Those of us who have witnessed this Altaf Bhai classic: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHMGLUE_uhE&feature=related often come to ask ourselves how is it that a person who, at best, comes of as a mediocre comic can A) make it as a politician ? and B) be a successful one, capturing the minds of so many people? . The mohajirs after all were one of the most educated classes of Pakistan.....so how can they revere a person such as Altaf bhai so much?
The most oft repeated answer by opponents of MQM is that, Altaf bhais cadres "terrorise" people into voting for his Party. This however, in my own humble opinion is a very simplified understanding of his political support, and this is where parallels can be drawn with another Pakistani party of the 50s.
Prior to partition, the Muslim Leagues main power center was Bangal. So much so that there overwhelming votes in favour of Muslim league in 1945, put the demand for Pakistan at the forefront of political circles during the Raj. Then 1949 came, and along with it the language controversy and the inititation of what was to become the "bangla cause", which muslim leaugue failed to protect. Hence in the 1954 elections, muslim leauge suffered a terrible blow in the east and secured only 13 seats, down from 113 in 1945. Then along came 1966, the 6 points of Mujib, and the 1970 election where Awami Leauge got 160 out 160 in the eastern wing, despite Mujib's shoddy past and his "alleged" involvement in the Agratalla conspiracy. Then came 1971 and the final demand to secede from Pakistan, which was slowly and gradually supported by large majority of east Pakistanis, who were although Pro Pakistan but saw the bangla cause being violated by the west, and as consequence what is now called Bangladesh was created.
Moving on to MQM, before the 80s, Jamat-e-Islamis power base was always Karachi. In 1970 during the height of Bhuttoism, JI secured 7/9 seats here and in 77, PNA ( the anti bhutto alliance ) secured there only majority in Karachi. History inevitably repeated itself when the ethnic Pathan-Mohajir riots broke out in the 80s. Just like the bangla cause was created way back then, similarly this time around, the mohajir cause was initiated. And again, just like the fate of Muslim league in East Pakistan, Jamati Islami failed to protect the Mohajir cause and it lost almost all its support to MQM ( hence aptly named Mohajir Qaumi Movement at that time). We then saw the 90s, with MQM having a falling out with the PPP led government, and then again with the Nawaz sharif led government. There was then a subsequent operation, almost entirely MQM specific, to purge criminal elements from Karachi. Sadly, the Pakistanis establishment were extremely heavy handed in dealing with these alleged "criminal elements". It was Operation Searchlight all over again. Hence just like Bangla= Awami league then, this time Mohajir=MQM became the affirmed equality.
Today, MQM is surviving mostly because it is the sole representative of the Mohajir cause. There have been others trying to vie for this post too, but none have succeded in dethroning them. Afaq bhais hardened, establishment backed haqiqi tried, but its own involvement in inter-mohajir killing has meant no one, especially amongst mohajir demographics really liked them. Hence today, the Mohajir youth finds its identity from MQM, whether we like it or not. So in conclusion the very existence of a hypocrite jamat, who claims to hate feudals but supports every feudal who offers them a seat in Power....is a testament to the weakness of main stream political parties who are unable to defeat them politically by not dealing effectively with the Mohajir cause. We shouldn't be surprised though, most of our politicians look to Washington to get power, and forget the wishes of 160 million people back home. Hence till MQM is the only party representing mohajirs and the mohajir cause, it will continue to have a role in Pakistani politics whether we like it or not.
The most oft repeated answer by opponents of MQM is that, Altaf bhais cadres "terrorise" people into voting for his Party. This however, in my own humble opinion is a very simplified understanding of his political support, and this is where parallels can be drawn with another Pakistani party of the 50s.
Prior to partition, the Muslim Leagues main power center was Bangal. So much so that there overwhelming votes in favour of Muslim league in 1945, put the demand for Pakistan at the forefront of political circles during the Raj. Then 1949 came, and along with it the language controversy and the inititation of what was to become the "bangla cause", which muslim leaugue failed to protect. Hence in the 1954 elections, muslim leauge suffered a terrible blow in the east and secured only 13 seats, down from 113 in 1945. Then along came 1966, the 6 points of Mujib, and the 1970 election where Awami Leauge got 160 out 160 in the eastern wing, despite Mujib's shoddy past and his "alleged" involvement in the Agratalla conspiracy. Then came 1971 and the final demand to secede from Pakistan, which was slowly and gradually supported by large majority of east Pakistanis, who were although Pro Pakistan but saw the bangla cause being violated by the west, and as consequence what is now called Bangladesh was created.
Moving on to MQM, before the 80s, Jamat-e-Islamis power base was always Karachi. In 1970 during the height of Bhuttoism, JI secured 7/9 seats here and in 77, PNA ( the anti bhutto alliance ) secured there only majority in Karachi. History inevitably repeated itself when the ethnic Pathan-Mohajir riots broke out in the 80s. Just like the bangla cause was created way back then, similarly this time around, the mohajir cause was initiated. And again, just like the fate of Muslim league in East Pakistan, Jamati Islami failed to protect the Mohajir cause and it lost almost all its support to MQM ( hence aptly named Mohajir Qaumi Movement at that time). We then saw the 90s, with MQM having a falling out with the PPP led government, and then again with the Nawaz sharif led government. There was then a subsequent operation, almost entirely MQM specific, to purge criminal elements from Karachi. Sadly, the Pakistanis establishment were extremely heavy handed in dealing with these alleged "criminal elements". It was Operation Searchlight all over again. Hence just like Bangla= Awami league then, this time Mohajir=MQM became the affirmed equality.
Today, MQM is surviving mostly because it is the sole representative of the Mohajir cause. There have been others trying to vie for this post too, but none have succeded in dethroning them. Afaq bhais hardened, establishment backed haqiqi tried, but its own involvement in inter-mohajir killing has meant no one, especially amongst mohajir demographics really liked them. Hence today, the Mohajir youth finds its identity from MQM, whether we like it or not. So in conclusion the very existence of a hypocrite jamat, who claims to hate feudals but supports every feudal who offers them a seat in Power....is a testament to the weakness of main stream political parties who are unable to defeat them politically by not dealing effectively with the Mohajir cause. We shouldn't be surprised though, most of our politicians look to Washington to get power, and forget the wishes of 160 million people back home. Hence till MQM is the only party representing mohajirs and the mohajir cause, it will continue to have a role in Pakistani politics whether we like it or not.
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