PTI vs MQM: PTI Triggers Crisis in MQM

[RiazHaq]

What is the reason for Imran Khan's selective and misplaced outrage against MQM on Zahra Shahid Husain's murder while ignoring the Taliban killings of ANP and MQM members?

Why is the PTI continuing its sit-in campaign against alleged rigging?

How to explain political parties' militant wings, MQM's use of violence in politics and what triggered the current crisis within MQM?

What is the significance of Chinese Premier Li's visit to Pakistan?

What is Pak-China Economic Corridor project?

What to make of Zardari-Nawaz meeting and what should be the new government’s priorities? In the following video, Viewpoint from Overseas host Faraz Darvesh discusses the above with Riaz Haq, Sabahat Ashraf, and Ali Hasan Cemendtaur.

This show was recorded at 12:30 pm PST on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Pakistani Elections 2013, NA-250 re-elections, Zahra Shahid Hussain murder, Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf, PTI, Imran Khan, MQM, Altaf Hussain, Chinese Premier in Pakistan, Gwadar Port, China’s Energy Security, Riaz Haq, Sabahat Ashraf, iFaqeer, Ali Hasan Cemendtaur, WBT-TV, Viewpoint from Overseas, Pakistanis in the US, Silicon Valley Pakistanis, San Francisco Bay Area Pakistanis

این اے ۲۵۰ میں مکرر انتخابات، زہرہ شاہد حسین کا قتل، ایم کیو ایم، الطاف حسین، پاکستان تحریک انصاف، عمران خان، چینی صدر کا دورہ پاکستان، ترقیاتی منصوبے، گوادر، بلوچستان، پاکستان کے اصل مساءل، امن عامہ، ریاض حق، صباحت اشرف، آءی فقیر، علی حسن سمندطور، ڈبلیو بی ٹی ٹی وی، ویو پواءنٹ فرام اوورسیز، امریکہ میں پاکستانی، سلیکن ویلی، سان فرانسسکو بے ایریا

Haq's Musings: PTI vs. MQM: Altaf's Angry Response to Imran's Selective Outrage

 

[RiazHaq]

It was Kissinger who said "Nations Don't Have Friends, They Have Interests".

Both US and China have interests in South and West Asia.

China wants to build a Pak-China economic corridor through Pakistan from Gwadar to Xinjiang to assure its energy supplies in the events of hostilities with the US and resulting naval blockade in South China Sea.

As part of President Obama's "pivot to Asia" to check China's rise, the Americans have a strong competing interest in creating a new silk route in Asia that bypasses China. Americans envision such land route extending from resource rich Stans in Central Asia to resource hungry South Asia and Southeast Asia region via Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The expected energy flow for energy-hungry Pakistan and the potential annual transit fees worth billions of dollars from this trade route are part of the US sponsored incentives for Pakistan to help stabilize the situation in Afghanistan. The first example of this effort is the American push for TAPI--Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline.

Alliances are based on interests and change with changing interests.

With the changing geo-politics, it seems to me that China's interests are likely to be more aligned with Pakistan's than the US interests.

Pakistanis need to be prepared to respond to the unfolding dynamics of geopolitics in the region and do what best serves their national interest.

Haq's Musings: How Strategic Are Pakistan-China Ties?

Haq's Musings: Impact of Obama's Re-election on Pak-US Ties

 

[RiazHaq]

Excerpt of a blog post in New York Times on Burgers (PTI supporters) vs Bun Kababs (MQM supporters) in recent elections in Karachi, Pakistan:

In the run-up to the second vote, the media predicted a showdown between the city’s burgers and bun kebabs. Gastronomic comments ranged from the frivolous to the frightening. Ayesha Tammy Haq, a broadcast journalist, tweeted, “All this burger-bun kebab talk is nonsense. After this election I am foie gras to your chopped liver.” A senior M.Q.M., meanwhile, warned that outright violence between burger and bun kebab could erupt, dividing the city. Such language highlights the continuing relevance of class divisions even after a campaign that focused on gender, youth and ethno-linguistic identity to mobilize voters. It is no laughing matter. On the eve of the second vote on Sunday, Zahra Shahid Hussain, a senior P.T.I. leader, was shot and killed outside her house in Karachi. Although the media reported that her death occurred during a burglary, Khan has said that the leader of M.Q.M., Altaf Hussain, is responsible. The burger vs. bun kebab divide has turned deadly.

In Pakistan, Even Jibes About Food Suggest Violent Underlying Divisions - NYTimes.com

 

[RiazHaq]

Is Nawaz Sharif a graceful victor? Does this have echoes of Jaag Punjabi Jaag?

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif says people of Punjab have voted on rational basis while of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa have voted on emotional basis.

He was addressing his party workers in a ceremony to commemorate atomic explosions carried out by Pakistan on May 28, 1998 during Sharif’s previous tenure....

Future PM Nawaz Sharif thinks KPK voted on emotional and Punjab on logical basis | The News Tribe