THIS refers to the MQM’s objection to the formulation of a judicial commission which is supposed to inquire into the alleged rigging in the 2013 elections.

It is the MQM’s solo flight so far, as all other political parties have agreed to this government’s bold decision because the PML-N government itself has been under pressure mounted by the PTI’s aggressive stance for almost the last two years.

The MQM has been accused of and criticised for allegedly intimidating voters and returning officers for casting bogus votes for its candidates.

Is that the only reason for opposing this commission that the MQM is scared of being exposed?

Tariq Mehmood Khalid

Sargodha

(2)

THIS refers to Imran Khan’s recent statement (March 26) wherein he said he would hold a public meeting in Karachi to ‘defeat Altaf Hussain’. Another news item says that a petition has been filed in the apex court seeking order to ‘dissolve’ the MQM because it is a ‘terrorist’ organisation.

A third report says that the MQM had sought a meeting with the prime minister during his visit to Karachi recently, but the request was not accepted.

And, finally, there was the report that Nawaz Sharif held important meetings without the Sindh governor, who belongs to the MQM.

Meanwhile, the Watan Party is seeking the trial of Altaf Hussain and Ishratul Ibad on the basis of Saulat Mirza’s video statement, and the interior minister has said that he is trying to have Mr Hussain extradited.

Defeating Altaf Hussain in Karachi may be dismissed as Imran Khan’s pipe-dream. Similarly, the Watan Party’s plea for his trial and advocate Tariq Asad’s petition for dissolving the MQM may come to naught.

But it is significant that for the first time the prime minister not only attended the apex committee meeting at the Faisal airbase instead of the Governor’s House, but the governor was also bypassed.

So, is the governor on his way out? Perhaps it has been decided already. The delay in the announcement may be due to search for a suitable successor. Nawaz Sharif’s refusal to meet the MQM delegation is also an indicator of the wind direction.

Hence the question: what does the future hold for the MQM? Suppose Altaf Hussain is brought back and tried and convicted. Suppose the MQM is dissolved. Then what?

S. G. Jilanee

Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2015

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