mr42O
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2009
- Messages
- 6,178
- Reaction score
- 4
- Country
- Location
MQM is perhaps the most unpredictable political party in Pakistan. It keeps you guessing about its actions and moves. It is also the most organised political party along with the Jamaat-e-Islami. So, what is the crisis in the MQM today and where will it lead to? Was the Rabita Committee suspended mere on late reaction or there is something more serious? What is its next action plan? Are some big names in the party likely to face a major disciplinary action?
Whatever the reason may be but the crisis within the MQM is far from over, but on Wednesday it took a more serious turn when its chief Altaf Hussain not only suspended its decision making body, Rabita Committee of Pakistan and London, for its belated action against the murder of one of its leader, but also accused some of them of indulging in corruption of billions of rupees. This is the charge from the party chief, not once but for the second time within six months.
MQM leader from Punjab Bao Anwar, who was working in Sialkot was brutally murdered and two other members were injured. The party held the Punjab government responsible and warned of anti-government movement. He was not the first leader, who was killed in Punjab. The MQM, in the past had complained that they were not allowed to expand its organization outside the urban Sindh and blamed the establishment.
Initial reaction of Altaf Hussain was so sharp that it created panic in the city. Many also thought that MQM might join hands with Imran Khan, who has already announced shutdown on December 12th. The government sensing the danger immediately ordered investigation and chief minister Punjab announced Rs2 million for Anwar’s family.
However, when Altaf suspended the whole Rabita Committee of Pakistan and London and accused some of them of huge corruption and appointed senior member Qamar Mansoor as head of Karachi Committee and Arshad of London Committee, the situation took a new turn as few months back the committee was suspended on the same charges and a committee was also formed to probe the allegations against some of the leaders.
Why the Rabita Committee delayed the action and why it was considered soft is not known but perhaps Altaf was expecting a one-day shutdown.The crisis within MQM is nothing new but it appears that since the last elections and after the developments in London, Altaf is not happy the manner in which Rabita Committee handle the situation. Their approach seems to be different from Altaf Hussain’s.
Disciplinary actions in the political parties often resulted on three or four accounts. (1) If some of its leaders and members violate party discipline, try to create groupings or joining some other party, (2) If he or she issue statements, contradictory to party policies. (3) If any leader or member indulges in serious corruption and it comes on surface. (4) If as a result of internal differences within the party, top leaders want to sideline their rivals in the group.
In MQM, the crisis is getting far more serious as compared to the problems in other parties. A strong perception within the party workers is growing that unlike in the past, the Rabita Committee of Pakistan and London were responsible for creating distance between them and Altaf Hussain.
At times, Rabita Committee leaders were also humiliated and as a result of some of them quietly went into isolation, while some others were disheartened. What happened in the General Body meeting of the MQM on May 19, 2013 a few days after the general elections did not go well within the party. Some leaders felt they were insulted to an extent that they were left with no choice but to go into isolation.
From 2013 to 2014, the unfolding events within the MQM deepened the crisis in the party and the suspension of Rabita Committee, time and again, accusing their office-bearers of serious charges did not go well within the old guards of the party. The question is, is this damaging for the party’s credibility or will it improve its performance with a new look?
Those who are well aware of MQM politics know that the party revolves round Altaf Hussain. MQM supporters don’t vote for the individual but for Altaf Hussain. That was one of the reasons why no major split in the party ever succeeded.
Although the party survived despite three major operations in the urban Sindh and lost hundreds of its workers in extrajudicial killings, developments within the party in the last few years remained a matter of concern for its supporters. Perhaps, they now realize that the decision to remain in one government or the other had “corrupted” some of the leaders.
MQM’s golden era in the government had been from 2002 to 2007 during which they got all the resources to develop Karachi and Hyderabad through the city nazims. They did improve Karachi under City Nazim Mustafa Kamal but could not develop Hyderabad.
However, it is during these years that Altaf Hussain also started getting serious complaints about involvement of some of its leaders in massive corruption. He did took some actions, issued some warnings but all this was kept “secret.”
Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, who has been holding this position since 2002, knows more than anyone else how serious are these charges against some of the MQM leaders, whom Altaf Hussain had not named but certainly knows.So, what will be their fate? Internal inquires against them may never come on surface but the follow-up action in the next couple of days and weeks would determined who were involved.
At present, all the Rabita Committee members, which includes some senior members of the party, have also been barred from visiting Nine Zero or London Secretariat. All the party workers were also told not to keep any contact with them. This is the normal practice in the MQM whenever such actions were taken.
It could be possible that some of them, who were not involved, might be pardoned after they apologize, but the crisis may continue till the major changes in the party structure. In the past also this scribe had written that Altaf Hussain and MQM leadership need to review their organizational structure and must abandon the very concept of Rabita Committee. They must revive the pre-1991 structure when they had chairman, secretary general, joint secretary, treasurer and the Central Committee. Altaf remained as the founder of the party.
The crisis within this most organized political force in the country is not a good omen for the country, particularly for the urban Sindh. It can have far reaching implications. However, if Altaf succeeds in bringing real transparency in the party and those involved in “corruption” are named and punished, it will have a positive impact, not only within MQM but also at the national level.
The crisis within the MQM also raised a serious question as whether it is true that the MQM chief had been kept away from its workers on the pretext of poor health condition including a lot of stress. He has a reputation for keeping direct contact with the workers.
Above all, this crisis may also generate debate within the party, as who actually wants to keep their leader in London despite his repeated plea that he wanted to come back to Pakistan. The MQM knows the art to bounce back from one crisis to another. They still have the force of thousands of dedicated workers. What these workers are now looking for is the right direction.
The crisis is far from over as the allegations have come from none other than the party Quaid Altaf Hussain.The writer is the senior analyst and columnist of Geo, The News and Jang.
How serious is the crisis in MQM? - thenews.com.pk
Whatever the reason may be but the crisis within the MQM is far from over, but on Wednesday it took a more serious turn when its chief Altaf Hussain not only suspended its decision making body, Rabita Committee of Pakistan and London, for its belated action against the murder of one of its leader, but also accused some of them of indulging in corruption of billions of rupees. This is the charge from the party chief, not once but for the second time within six months.
MQM leader from Punjab Bao Anwar, who was working in Sialkot was brutally murdered and two other members were injured. The party held the Punjab government responsible and warned of anti-government movement. He was not the first leader, who was killed in Punjab. The MQM, in the past had complained that they were not allowed to expand its organization outside the urban Sindh and blamed the establishment.
Initial reaction of Altaf Hussain was so sharp that it created panic in the city. Many also thought that MQM might join hands with Imran Khan, who has already announced shutdown on December 12th. The government sensing the danger immediately ordered investigation and chief minister Punjab announced Rs2 million for Anwar’s family.
However, when Altaf suspended the whole Rabita Committee of Pakistan and London and accused some of them of huge corruption and appointed senior member Qamar Mansoor as head of Karachi Committee and Arshad of London Committee, the situation took a new turn as few months back the committee was suspended on the same charges and a committee was also formed to probe the allegations against some of the leaders.
Why the Rabita Committee delayed the action and why it was considered soft is not known but perhaps Altaf was expecting a one-day shutdown.The crisis within MQM is nothing new but it appears that since the last elections and after the developments in London, Altaf is not happy the manner in which Rabita Committee handle the situation. Their approach seems to be different from Altaf Hussain’s.
Disciplinary actions in the political parties often resulted on three or four accounts. (1) If some of its leaders and members violate party discipline, try to create groupings or joining some other party, (2) If he or she issue statements, contradictory to party policies. (3) If any leader or member indulges in serious corruption and it comes on surface. (4) If as a result of internal differences within the party, top leaders want to sideline their rivals in the group.
In MQM, the crisis is getting far more serious as compared to the problems in other parties. A strong perception within the party workers is growing that unlike in the past, the Rabita Committee of Pakistan and London were responsible for creating distance between them and Altaf Hussain.
At times, Rabita Committee leaders were also humiliated and as a result of some of them quietly went into isolation, while some others were disheartened. What happened in the General Body meeting of the MQM on May 19, 2013 a few days after the general elections did not go well within the party. Some leaders felt they were insulted to an extent that they were left with no choice but to go into isolation.
From 2013 to 2014, the unfolding events within the MQM deepened the crisis in the party and the suspension of Rabita Committee, time and again, accusing their office-bearers of serious charges did not go well within the old guards of the party. The question is, is this damaging for the party’s credibility or will it improve its performance with a new look?
Those who are well aware of MQM politics know that the party revolves round Altaf Hussain. MQM supporters don’t vote for the individual but for Altaf Hussain. That was one of the reasons why no major split in the party ever succeeded.
Although the party survived despite three major operations in the urban Sindh and lost hundreds of its workers in extrajudicial killings, developments within the party in the last few years remained a matter of concern for its supporters. Perhaps, they now realize that the decision to remain in one government or the other had “corrupted” some of the leaders.
MQM’s golden era in the government had been from 2002 to 2007 during which they got all the resources to develop Karachi and Hyderabad through the city nazims. They did improve Karachi under City Nazim Mustafa Kamal but could not develop Hyderabad.
However, it is during these years that Altaf Hussain also started getting serious complaints about involvement of some of its leaders in massive corruption. He did took some actions, issued some warnings but all this was kept “secret.”
Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, who has been holding this position since 2002, knows more than anyone else how serious are these charges against some of the MQM leaders, whom Altaf Hussain had not named but certainly knows.So, what will be their fate? Internal inquires against them may never come on surface but the follow-up action in the next couple of days and weeks would determined who were involved.
At present, all the Rabita Committee members, which includes some senior members of the party, have also been barred from visiting Nine Zero or London Secretariat. All the party workers were also told not to keep any contact with them. This is the normal practice in the MQM whenever such actions were taken.
It could be possible that some of them, who were not involved, might be pardoned after they apologize, but the crisis may continue till the major changes in the party structure. In the past also this scribe had written that Altaf Hussain and MQM leadership need to review their organizational structure and must abandon the very concept of Rabita Committee. They must revive the pre-1991 structure when they had chairman, secretary general, joint secretary, treasurer and the Central Committee. Altaf remained as the founder of the party.
The crisis within this most organized political force in the country is not a good omen for the country, particularly for the urban Sindh. It can have far reaching implications. However, if Altaf succeeds in bringing real transparency in the party and those involved in “corruption” are named and punished, it will have a positive impact, not only within MQM but also at the national level.
The crisis within the MQM also raised a serious question as whether it is true that the MQM chief had been kept away from its workers on the pretext of poor health condition including a lot of stress. He has a reputation for keeping direct contact with the workers.
Above all, this crisis may also generate debate within the party, as who actually wants to keep their leader in London despite his repeated plea that he wanted to come back to Pakistan. The MQM knows the art to bounce back from one crisis to another. They still have the force of thousands of dedicated workers. What these workers are now looking for is the right direction.
The crisis is far from over as the allegations have come from none other than the party Quaid Altaf Hussain.The writer is the senior analyst and columnist of Geo, The News and Jang.
How serious is the crisis in MQM? - thenews.com.pk
Pata nahi kyun 
