THE demand by former Karachi nazim and Pak Sarzameen Party chief Mustafa Kamal for a ban on his erstwhile party, the MQM, is thoroughly undemocratic.

Whatever the Muttahida’s sins, it is unacceptable in a democratic dispensation for blanket bans to be slapped on political parties. Mr Kamal made the demand in Karachi on Thursday, repeating allegations he had made earlier regarding the MQM leadership’s suspected links with RAW.

His demand seems to have been fuelled by frustration as Mr Kamal has been unable to attract any first-tier leaders from the Muttahida to his new party, welcoming instead sidelined figures and minor players.

The MQM has earned quite a reputation for itself over the decades, where the use of muscle power and violence is concerned. It is also true that claims of the party being ‘anti-state’ have been around for a long time; but no government has proved these charges in court.

Additionally, branding groups ‘anti-state’ is an old tactic the establishment has used for those whose politics it disagrees with or dislikes. And the fact that the Muttahida has two wings — a political one and a militant wing — is hardly a secret; this must have been known to Mr Kamal when he was an MQM stalwart.

So while the state can and should take action against MQM members involved in illegal activities, banning the party is no solution, simply because — warts and all — the MQM remains the dominant political force in urban Sindh even after its militants have been neutralised to a large extent.

If Mustafa Kamal wants to challenge this reality, he must prove his mettle at the ballot box instead of wishing the Muttahida away.

Moreover, many of those that have joined the PSP, as well as those being courted by it, have shadowy reputations linked to their time as MQM members. So there is clearly an element of hypocrisy here.

Bans on politicians and parties are a reminder of autocratic rule in Pakistan and have no place in the current political system.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2016