk about him.
Read more. On DawnNews. Comments 14 Closed. Popular Newest Oldest.
0コメント